The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-29
THE DAILY STAR
ALIFE'S LESSON.


Nelson, gained at Trafalgar small
pension which he had paid for by the loss
of one of his legs. This leg less, and this
pension more, were for Robert contin-
ual source of jealousy; he accused fate
Of having left him his two feet, and COM
planned bitterly that he had not been
able, as he said, to sell his legs at the
ame price with Hullins. Every time
he went to pay his rent he repeated,
grumblingly, that his neighbor was very
fortunate, that he was in condition to
meet his bills, since the king gave him a
good pension; while he, poor fellow, had
hard work to make both ends of the year
meet, without taking into account his
creditors.
Robert at first contented himself with
making these reflections inwardly, but by
degrees his dissatisfaction was expressed
aloud, and became his habitual and fa-
Norite theme of conversation.
One week that his rent had fallen be-
hindhand, and he was sadly advancing
toward the house of Mr.. Taylor, in order
to make his excuses for the delay, he met
neighbor Hullins, who was as regular as
clockwork in paying his rent, and had
lust been for that purpose.
The very sight of Samuel produced on
robert the effect of fit of sickness, so,
when he bowed in reply to the salute OF
Hullins, his glance singularly resembled
that Of bull shaking his horns at a
dog.
Arrived at the house of the proprietor,
Hope did not fail to be reprimanded.
The example of his neighbor was cited,
who always paid punctually, and to the
last penny.
eyes, yes," murmured Robert, "some
people are born with silver spoons in
their mouths. Hulins is very fortunate,
and am not surprised that he pays
puDctually with such pension"
" "Hullins has pension, it is true, re-
piled Mr.. Taylor; "but his infrmity is a
heavy cross, and if you were afflicted
with it, should pity you much more. 81
'Not so, said Hope. 'Tf | had been
20 fortunate as to lose a leg like him.
twenty wears ago, it would have been a
productive day for me. I would sell all
Of my limbs at the same price. Do you
call his oak leg a heavy cross? | think
his pension should render it light. The
heaviest cross that | know of is to be
obliged to labor necessarily"
Mr.. Taylor was a man of Joyous
humor, but close observer. He had for
long time noticed the envious disposi-
ton of Robert, and resolved to convince
him that the lightest cross might become
Ieovv IN H., no discontented mind
sT !see." said he to nvrsc, n,;c "that YOU are
disposed to do nothing. Well, l will ex.
empt you from this obligation of labor
Of which you complain 50 bitterly. Il
you think the cross OF your neighbor
Samuel, SO easy 70 bear, wi you accept
. lighter one, if will engage to give you
the rent"
"That depends upon what kind of a
cross it isl said Robert, anxiously, for
be feared that the proposition would not
be acceptable.
"This," said Mr.. Taylor, taking piece
of chalk and tracing white cross on
Roberts jacket. During the time that
you wear this shall not demand penny
Of your rent"
Hope thought at first that his landlord
was jesting; but, being assured that he
spoke seriously, he exclaimed:
"By St. George you may say that vol
have seen my last money, for / am will
Ing to wear this cross all my lifetime"
Robert Immediately went out, congrat
ulating himself on his poor fortune anc
laughing all along the road at the foil,
of Mr.. Taylor, who had let him off 81
cheaply from paying his rent He hat
never been so joyous as at the moment o
returning home, as he found nothing tt
complain of, and his dog came to sit a
his feet, without his Furnishing him fo
his familiarity.
As he seated himself on his arrival, hi
wife did not at first notice the whit
cross which he had on his shoulder; but
having passed behind her husband to win
up the clock, she suddenly exclaimed i
ashrill voice:
"Why, Robert, where have you beer
You have on your back cross a foo
long. You have been to the tavern, an
some drunkard among your friends hs
played you a trick to make you ridicr
lous. Get up and let me brush off thi
cross"
"Awayw exclaimed Hope, hastily, I'm
clothes do not need your brushing. G
e knit your stockings and let me alone"
'That shall not be!' exclaimed Mr.
Hope in voice more shrill. 81 will nc
have my husband become the laughing
stock of the whole village, and if 1 tie,
your jacket to pieces you shall not we;
that ridiculous cross"
And as she spoke thus, the wife a
tempted to brush Roberts shoulder; an
the latter, who knew that resistant
would be useless, walked off, shutting Il
door after him violently.
"What a fury" muttered he, as
went away. If she had been more gent
Iwould have told her of my good fc
tune; but she does not deserve to knc
it."
"Oh, oh, Robert" exclaimed old Fo
at the moment when Hope turned t
corner of the house, "what's that viii
cross on your back?'