Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1882-04-12
WOODSTOCK, VERMONT, APBIL l2, 1882.

bills before me than ] ever before or
since encountered In counting any sum,
however large or however numerous
the notes, Finally, putting chair
against tho door, spread the notes out
singly on the little table, in row, and
counted them with my fingers. Then
made two rows Of five notes each and
again counted them then five rows Of
two each and counted them. ] finally
though slowly, became satisfied that !
had in my possession double the amount
of money ! expected to deliver to my
employers agent, Temptation entered
my soul.
Five thousand dollars would relieve
mo of all my debts, Here II was with
in my grasp, ! had but to seal up
the envelope BY reweiting the waters,
inclosing but half the money, aud de-
liver il sealed to the agent, and my
trust would be, to all appearance, faith
fully discharged, Once the thought
occurred to me that possibly il was q
trap set for me by my employers
But their confidence in me was un-
bounded, aud the suspicion was formed
only to be dismissed, ! do not at
tempt to glaze over the dishonesty OF
what contemplated, but | had been
so increasingly worried by domestic
troubles arising from limited resources,
and so prosecuted by creditors, that !
almost argued myself into the convic-
ton that appropriating the money was
simply authorized sclf-dcicnse, ]
would pay all my debts, get clear with
the world once more, insist upon my
wife's adopting my views of living
save money, get into business for my
self and finally pay back the sum.
| concluded to leave the envelope
unfastcned until the morning, 80 as to
give myself that much more time be-
fore finally deciding upon an act which
all my arguments with myself had not
made entirely rcconcilablc. Arrived at
this conclusion, my attention again
turned to my host and his wife. l
could hear his voice alone now. 1t had
been sounding alone in an elevated
tone for some moments. l crept quiet
ly to the partition dividing their apart
@ant from the passage; The bright
autumn moon, which was on their Siuo
of the house, shone through their win
dow, and through the spaces between
the shrunken planks Of the partition
and out into the passage, and upon Its
floor in brilliant bars of light. 1t was
easy for me to sec what was passing
within the room. Man and wife were
knecling at their tcdside in prayer
The man with uplifted head and closed
eyes, uttering an earnest supplication,
his wife beside him and one arm passed
affectionately through one of his, and
her head resting against his breast
They were kneeling at the side of their
bed opposite me, and his face was
plainly visible. Its calm and pious ex-
preston at the moment was sufficient
rebuke to my unjust suspicious. l be-
gan to listen in time to hear him say:
"Pardon. Oh, merciful father, not
only the sins of Thy humble servant
and his household, but turn the hearts
of those who have done evil unto him,
who have wished him injury, and who
harbored unjust suspicious of him.
Bless such, Oh, Lord, and preserve
them in order that they may turn from
their ways and seek the path of right
eousness."
His serious, earnest and manly voice
struck chord in my heart, not only in
sympathy with the honest and tender
supplication that was passing his lips,
but contrition for the wrong / had done
him by my suspicious. I involuntarily
compared him, whatever were his good
or bad deeds, at least an humble peni-
tent: before his God, with the wretch
that l had decided but few moments
ago to make of myself by the misap-
preparation of my employers money,
and still, however, by the relief it
could obtain for me would not quite
give way to the feeling of repentance
which was knocking for admission at
nv breast. / had half decided to turn
away and drive these better thoughts
from my mind, when l observed somc-
thing move in small crib that was
placed at the side and toward the foot
of the bed. Its occupant, II grandchild,
whose parents they had Informed ME
were dead, awakened probably by its
grandfather voice, rose up, looked
around, and settled down upon its
knees, and clasping its little hands as