The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-10-11
A DEBT CANCELLED.


volceless; yet beside 1t, as reverently as
though bending over something hu-
man that had died-with a passionate
burst of grief, as for some dearly.loved
friend, knelt little lad of some thir-
teen summers
Out from the mud, with tender, ca
ressing touch, he lifted up the shattered
remnants, his tears falling the while
thick and fast, his slight frame convulsed
with the sobs which would not be re-
pressed.
He made no outcry, but his face was
white with the anguish of despair. He
had lost his all-the friend to whom he
poured out all his woes; the companion
who, until now, never had failed him;
his second, better, nobler self.
Not many PAGES distant on the side
walk stood the perpetrator of the out
rage, a sort of underlined remorse gnaw-
ing within his breast. For mere bravado
he had wrenched from the hands of the
little musician his instrument and brok-
en- it across his knee, throwing the pieces
in the mud.
Realizing dimly that he had commit
ted a towards and bully's act, he took
from his pocket small coin and tossed
it toward the boy.
"Take that" he cried, "and stop your
whimpering. You've no business to
play your music in the public streets
You're beggar and nuisance!"
But in an instant, with flashing eyes
and head thrown proudly back, the little
street Arab had flung the money back.
''You think you can pay me thuS!" he
replied, in freDzied tones. at is 1 who
owe you a debt L yet will live to wipe
out!"
They stood one instant looking stead
lily into each others eyes-one the senior
of the other by some three or four years,
tall and powerful, clad in broadcIoth and
fine linen-one a little, shrinking lad:
his ragged clothes bespattered with the
mud of the streets.
AT this moment, an open carriage
rolled by, but the little girl seated within
it had, with her quick eyes, discovered
something amiss.
She had seen the dsdainful return of
the rejected coin she had heard the
boys words; she had marked the traces
of passionate grief upon his face, and,
with hasty command to the coachman
to stop, she called him to her.
"What are you about to do, Miss Sell
c,1 aI ha 1al 1, L.
governess.
Nothing naughty, dear Miss Irwin,'
she replied. "This poor boy-see, his
violin is broken. / am so sorry for him!'
The lad slowly had approached the
carriage, in obedience to her command;
but there was no light in his face, no
eagerness in his step.
"How did this happen ?" asked the
little girl.
Carl looked up. Was this an angel
who spoke to him : He had never seen
any one half so lovely. Her hair float
ed about her shoulders in shower of
gold, and resting on it was a white hat,
with long white plume dropping far
down behind; her eyes were like two
purple pansies; on her cheek was the
flush of the sunrise; her lips were red as
the carnation, though they quivered
with her unspoken sympathy.
The boy held,up the broken pieces of
his violin.
1T was my all !" he said. ''I shall
starve now, but am glad of that, for I
did not lovei it only that it brought me
bread. loved it because it talked to me,
and with it was never lonely.
"But can you not buy another 2"
II have no money, miss. I can never
make enough, since this has gone. L
had hoped some day to buy something
better than this, but now the day will
never come ~
A shade of thoughtfulness crept over
the sweet, fair face In one little gloyed
hand she held a tiny purse, and within
1t there bright, glittering gold pieces
shone. They were to purchase a coveted
doll, her fond fathers birthday gift.
She turned hastily to her governess.
PLEASE, Miss Irwin, do you think
papa would be displeased if do not buy
my doll ? No, mol know he would
not !"
Then, waiting for no reply, she pressed
the purse into the boys hands.
''Go buy your violin, !" she said. "No,
you must not return this as you returned
the other money; but some day, when
you are great musician, you shall re-
pay me. Who knows you may play