The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1878-08-08
THE LAST SIXPENCE.

HE ERO SIkFENGE.
It was a chill bleak morning in No.
Vember that Charles Aubrey emerged
from an old shed where he had passed the
last part of the night under q pile of
sheep~skins. As he stood there now, his
lips were parched, and his limbs shock as
though with the palsy. He mechanically
placed his hand in his pocket and took
therefrom a sixpence. He searched
further-felt in every pocket-but he
could find no more. That single sixpence
was the last of his fortune.
"Ah, Charley, Charley" he murmured
to himself, "you've run your race.
Where now are the friends who have 50
long hung about you? One poor six
pence! 1t will buy me one glass of grog
to aIlay my burning thirst. Oh, would
TO God it would buy me one true
friendI"
He raised his eyes and beheId an old
woman with bended back, who came
tottering on slowly and tremblingly.
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 upon her staff.
''Charity, good sir" she uttered, in
hOarse, tremulOUs tones. "Giye me
wherewith to purchase a single meal, and
I'il ask God to bless thee"
" By my life, good woman, you are the
very one [ have been wishing for Here
is all l have; ii is my last sixpence! Take
it. ] have only wished it could bring me
one true friend"
"But what good would come of that
while you continue to curse yourself ?"
The youth started, but he spoke not.
eft you would have me for a friend
will you listen to me as friend ?"
Listen? Yes"
''Then let this he your lowest vale Of
Iife," said the woman, with startling
solemnity. "Turn now and go up hill.
Go up, up, till you have reached the
sunshine once more. 1 knew your
mother, Charles Aubrey, and I remem.
ber well how kind she WIS. Oh, did she
think that her well-beloved son would
sink so Iow?'
"Stop, stop" groaned the unhappy
youth. ooh, who shall give me the first
lift to regain ali have lost ?'
''I will"
"You? Who are you? You say you
knew my mother. Who are yOu?"
"Never mind. Suffice it for you tu
know that 1 suffered as deeply as you
ever did. I know what it js to suffer.
I say l can give you the first lift. |
mean by that [ can show you the way.
Follow my counsel, and you may vet re.
cover all that you have lost.
No, no, not at all. Oh, there is one
loss L can never make upW 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
I do. Can you do this ?''
Aye, had done it ere you came up. y
Then the next step. Go and make a
friend who can help you further. Go to
Amos Williams, and
No, no, not there. Oh, not there
| interrupted Charles.
"Go to his store and freely confess to
him all your faults" resumed the
woman, without seeming to notice the
interruption. Tell him sI, and then
ask him to trust you once more"
4" No, no, [ dare not go to him"
{" But listen. 1 heard Mr.. Williams
say with his own lips that he would helm
you if he could that he would give you
his hand if you would only help your
self"
"Did be say SOP uttered Charles
eagerly"
"He did. And now, Charles Aubrey
be assured that you have not lost every,
thing. Let people know that you mear
| to arise and be a man. and all whose
friendship is worth having will give
you their hsnds. Go to Amos William,
first !"
"I will CO."
Amos Williams stood at the great desE
in his cOunting-roem, and he was alone
While he thus stood, casting up q col
umn of figures upon the page of one tht
ledgers, the door was opened and Charlie
Aubrey entered. He was yet pale anC
haggard, and looked as he did when W.
saw him two hours ago. The merchan
started back with an utterance of paiI
and surprise as he recognized in the mis-
erable form before him, the once happ7
and beloved youth whom he delighted
to honor.
"Charles !'' he uttered, as soon as h
could command his speech, "why nav
you come here?"
"Mr. Williams" spoke the youth, il
a choking voice, ''I have come tO-to-
tell you that my course of wickedness
| run, Anu lIOH LulS moment L am
Here he stopped He hesitated q mo
ment, and then his feelings overcom
him, and bowling mis- head he burst int
tears, and sobs loud and deep, brok
from his lips. The merchant was deepl'
affected, aud with the warm tears gath
ering quickly in his own eyes he starte,
forward and placed his hand upon tn
youths head.
Charles" he uttered in tremuIous
eager voice, have you resolved to be
} man ?"
With Gods help will be q ma
again. was the youths reply.
Is your money all gomez
" Yes, sir. This morning l had on
solitary sixpence left, and that I gave t
poor old woman who bade me com
here"
Aye. know her. She is an unfol
tunate creature who has suffered much
: bade her if she saw you, and you weT
cast down and repentant, to send yJr
here, for 1 heard yesterday that yo
were at the foot of the precipice. Now