The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-01-02

luStlcP 10 Jne Qlgnlty Oi our regiment.
I believe / often looked rather shabby,
but really I could not help it.
"I hadonly one relation in the world,
and that was my mothers sister. After
my mother died she had been as a
mother to me, but when our home was
finally broken up, there was nothing for
it but she must be a governess in q
strangers house. And she did her
work courageously and cheerfully
enough, till her health failed, and
nobody wanted the service of sick
woman,
"She had always been good to me,
and we two had only each other in the
world. I could not help her as she
ought to have been helped, but nv pay
would at least provide her such q home
and such maintenance as q poor work.
ingman can give to poor working
woman.
"I took my aunt to lodge with the
wife of the miller's man, in the little
black cottage beside the mill. She was
very kind, cleanly woman, though
rough and plain in her ways; and nv
poor aunt used to call herself very
happy there. But she could not eat the
simple food my scanty means could pro-
cure. And the good landlady used to
break my heart by suggesting that her
appetite might be tempted by chickens
or game, or such other luxurfes beyond
my utmost reach.
"All the day OF that memorable din.
ner-party my aunt had been very feeble
and failing. When l left her I really
wondered whether she would be alive
when saw her again. Ny soul revolted
at the sight of dainties which were no
good to me, and which could not con.
vey to her who seemed dying for want
of them. Suddenly bright idea seized
me. l took a letter from my pocket
and spread it on my napkin, and then,
by an adroit movement, transferred the
wing of chicken from my plate to the
paper, and thence smuggled it to my
pocket"
The listening guests began to look at
each other with enlightened eyes. The
spiteful old major felt that very full
explanation was being given-and he
was glad he was deaf, that he need not
hear it.
Gentlemen, you can all imagine my
feelings when such unlooked-for cir
cumstances threatened to expose my
poor little plan. Gentlemen, there are
some of you who were, like myself,
young then; whom it would have been
as hard to meet, after such discovery,
as it would have been had I really stolen
the jewels"
"Heaven forgive us, Ransom; but !
can't say you are wrong," said one
brave gentleman, who had been fash
ionable dandy in those days, but who
had wife and six children now.
Gentlemen, did not fear the old
man honored and enriched by n grateful
country. The men who have fought
the best battles of life have ever pitt
ful respect for the poor and friendless.
To him l could lay bare my poor little
secret. But my place then was among
the young-the young, who, having
never conquered, ALWAYS despised the
defeated-the vain, giddy youths, ex
travagant with their fathers money,
and -
"Oh, come, Ransom" cried one Off
Ger, sit is your turn now, with ven-
geance. Please to remember that to-
night we are the abject and defeated
and be merciful."
not tell whether it was with good faith
or subtle irony that he rejoined, "You
are right" and then went on:
"In that little room, yonder, told
my sad story to that good great man
who is gone. And / folded up my
queer treasure again, for I could not
leave it behind to bear witness and,
besides, having paid such terrible
price for it, I did not see why my aunt
should not have it. And she ate it for
her supper that very night ; and next
morning, almost as soon as it was light,
there was the general hammering at the
cottage door, with basket of fowls and
fruit carried in his own hand. And,
then and there, took this little chicken
bone, and vowed that I would keep it
till the snuff-box was found, and my
self was such man among such men
that none would smile at my poverty, or
even despise my weakness.