Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-10-02
TIE HERALD.
A LIFE'S LESSON.

had HNeu nelgnD0rS TO- more than
twelve years, and it is probable they
would always have been on good
terms bad not Samuel, who hal served
under Admiral Nelson, gained at
Trafalgar a 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 a continual
source of jealousy; he accused fate
of having left him his two feet, and
complained bitterly that he had not
been able, as he said, to sell his legs
at the same price with Hullins. Every
time he vert to pay his rent he re-
peated, grumblingly, that his neigh
ter 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 inward
ly, but by degrees his dissatisfaction
was expressed loud, and became his
habitual and favor,te theme of con-
versation.
One week that his rent had fallen
behindhand, and he was sadly adj
vancing toward the house of Mr..
Taylor, in order tt. make his excuse
for The delay, he met neighbor HUI
Inns, who was as regular as clockw ork
in paying his rent, and had just been
for that purpose.
The very sight OF Samuel produced
on Robert the effect of fit Of sick
ness 80. when he bowed in reply to
the salute of HnIIins, his glance sim
gularly resembled that of bnll shak.
ing his horns at dog.
Arrived at the house of the propri.
etor, Hope did not fail to be repri-
manded. The example of his neigh
Dor was cited, who always paid
punctually and to the last penny.
'Yes,yes, murmured Robert, some
people are born with silver spoons in
their mouths. Hulins is very fortu-
nate, ana | am not surprised that be
pays punctually with such pension.
'Hulins has pension, it is true,
replied Mr.. Taylor but his infrmity
is a heavy cross, and if you were at.
flicted with it, | should pity you much
more
Not So said Hope, If | had beer
so fortunate as to lose a leg like him
twenty years ago, it would have beer
a productive day for me. | would
sell all my limbs at the same price
! Do you call his oak leg heavy cross!
think his pension should render il
light. The heaviest cross that know
of is to be obliged to labor inces
sanity
Mr.. Taylor was man of Joyous
humor, but close observer. He had
for a long time noticed the envI rus
disposition of Robert, and resolved
to convince him that the lightesl
cross might become heavy to the dis
coniented mind.
Il see, said he to Hope, that you
are disposed to do nothing. Well,
will exempt you from this obligation
OF labor of which you complain so
bitterly. If you think the cross oil
your neighbor, Samuel, so easy to
bear, will you accept lighter one, il
| will engage to give you the rent 2
That depends upon what kind OF
a cross it is, said Robert, anxiously,
for he feared that the proposition
would not be acceptable.
This, said Mr.. Taylor, taking a
piece of chalk and tracing a white
cross on Roberts jacket. During
the time that you wear this | shall
not demand penny of your rent
Hope thought, at first,t his land
lord was TESTING, but being assured
that he spoke serionsly,he exclaimed:
BY st. George! you may say that
you have seen my last money, for |
am willing to wear this cross all my
lifetime
Robert Immediately went out, con-
graduating himself on his good for
tune, and laughing all along the road
at the folly of Mr.. Taylor, who had
let him off so cheaply from paying
his rent. He had never been so Joy
Gus az at the moment of returning
home, as he found nothing to com.
PLAIN of, and his dog came to sit at
his feet, without his publishing him
for his familiarity.
As he seated himself on his arrival,
his wife did not at first notice the
white cross which he had on his
shoulder; but, having passed behind
her husband to wind up the clock,
she suddenly exclaimed in shrilI
voice
why, Robert, where have you
been? You have on your back a
cross foot Icing. You have been to
the tavern, and some drunkard among
your friends has played you a trick
to make you ridiculous. Get up and
let me brush off this cross
Away exclaimed Hope hastily
my clothes do not need your brush
ing. Go knit your stockings and lie,
me alone
THAT shall not be ! exclaimed Mrs.
Hope, in voice more shrill, Il will
not have my husband become the
laughing stock of the whole village,
and If | tear your jacket TO pieces
you shall not wear that ridiculous
cross
And as she spoke thus, the wife
attempted to brush Roberts shout
der; and the latter, who knew that
resistance would be useless, walked
I off shnffinrr the dnnr affnr him ,,in