Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1879-02-06
Confession Of q. Thief

Of my fathers oldest friends, call
ed on me.
sEMr. Charles he said, aftel
we had shaken hands, "we have
arranged your fathers affairs
and found a purchaser for the
estate, but"
care all the out-laying debts
paid in fun?Yi i interrupted
quickly.
"They are, butt continued oul
kind friend in a troubled voice
II grieye to say there is hardly
anything left for you and youl
sister; scarcely a thousand dol
lars" GSeI
"Ahr' he went on, ''if you
had only followed my advice
There were among your fathers
debts more than one that could
honestly have been cut down by
one-half. Your father had ever
an open hand and a generous
heart, sirp'
81 regret nothing that has been
done, Mr.. Maitland, and have
but one more question to ask
you; when can / have the thou
sand dollars?"
Tomorrow if you wish it"
A few days later my sister
EmmeIine and / bade adieu to
our once happy home-ours,
alas! no longer-and departed
for New York.
In spite of my efforts to bear
up against the sudden adversely
that had fallen upon us, the blow
nearly overwhelmed me at first.
i did not think so much of N.Y.
self; a man can always make
his way in this world with en-
ergy and strong will, but / was
troubled for my dear sister. How
should | find the means of pro-
viding for this fragile, delicate
girl of sixteen all the comforts
and luxuries she had hitherto en-
joyed? When this terrible prob
lem first presented itself to me, l
fell prey, for just one moment,
to utter discouragement and des-
pair. But those of my race are
proud and strong of will, and /
mentally resolved that l would
fight the battle of life SO brayely
that victory must at last crown
my efforts.
Arrived in New York, we
took modest apartment and
furnished it with as much COM
fort as our slender resources
would allow. i made out all of
my fathers former friends, re-
solved to apply to them one after
another until / had obtained en-
ployment. Day after day and
week after week i solicited, hop
ed and waited. Promises with
out number, expressions of inter-
est for myself and sister and re-
gret for our bereavement were
lavished upon me. But that was
all. 1t was the old story so we'll
known to all those whose hard
doom condemns them to solicit
aid or succor from their fellows
first, then oblivion.
We had now been three months
in New York, when one morning
/ found that only five dollars re-
manned in my purse. Here then,
was the end of all my dreams.
But how to face the cruel reali-l
tyl The winter was approach
ing, my sisters pale face was
paler day by day, and
a hacking cough began to harrass
her. Another fortnight passed,
during which | had been obliged
to part with my watch and chain
and even some articles of cloth
ing, to procure the bare neces-i
ssries of life. But worst of all, !
l was at length forced to ac-
quaint Emmeline with our terri
BILE position. The poor child
tried to comfort me with tender
caresses and hopeful words, but
the words died away on her
quivering lips and gave place to
bitter sobs. And l could do
nothing. Nothing 2 All. yes
one last hope remained to me.
Some days previous I had writ
ten to Mr.. Maitland, telling him
of my desperate condition and
requesting him to give me some
letters of introduction to the
New York law Offices, and that
very morning had received an
o,,svvar in the shane of a large. |