Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-02-19

stroyed. This knew from the conver-
sation outside. And then | went to bed,
and crept under the clothes, to hide
from myself, as it we're; vain hiding
Who ever yet succeeded in hiding from
a guilty conscience | crept to bed,
but not to sleep, and crept down stairs,
weary and pale, in the morning, fancy
ing that my guilt must be written in my
face.
No one suspected me of knowing any,
thing about the origin of the fire.
"Yes," my uncle was saying to my
aunt, as Fentered the dinrng-room for
our early dinner, 81 have questioned
everybody, and there can be no doubt
but that Joe is the cause of all this loss
and trouble. He was seen at five o'clock
with candle and some matches in his
hand, going toward the granary, across
the yard. He confes ses himself that he
went up to the hay-loft, but he declares
he put the candle into lantern. That
| do not believe, however, for he is a
careless lad, and none of the other men
have been near the loft"
"Have you turned him off, uncle 2" !
asked, and my heart beat so fast, so
loud, as thought that it seemed as if
they must hear it.
Certainly" said my uncle. care
you aware of any fact that will excuse
him ?"
Something in my uncle's face made
me imagine he suspected me, and on the
spur of the moment apswA-el '-Nr--' =
am not"
Bitterly, bitterly 1 repented those
words.
Poor Joe came that evening to bid me
good-by, and thank me for all the kind
ness l had shown him, and every CRATE
full word the honest, unsuspecting lad
spoke was like a knife thrust. ] felt
humbled to the dust before honest Joe.
''Tis hard to lose my place, sir" he
said ''mostly for mothers sake, she be-
ing so poor but it's harder to be sus-
pected of telling lie. They say l took
a loose candle into the hayloft, sir, and
no one will believe me, however l deny
it."
81 believe you, Joe" said l, earnestly.
Thank you, Master Harry" and the
poor boy turned away, unable to speak.
L was determined, as l spoke to him,
that l would go at once to my uncle and
tell the whole truth, and clear Joe's
good name. l started with this inten-
tiOn for the parlor, where my uncle and
aunt were sitting. They were alone,
and l opened the subject at once.
''Uncle James, said, with the COL
or rushing hOtly to my cheeks, 81 have
come to speak to you about poor Joe"
"Not word,' said my uncle, sternly,
81 will not listen to a word in excuse
Joe is bad boy. A liar is as bad as a
thief"
My courage failed me when my uncle
spoke, and my task grew harder and
harder; but when he uttered the last
words, "a liar is as bad as a thief" |
felt it to be impossible, should so ac.
cuse myself; the evil spirit gained full
mastery of my heart again, and | left
the room without speaking.
My holidays come, six weeks long
from the first of September, and l had
been looking forward to them for months
as to days that were to be the happies
| had ever spent was to ride new
horse of my uncle's was to 60 shoot
ing with my uncle; what was | not t.
do? But when the days came that wer
to have been so happy, they were saC
: and weary ones to me, with the weigh
? of my sad secret lying like lead on m,
heart.
r whats come over the boy ?" my un
2 Gle would say to my aunt, or she to him
4 but none guessed.
!, was startled one day by hearin
that Joe's mother was i'll, and still NOR
t OH being told by my aunt to 60 and Sc
if the poor woman wanted help.
v "It's fretting is the matter with me
f Master Harry" said the poor woman
S as stood by her bedside. "I've neve
= been myself since Joe was turned off tn
e farm. He has never had any regula
y work since, for the farmers about can
:, trust him, they say, and he's breakin
) his heart, poor lad.
The woman's pale face touched m
o heart, and the thought of honest Jo
[ distrusted and out of work, and "break
d ing his heart, poor fellow, all throug
my wickedness, overcame me. l darte
L from the room, and ran across the field
II ''Uncle, may l come in p said, tai
h ping at his study door; and at that MI
1t ment I prayed more earnestly than
Is had ever prayed before, that God woul
k give me grace and strength to speak tt
1T truth boldly. Oh. that L had done th
,e at first should then never have fal
en- so low.
d "What !' said my uncle, in amaz
1, ment; ''you did it? You burned IL
buildings ?"