Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-07-02

near home. meditating how he NIGH
reach in at the pantry window and helI
himself to supper, if be only had Jack
knIfe TO cut away cpe OF the laths thai
we're u I'd to bar the open window in hoi
W. ,ber.
He vas walking slowly when his bare
toe recei,, prick from something ly-
ing on the gcouhd. HIS start OF pain
kicked the cause directly into sight
That breast pin with the golden beetle on
it, surely never belonged to any one but
the teacher, for had he not gszed at II
wonderingly all the time she was explain
inS his geography lesson 10 him that very
morning
He bad vague sense OF queerness
that beetle, mere bug, should DE cut
OF gold snd allowed to MI so honorable
a place, why, he was not so dirty as n
beetle. yet she would not even smile at
him, much less ask for his tintype, as be
had heard her ask for several OF the boys
photographs.
Ii Miss Wilton had read his wonder
about the golden beetle, and had told
him that the reason Tor It's being on her
pin was in imitation OF ancient jeweiry,
when beetles were worshipped, what
would he have said then.
Tom picked up the pin with an eager
look around. TO see ii no were observed.
What! Had he not heard Thou shalt
not stea ?" Oh, yes; but things were
rather mixed in Toms mind.
The teacher had whipped him when
Jim White sprinkled the snuff about, and
again Tor telling the truth and not a lie.
aud here was her new pin in his hand.
She would miss il, be knew, and be sorry
to lose it, but he could buy jack-knife
and may Oe hat, too, with the value OF
ut.
"Msrm wouldn't lick me them he re.
tlected, with sense of relief, which
showed that be appreciated corporal pun
ishment as an argument when it was to
be escaped. But when i, occurred TO
him minute after TO buy of that severe
mother of his by an immediate present OF
the pin. something made him hesitate.
She would keep it, he let too sure, 10
be willing to risk !, in her hands, unless
MS mind was quite made up to restore
the pin 10 its owner. 4 little feeliog OF
pity, perhaps, for the teacher. for il mast
have cost q great deal OF money, L little
ashamed st the thought of not doing as
he would be done by. mayb3, made him
pause, but more than all else, q dread OF
what the consequences might be, should
the teacher, after all, find out he had her
pin.
Folks had such ways Of seeing through
things" pondered Tom.
Bot be was in luck as TO supper, for the
baby Jimmy. he 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 coat. while he
hurried sway out OF sigh, OF the house.
If he staid out pretty late, his mother.
tired with a hard days work, would be
abed and asleep. and he las safe tor the
night at any rate.
50 he walked toward she village eating
6rst the bread and then green apple
that he had picked up by the roadside.
At length he heard sound of music.
Tom dearly loved 10 listen 20 the singing
in the chapel, when windows and doors
were open. so that he ventured close By
He even sat down on the upper step. after
the hvmp was over. A rafting cart
drove along the street, so for minute
Tom could MOI hear anything going on
inside the chapel.
When it was quiet again. he hearC
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 had heard him, anC
, he leaned forward, eagerly to see wha
else was going to be said about himself
r To his utter smazement he soon gath
r cred that it was Christ Jesus the Lord
and not poor Tom Dolan, son Of th'
washer-woman, and OF the drunken
) brick. layer, that they were talking about
/ Remember, said that Tom was verl
stupid. He went out into the dark wher'
nobody could see or hear him, anc
: droppisg on his knees said, at you coul'
2 stand it, | will
! 1t was u prayer, if it did sound al
I wrong. Poor Tom never did know hov
3 TO put things. though he did know how t
5 put himself on the divine side OF lite.
I he didn't know the usual way. And wa
he not understood as so placing himself
/ and therefore worthy to receive tn
blessing. You would have believed
D had you seen the boys lace-brighter
a more uplooking, more manly than any
: bodg hsd seen it before.
b He had learned the Lords prayer
a This he repeated, and then ian as it 70
r lite TO Miss Wilton's boarding house.
I As he came near he heard some on
? say. "I.'s that dirty little sneak OF Tor
4 Dolann