The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-03-22

Mrs Spaulding regarded me in deep
sympathy. " You may go into the gar
den and weed that carrot bed, she said
kindly. 81 will pay you for it."
A fash of JOY filled my heart. hob
bled out to the garden, laid my crutch
on the grass and began work in earnest.
When the wedding was over, 1 went into
the house to see Mrs. Spaulding.
"You have worked very industriously, 4"
she said encouragingly, and dropped fifty
cents into my hand.
THANK you, kind lady" responded
gratefully. This money will give me a
good lift. I'm on my way to Braggate's
Mills to try and find work 1t isn't be-
cause I'm lazy that I'm poor, but I'm
cripple, and it is real hard getting
along
Mrs. Spaulding fixed her dark eyes
searchingly on me, as if she doubted
the truth of my story. 1 bore her close
inspection without the tremor of mus
Gle.
you are an honest, fne-looking boy"
was her verdict; "you possess a brave
spirit that can meet and conquer difficult
ties. Take this you need all you can
get, she added, handing me two-dollar
bill. "And if you do not succeed in
finding employment, comes back to me.
1 will give you something to do"
Thank you thank you, I responded
fervently; Il shall never forget your
kindness.
returned to Mr.. Brunleys house.
The family had called me fool, and a
"know-nothing," again and again. Yet 1
had planned and executed a trick which
had made me the possessor of two dollars
and half. A few cents was all | had
ever before had at time, and so much
money seemed a vast treasure. No re-
Ggious instruction had ever been given
me, yet something within plainly told
me had done wrong. Mrs. Spaulding's
words of sweet sympathy and kindness
were the first that had fallen on my ear
since [ had become an orphan, and they
deeply touched my heart; but I had
gained them by gross deception. The
thought was poison in my soul it was
terrible torture. Two hours l pondered
upon what had occurred. Then l hurried
to Mrs. Spaulding's house The twilight
shadows were advancing, and 1 found
her sitting in a pleasant, well-ighted
parlor.
Mrs. Spaulding" said upon enter
ing, [ something to-to-say =
We'll, what is it? You are the boy,
l believe, who lives at Mr.. Brunley's,"
she said, encouragingly.
&c Yes, my name is Joseph Harding" I
said with down cast eyes, and-and-
Oh, how hate to tell you You are a
real splendid woman. You've been kind
and generous to me-nobody ever was
beforehand that's what makes it so aw-
full hard to tell you.
eco no, don't be afraid" said Mrs
Spau ding, smilingly.
well, ma'am, I've used you awful
mean. I've lied to you and fooled you
al am sure do not know when.
"You see, ma am, Mr.. Brunley grinds
all he can out of me it is kicks and
blows and work, work, work, all the
time This morning he went off and !
took it into my head I'd run away but !
hadn't any money. Last week I saw you
give to blind beggar; and it struck me,
if I made believe [ was beggar, maybe
you'd give to me, too. So I put on some
Olu ClOGueSj anu Ileu my lOOG up W my
knee, and took a crutch and hobbled
down here and you paid me fifty cents
for my work, and gave me two dollars
besides. Didn't [ feel rich, though
Then I thought how I'd got it by cheat
ing noble woman, and it cut me clear
through inside. Let me keep your kind
words, ma am, always, always; may
never get any more but the money I've
brought back it would kill me to keep
it, and quickly forced two dollars and
a helf into her hand.
Poor boy" said Mrs Spaulding ten
DERBY, "this confession must have cost
you heavy struggle"
" 1t has been kinder tough, but it is all
over now, and I feel great deal easier
inside"
Then Mrs. Spaulding, in a low, sweet
voice, questioned me closely. told her
o. my hard, sad life. Ny mother ]
could not remember, and my father had
died on our passage to America, and l
had been taken to the almshouse, where
had been cruelty treated, and at Mr.
Brunley' it had been harder still.
"If l don't know much, ended sor-
rowfully, 1--WE got feelin', and it hurts
Just as much to be licked and knocked
over the head dozen times a day as if l
wasn't fool"
hope you will soon be happier,
said Mrs. Spaulding Pityingly.