The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1878-08-21
THE LAST sIxPENCE.

~ hus Cnilli Dleak morning IN
November that Charles Aubrey
emerged from an old shed where he
had passed the last part of the night
under pile Of sheep-skins. As he
stood there now, his hips were parch.
ed, and his limbs shook as though
with the palsy. He mechanically
placed his hand in his pocket and
took therefrom a sixpenee. Hesearch-
ed further-fclt in every pocket-but
he could find no more. That single
sixpence was the last of his fortune.
"Ah, Charley, Charley he mur-
INJURED to himself, "you'ye run your
race. Where now are the friends who
have solons hung about you2 One
poor sixpence! 1t will buy me one
glass of grog to allay my burning
thirst. oh, would to God it would
buy me one true friendp
He raised his eyes and beheld an
old woman with bended back, who
came tottering on slowly and trem-
blingly. Her garments were torn
and tattered, and the thin gray hair
hung matted and uncombed. She
stopped when she came to where the
youth stood and leaned heavily up
on her staff.
"Charity, good sir" she uttered, in
hoarse, tremulous tones. "Give me
wherewith to purchase a single meal,
and I'll ask God to bless thee.'
"By my life, good woman, you are
the very one have been looking for.
Here is all I have; tits my last six
pence! Take it. have only wished
it could bring me one true friend"
"But what good would come Of that
while sou continue to curse your
self2o
The youth started, but he spoke
not.
"If you would have me for a friend,
will you listen to me as a friend?"
"Listen? Yes"
"Then let this be your lowest vale
oflife," said the woman, with start
ling solemnity. "Turn now and go
up hill. Go up, up, till you have
reached the sunshine once more. l
knew your mother, Charles Aubrey,
and remember well how kind she
was, Oh, did she think that her
well beloved son would sink SO low?'
"Stop, stop" groaned the unhappy
youth. @0h. who shqll rixesi n, me s,t the he
Krft lift to regain all fhave'iostYs
II will"
"You? Who are you? You say
you knew my mother. Who are
your
"Ncver mind. Suffice it for you
to know that l suffered as deeply as
you ever did. know what it is to
suffer. say l can give you the first
lift. | mean bv that can show you
the way. Follow my counsel, and
you may yet recover all that you
have lost"
"No, no, not all. Oh, there is one
loss | can never make upH' And as
he spoke he bowed his head and COW
cred his face with his hands.
"Let not such feelings he with you
now. First resolve that you will
turn from the evil which has brought
you down. You know what it is as
well as do. Can you do thisR"
"Ah, 1had done it ere you came
up"
"Then the next step. Go and make
a friend who can help you further
Go to Amos Williams, and"
mo, no, not there. Oh, nottherc!'
interrupted Charles,
go to his store and freely confess
to him all your faults," resumed the
woman, not seeming to notice the
interruption. "Tell him all, and
then ask him to trust you once more y
mo, no, l dare not go to him."
"But listen. Ihcard Mr.. Williams
say with his own lips that he would
help you if he could; that he would
give you his hand ifyou would only
help yourself"
"Did he say SOP" uttered Charles
eagerly.
"Io did. And now, Charles Au
brey, be assured that you have not
lost everything. Let people know
that YOU mean to arise and be a man
a