The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1878-03-28
TIE LasT sTXPENCE

]
It was a chill, bleak morning IN No
gember that Charles Aubrey emerged
from an old shed where he had passed
the last part of the night under a pile Of
sheep skins.
As young Aubrey stood there now,
his lips were paTched, and his limbs
shook as though with the palsy. He
mechanically placed his hand in his
/ pocket and took therefrom a sixpence.
He S. arched fuFther-felt in every
pocket-but he could find no more.
That single sfxPence was the last Of his
fortune.
''Ah, Charley, Charley p he murmured
/ to himself, "You've run your race.
Where now are the friends who have so
long hung about you'll One poor six
pencel 1t will buy me one glass Of
| grOg to allay my burning thirst o.
would to GOD it would buy me one
true friend!"
He raised his eyes, and beheld an old
woman with bended back, who came
tOttering on slowly and tremblingly.
Her garments we're torn and tattered,
and tho thin gray hair hung mattcd and
uncombed. She stoFUcG when she
came to VIII re the youth stood, and
leaned heavily upon her staff.
"Charity, good SIR, she uttered in
hoarse, uemulous tones. ''Give me
wherewith to purchase single meal,
and III ask God to bless thee.
by my life, good wOmln, you are
Jhe very one [ nave been wishing for.
Here, it is all have-it is my last six
pence! Take it. L have only wished
that it could buy me one true friend" f"
But what good would come Of that
while you continued to curse yourself?"
The youth started, but he spoke not,
IF you would have me for a friend,
win you listen to me as a friend?"
Listen? Yes"
Then let this be your lowest vale Of
life," said the woman with startling
sOlemnity. Turn NV and go up hill.
Go up, up, until you hs We reached the
sunshine once more. knew your
mother, Charles Aubrey, al I remem-
Der well how kind she was. On, did
| she ever think that her weH-beloved son
would sinksO low"
''Stop, stop" groaned the unhappy
youth. 20, who shall give me the first
lift to regain all L have lost.
Il will"
You? who are you? You sry you
knew my mother. Who are you?
Never mind. Suffice it for you to
know that 1 suffered as deeply as you
ever did. 1 know what it is to suffer.
I say can give you the first lift.
mean by that I 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 I can never make Up!n and as he
spoke he bowed his head and covered,
his face with his hands.
Let not such feelings be 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
lido. Can you do this?"
''Ay, had done it ere you crme up. ."
'Then take the next step. Go and
make a friend who ca help you fur
Jher. Go to Amos Williams and
NO, no, net there. o, not there "
interrupted Charles.
go to his store and freely confess to
him I'll your faults" resumed the wO-
man, without seeming TO notice the in
terTup;iOn. Tell him all, and then
ask him to trust you once more"
''NO, no, 1 dare not go to him."
. But listen. heard Mr.. Williams say
with his own lips that he would help
you The could; that he would give you
his hand if you would only help your
self"
Did he say that?" uttered Charles,
eagerly.
lie did. Andnow, Charles Aubrey,
be assured that you have not lost every
thing. Let people know tina YOU mean
to arise and be a man, and all whose
friendship is worth having will give you
their hands. Go t. Amos Williams
irstl"
Il viii 60"
Then give me the sixpence." d"
Amos Williams stood at the great
desk in his cOuntng-rOOm and he was
alone. While he thus stood, casting up
a column Of figures upon a page Of one
of the ledgers, the door was opened,
and Charles Aubrey entered. He was
yet pale and haggard, and looked as he
did when we saw him two hours ago.
The merchant started back with an ut
terance of pain and surprise as he re-
OOgnized in the miserable form before
him the once happy and beloved youth
whom he had delighted to honor.
'CharlesI'' he uttered, as soon as he
could command his speech, why have
you come here22
ssaTr Williams q" SMOKE fha vo11th I'm a