The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-11-14

beetle: yet would she even smile at him.
much less ask for his tin-typc, as he had
hcari her tor several OF the boys photo
graphs.
Ii Miss Wilton had read his wonder
about the golden beetle, aud had told
him that the reason for lis being on her
pin Was in imitation OF ancient jewclry,
when beetles were woishipped even,
v hat would he have said then!
Tom picked up the pin, with an eager
look around, to- see il he were observed.
What. Had lie not heard, Thou shalt
not steaI!" Oh. yes. But things were
rather mixed in poor Toms mind.
The teacher had whipped HIM when
jim White sprinkled the snuff about, and
again for telling the truth, and not lie;
and here was her new pin in his hand.
She would miss it, he knew, and he sorry
to lose it; but he could buy Il .iack-knite,
and may be hat, with the value of it.
Marin wouldn't lick me them he re-
flrctad, with sense of relief that showed
that he appreciated corporal punishment
rs an argument when it was to be es-
capped. But when it occurred to him, a
moment after, to buy off that severe
mother of his by an immediate present of
the pin, something made him hesitate.
She would keep it, he felt too sure, to
be willing to risk it in her hands, unless
his mind was quite made up not to restore
the pin to its owner A little feeling of
pity, perhaps. for the teacher-for it must
have cost deal of money-a little
shame at the thought of not doing as he
would be done by, maybe, made him
pause; but .lore than all else dread of
what the consequences might be should
the teacher, after all, find out he had her
pin.
Folks has soch ways of seein' through
things" pondcred Tom.
But he was in luck as to supper, for
baby Jimmy, the mothers pet, had
dropped in the yard huge piece of
bread and molasses. Tom spied this in
the midst Of his meditations, and easily
hid it with the pin under his jacket, while
he scurricd away out of sight from the
house. If he stayed out till pretty late,
his mother, tired with hard days work,
would be abed and asleep; and he was
safe for the night, at any rate.
SO he walked toward the village, eating
first the bread and then a green apple,
that he picked up on the roadside.
At length he heard sound of music.
Tom dearly loved to listen to the singing
in the chapel, when windows and doors
were open, so he could not be seen, though
he ventured close by. lie even sat down
on the upper step. After the hymn was
over a rattingca drove along the street,
50 for minute Tom could not hear any
thing going on inside the chapel.
When it was quiet again, he heard some
| one saying, very tenderly and softly:
He was despised and rejected Of men"
"Why, that's me they re talking about
exclaimed Tom, surprised into speaking
aloud. But nobody heard him, and he
leaned forward eagerly, to see what else
was going to be said about himself. To
his utter amazement, he soon gathered
that it WAS Christ Jesus, the Lord, and
not poor Tom Dolan, son of the washer
woman and Of the drunken bricklayer,
that they were talking about.
Remember, said Tom was very stu
pid. He went out into the dark, where
nobody could see or hear him, and, drop
ping on his knees, said: "If you could
stand it, will"
II NeS Il prayer, IL IL ulu souHu All
wrong. Poor Tom never did know how
to put things" though he did know
how to pat himself on the divine side of
life, if he didn't know the usual ways.
And WAS he not understood as so placing
himself, and, therefore, worthy to receive
the blessing! You would have believed
it, had you seen the boys tace-briChter,
more up.looking, more manly than any
body had seen before.
He had learned the Lords Prayer.
This he repeated; and then, rising from
his knees, he ran, as if for his life, to
Miss Wilton's clearinghouse.
As he came near, he heard some one
Its that dirty little sneak of Tom
Dolan.'
Then lady's voice spoke sharply:
go away, child What Go you mean
hanging about here!"
He dared not enter the gate, under
these circumstances; but be said, with "A
boldness that astonished Miss Wilton, &C
customed as she had been to his stutter-
ing, laundering ways, II wants to see the
teacher
A lady wrapped in delicate white
shawl, gave a sigh of mingled WEAKNESS
and disgust, as she came down the gray
eled walk. She had heard of the straw
hat episode, and looked for nothing less
than an iratc message from Mrs. Dolan.
What was her surprise to see her own lost
pin, the gift of dear friend, glistening
in the moonlight, as Tom held it out to-
ward her
"How good of you, Tom, to bring it to