The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-02-17

10 nsu npnhbtous IememDefeu MIN as
having been spoken ofas disgusted with
trade, and as having sought q home in
the wilderness with his family, and
earning living literally by the sweat
Of his brow.
There were but two bedrooms in tbs
house, both on the same floor, o passage
which commenced at the head OF the
stairs dividing them. While the
thoughts which / have related were
passing through my mind heard voices
In the other bedroom and quietly
opened my door, which my host had
closed behind him. Standing out in
the passage I could distinguish mau's
and woman's voice. At first their Ian
gusge wss uniutelligible, but gradually
my ear became accustomed to the duty
l endeavored to put IL to, and / could
distinguish that the burden Of their
talk was their domestic expenses, and
the general current OF their thoughts
was the difficulty of getting through
with oettain undertakings they had in
co ntemplaion or had commenced. 1t
was evident that the man was more
hopeful than the woman. My excited
imagination at once framed the theory
that the treasure In my possession was
designed by them to solve this diff
Guilty, and that the reluctant man was
being urged on by the less scrupulous
OF braver woman.
a sudden movement of ono of them
toward the door caused me to retreat
into my room. heard the bolt of their
door moved, and supposing 1t was to
unfasten IL, hurried back into my own
apartment and caught at the envelope,
Intending to hasten it out Of sight. In
my esgeruess to grasp Il, Il fell off the
tumbler with the wafered side upper.
most and opened The waters had
been so far dissolved by the heat and
moisture as to split In two, leaving one.
half OF each There were three) ON tho
Zap, and the other half OF each on the
body OF the envelope. Meanwhile,
there was no sign or sound Of an inroad-
into my room, which had seen it was
impossible to fasten the door save by
moving some Of the furniture against
It. became convinced that as yet
everything was safe, and yielding to O
feeling Of curiosity drew the money
from the inclosure and counted it over.
There were ten one thousand dollars
billsi Twas astounded, and for the time
forgot the fear that so recently har-
assed me. I looked ut the memorandum
on the back Of the envelope.
It was $4,000" The letter was
opened before me. read it over. It
named 5000 as the sum inclosed.
There was evidently an error. counted
Iit over again. Ten thousand dollars
was the sum before mel Again and
Iagain counted it. I had been used to
handling large sums and counting
large sums OF money daily; but actu.
ally found more difficulty in arriving
at the actual count OF ten bank bills
before me than ever before or since
encountered In counting any sum, how.
ever large or however numerous the
notes. Finally, putting chair against
the door. spread the notes out singly
on the little table, in row. and counted
then with my finger. Then I made
counted them then five rows Of two
each and counted them. I finally,
though slowly. became satisfied that
had in my possession double the amount
Of money I was expected to deliver
to my employer agent. Temptation
snteied my soul.
Five thousand dollars would relieve
me Of all my debts Here it was within
my grasp. had but to seal up the en-
velope by rewetting the waters, inclosine
but half the money, and deliver it sealed
to the agent, and my trust would be, tc
al Appearances, faithfully discharged
Once the thought occurred to me that
|, possibly it was trap set for me by my
/ employers. But their confidence il
me was unbounded, and the suspicion
|. was formed only to be dismissed. dc
not attempt to glaze over the dishon
esty Of what I contemplated. but had
bssn 70 increasingly worried by domes
ito troubles arising from limited re-
sources. and 90 persecuted by cred.
itors, that I almost argued myself intt
the. conviction that sppropriating thu
money was simply authorized self
idefense. would pay all my debts
lla6s claar with the world once more
Insist upon my wifs's adopting my view
LOT living, save money. get into business
for myself and finally pay back the sum-
concluded to leave the envelop,
unfastened until the morning, SO as 4
| give myself that much more time be
fore finally deciding upon an act whicl
all my arguments with myself had no
made entirely reconcilable. Arrived q
this conclusion, my attention agar
turned to my host and his wife.
lcould hear his voice alone now. 1t hat
been sounding alone In an elevatet
Itone for some moments. 1 crept quiet
ly to the partition dividing their apart
ment from the passage The brigh
autumn moon, which was on their sid
Of the house. shons through their win
dow. and through the spaces betweel
the shrunken planks OF the partition
and out into the passage, and upon it
fioor In brilliant liars OF light. It wa
easy for me- TO see what was passing
within the room. Man aud wife wer
knesling at their bedside in prayer
The man with upiifted head and close.
eyes, uttering an earnest supplication
his wife beside him and one arm passe,
sffectionately through one OF his, and he
head resting sgaibs. his breast. The,
were kneeling ut the side of their be,
opposite me, and his face was plainl,
visible. lts calm and pious expression
| ~ Wv AAcAk4ohe Uoo ohhAAeas 4eba1
to my unjust suspicious. i began b
Listen In time to hear him say: "Par
don. Oh. merciful father. not only tn
sins Of Thy humble servant and hi
household, but turn the hearts Of thos
who have done evil unto him. who hay
wished him injury, and who marlboro,
unjust suspicious of him. Bless such
Oh, Lord, and preserve them in orde
that they may turn from their ways an,
seek the path Of righteousness"
His serious, earnest and manly voic
struck chord in my heart. not only il
sympathy with the honest and tende
supplication that was passing his lips
] but conttition fer the wrong ! had don
him BY my suspicious. Involuntary
compared him. whatever were his goo
or bad deeds, at least an humble peni
I