Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-03-25
alonth' 8 Column.
THE LUCKY LOAF.

The father took out a loaf of bread
which he had bought in the town, and
broke it and gave half to his boy.
"Not SO, father said the boy: Il
shall not eat until after you. You have
been working hard all day for small
wages to support me. and you must be
very hungry. | shall wait till you are
done"
"You speak kindly, my son." replied
the pleased father; ''your love to me
does me more good than my food, and
those eyes of yours remind me of your
dear mother who has left us, and who
told you to love me as she used to do;
and indeed. my boy, you have been
great strength and comfort to me; but
now that | have eaten the first morsel
to please you, it is your turn to eat.''
THANK you, father; but break this
piece in two, and take you little more,
for you see the loaf is not large, and you
require more than | do
IL shall divide the loaf for you, my
boy, but eat it | shall not. I have
abundance, and let us thank God for
His great goodness in giving us food,
and in giving us what is better still
cheerful and contented hearts. He who
gave US the living bread from heaven to
nourish our immortal souls, how shall
He not give us all other food that is
necessary to support our mortal bodies %
The father and son thanked God, and
then began to cut the loaf in pieces to
begin their frugal meal. But as they
cut one portion of the loaf there fell out
several large pieces of gold of great val
ue. The little boy gave shout of joy,
and was springing forward to grasp the
unexpected treasure, when he was pulled
back by his father.
"My son, my son p he cried, do not
touch that money it is not ours ?"
'.But whose is it, father, if 1t is not
ours %
Il know not as yet to whom it be-
longs, but probably it was put there by
the baker through some mistake. We
must inquire. Rum
''But, father" interrupted the boy,
'.you are poor and needy, and you have
bought the loaf, and the baker may be
well off and
81 will not listen to you, my boy.
bought the loaf, but did not buy the
gold In it. If the baker sold it to me-
in ignorance, shall not be so dishonest
as to take advantage of him ; remembel
Him who told US to do to others as W,
would have others do to u.s. The baker
may possibly cheat US. am poor in
deed, but that is no sin. If we shar,
the poverty of Jesus, Gods own Son, o
let US share also His goodness and Hi
trust in God. We may never be rich
but we may always be honest We ma,
die of starvation, but Gods will be done
should we die in doing it. Yes. m.
boy, trust God and walk in His way
and you shall never be put to shame
Now run to the baker and bring hin
here, and | shall watch the gold unit
he comes"
So the boy ran for the baker.
Brother workman" said the oil
man, "you have made some error an,
almost lost your money )" and then b
showed the baker the gold, and toll
him how it had been found. sis
thine % asked the father; '.if it is tax
it away"
"My father, baker, is very poor, an
-
"Silence, my child, put me not
shame by thy complaints. am gla
we have saved this man from losing hi
money"
The baker had been gazing alternate
ly upon the honest father and the cage
boy, and upon the gold which lay gilt
tering upon the turf.
"Thou art indeed an honest fellow,
said the baker, land my neighbor D;
vid, the fax dresser, told but the trut
when he said thou vert the honest ma
in our town. Now | shall tell the
about the gold: A stranger came to m
shop few days ago, and gave me tia
: loaf, and told me to sell it cheaply, {
give it away. to the honest poor nsa
whom | knew in the city. | told Davi
to send thee to me as a customer tn
morning; as thou wouldst not have til
, loaf for nothing. sold it thee, as tho
!. knowest, for the last pence in thy purs
and the loaf with all its treasure an
certainly it is not small-is thine, an
E God grant thee blessing with it,
The poor father bent his head to th
ground, while the tears fell from h
, eyes. His boy ran and put his hant
about his neck and said !:
81 shall always, like you, my fathe
, trust God and do what is right; for
, am sure it will never put us to shame
did | not give you a fogging Il
f other day ?" asked school-master of
q trembling boy. ..Yes, sir" answert
Z the bow. "Well what do the Scriptur