Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-09-05

can't spend it,"
MIR. Sterling was passing the fruit shop.
where two children were looking in at the
window, when this sentence struck upon
his ears.
An apple won t cost but Il penny, Ka-
tie; and | want one so badly" answered
the younger of the two children, little
girl not five years of age.
Come away, Maggie" said the other,
drawing her sister back from the window.
" Don't look at them any more. Don't
think about them"
-" But can't help thinking about them,
sister Katie, pleaded the child.
1t was more than Mr.. Sterling could
stand. Every want of his own children
was supplied. He bought fruit by the
barrel. And here was little child plead
ing for an apple, which only cost penny,
but the apple was denied because the pen
ny must be saved to make good the dead
fathers honor. Who held that honor in
pedgeP Who took the sum total of those
pennies, saved in the self-denial of little
children, and added them to his already
brimming Golfers? A feeling of shame
burned the cheeks of Mr.. Sterling.
Here little Cnes," he called, as the two
children went slowly away from the fruit
shop window. He was touched with the
sober look on their sweet, yonng faces as
they turned at his invitation.
Come in, and I'll get you some ap-
pies" he said.
Katie held back, but Maggie drew out
her hand, eager to accept the offer, for she
was lOnUinO for the fruit
Come repeated Mr. Sterling speak
ing very kindly.
The children then followed him into
the shop and he filled their aprons with
apples and oranges. Their thankful eyes
were in his memory all day. This was his
reward and it was sweet.
Three months more, and again Mr.. Ster-
ling had visit from the pale, young wild
ow This time she had twenty dollars. 1t
was all she had been able to save, she said
but she made no excuse, and uttered no
complaint Mr.. Sterling took the money
and counted it over in a hesitating way
The touch thereof was pleasant to his fin
gers for he loved money. But the vision of
sober child faces was before his eyes. and
the sound of pleading child voices in his
ears. Through over-taxng toll and the
denial of herself and little ones, the poor
widow had gathered this small sum, and
was now paying it into his hands, to make
good the honorable contract of her dead
husband. He hesitated, rutfling in a half
absent way the edges of little pile of bills
that lay under his fingers One thing was
clear to him-he never would take any
thing more from the widow. The balance
of the debt must be forgiven. People
would get TO understand the widows casU
they would hear of her self-denial, and
that of her children, in order to pay the
husbands and fathers debt, in order to
keep pure his honor, and they would ask
naturally-who was the eXacting creditor?
This thought affected him unpleasantly.
Slowly, us one in whose mind debate
still went on, Mr. Sterling took from his
desk IL large pocket-bOok, and selected
from one of the compartments the note on
which Mrs. Granger had now made three
payments. For some moments he held it
in his hands, looking ut the face thereof.
He saw written down in clear figures the
sum, $500. Seventy Of this had been paid.
If he gave up or destroyed tine paper, he
would lose $3.50. II was something of Il
trial for one who loved money SO well, to
come up squarcly to this issue. Some
thin fell in between his eyes and the note
of hand. He did not see the writing and
figures of the obligation, but sad, plead
ing little face, and with the vision of this
came to his ears the sentence" No, dear,
it's for fathers honor"
The debate in Mr.. Sterling's mind was
over. Taking upa pen he wrote across
the face of Mr.. Granger's note the word
cancelled" and then handed it to the
widow.
What does this meanP" she asked,
looking bewildered.
1t means" said Mr. Sterling, "that l
hold no obligation against your husband"
Some moments went by ere Mrs. Gran
gers thoughts became clear enough to
comprehend it all. Then she replied as
she reached back the note:
thank you for your generous kind
ness, but he left his honor in my keeping,
and must maintain it spotess.n
THAT you have already DONE" aSwer-
ed Mr.. Sterling, speaking through emo
tions that were new to him; it is white
as snow
Then he thrust upon her the twenty dol
lars she had just paid him.
mo, Mr. Sterling" the widow said.
at shall be as | will" was the re-
sponse. IL would rather touch fire than
your money. Every dollar would burn
upon my conscience like living GOALS!
But keep this last payment" urged
the widow 81 shall feel better
"No, Madam Would you throw fire
upon my conscience? Your husbands
honor never had stain. All men knew
him to be pure and upright, When God
took him, He assumed his early debts, and
did not leave upon you the heavy burden
of their payment, But he left with you
another and most sacred obligation, which
you have overlooked in part.
"What?' asked the widow in almost
startled voice.
TO minister to the wants of your chill
dren, whom YOU have pinched and denied
in their tender years-giving of their meat
to cancel i'm obligation which death had
paid. And you made me party in the
wrong to them. Ah, madam Mr.. Ster-
lings voice sohened very much" if we
could all see in the right time, how much
of wrong and suffering might be saved! l
honor your true hearted self devotion; but
| shall be no party to its continuance. AS
it is, am your debtor in the sum Of fifty
dollars, and will repay it in my own way
and time"
Mr. Sterling made good his word I'm
der Providence. this circumstance was the
means of breaking through the hard crust
of selfshness and cupidity which had form
ed around his heart. He was not only
generous to the widow in after years, but
II doer of many deeds of kindness and hu-
manity to which lie had been in other
times n stranger
PUT LIFE INTO YOUR WORK.-A young
mans interest and duty both dictate that
he should make himself indispensable to
his employers. He shonld be SO industri-
Gus, prompt and careful that the accident
of his temporary absence should be noticed
by his being missed. A young man should
/, make his employer his friend, by doing
: faithfully and minutely all that is entrusted
to him. 1t is a great mistake to be over.
, nice or fastidious about work. Pitch in
5 readily and your willingness will be appre-
} eiated, while the" high-toned" young man
who bubbles about what it is and what il