The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-07-25


changed for smaller onse. he did so this
morning.
"a hundred dollars" Mr.. Harlon had said.
IS he hsnded-him the money, and had chsrg-
ed it 10 in the book,
Harry took it, and he noticed as he
did so that they were all twenty dollar
notes.
At the bank, several persons were in, and
he had TO wait quite little time, during
which he held the bright new bills, aud
TUNED them over without thinking about
them particularly, only that he was in
hurry to get them changed and be of.
Suddenly he started, and his heart beat
quickly, for he counted not FIVE bills bat six.
They we're new, and in their crisp freshness
two had stuck together, only separating in
time for him TO see the mistake before the
cashier was at liberty to attend 70 him.
Passing in FIVE to be changed. he quietly
folded the sixth, and clipped it into his peck
Ell.
What was he thinking Oft He did no. re-
turn at once to the Office and rectifY the mis-
take. Perhaps he was thinking Of the hon
house. He knew il was mistake. They
were rich firm. He was not responsible
for other peoples csrelessness, etc, etc.
This aud much more passed through his
mind as he mounted the rack ard drove of,
forgetting to glance 81 their side Of the house
as he came to q turn in the road where he
could always see the rnorning-glories, and
never before had forgotten to nod, whether
snybod- saw him or rot. His thoughts ware
eiEewhcre.
So swift is temptation to take advantage
of every circumstance, that by noon Harry
had persuaded himself it would be simply
ridiculous for him to give up what hsd so
accidentally land he thought opportuaely)
fallen into his hands. He tried to reason
sgain that he had earned it twenty timss
ever.
Harry wss q bright boy. He knew right
from wrong, and in the midst of his most
justifying arguments the thought would OBJ
trude, What cheat the man who has at
least been just to me, and who is already be.
ginning TO be more2" Then, as he drove
through bit of still and lonely woods, a voice
would seem to whisper in mis- limos. soul,
"Tbou God seest me-"
The day passed, the last sests had been de-
livered, and the last job paid for. He had
forgotten to "come across" anything for
Grub, and now it was too late-no. even a
berry, nor stray blossom. She was already
watching for him, and, in q few minutes he
came in sight of her, and she stretched out
her little sunny head, smiling her sweet well
come TO him.
Oh, how could he 90 home with that sw-
full load in his pocket, and. worse still, the
weight upon his heart? he could not He
would stop a. the counting room, and tell
Mr.. Hsrlon about it, and the hen houIe
might go. The hens would do we'll enough
in corner of tee woodshed.
But then he hesitsted, fearing he shoald be
asked why he had not stopped in the morn
ing. Whist could he say to that2
Nothing" he thought, in an agony of
doubt and fear; for he knew in his secret
heart he had meant to keep it, and the re
membranes of his guilty weakness almost
crushed him.
What should he do? A terrible despair
parslyzed his judgement. He was afraid his
voice would tremble and his manner betray
him. Still, he considered that, when he
handed in his account book. il would be
quite easy to get over it, somehow; and 50,
summoning all his courage, he opened the
door and walked In, only to find the clerk,
and learn that Mr.. Hsrlon had gone to sup
per.
There he was, with his burden the same IS
beforei and, putting up his horse, he walked
slowly home with feeling lit would be i'm
possible TO describe.
Club seemed to feel that all was not right,
and his mother appeared constrained and
unnatural, seen through the distorted vision
of his sick mind; so that, altogether, the sup
per was not half as CHEEKY as usual.
Harry could not endure it. He stole out
just at dusk, and almost ran over to Mr..
Harlon's house. That gentleman was sitting
quietly in his library, when Harry appeared,
flushed and breathless, and looked up in some
surprise to see him there at such time
"You made mistake this morning, sir"
gssped Harry, his voice thick with excite
ment. "Hese it is-twenty dollars too
much"
"When did you discover it2" kindly in
quired Mr.. Harlon.
AT the bank" replied Harry, almost sink
ing with shame and confusion.
He could say no more, for burst of tears
prevented further speech.
"Come hero, my boy said his questioner;
and he drew him down beside him. Snow
tell me all about it." gently urged the kindly
man. "You are on the right track, and Pm
sure it has been hsrd one this time"
Harry could not speak for his sobs.
Chow did it happen2" persisted Mr.. Hsr-
lon, in sn encouraging tone.
"Ohl" said Harry, ~ wanted to make q
hen-house.n
"a hen-house7" repeated Mr.. Hsrlon.
"What do you want with hen-house2"
Then Harry told him of the present they
had had, their stinted means, how much he
wanted little money, and how dearly he
should love TO buy his mother new bon
net.
"But," he added. 81 don't want anything
now, only for you TO forgive me, and not tell
my mother. Oh, sirl" he said, in keen dis.
tress, "whst would she ssy3 What would
| che do2"
Say nothing to your mother about il, re-
| piled Mr.. Harlon. "l am not afraid of the
boy who so bravely humbles himself to con-
fess fault, or premeditsted crime. Lat il
be your lifelong lesson, and will be your
friend. Ask God 10 help you, for tsmpta-
| ton and dark days come to all"
Could he believe HIMSELF Was this the
end of what he feared would plunge him into
| irretrievable ruin2 He was dumb with graf
itude. But silence is often as eloquent as any
words can be, and Mr.. Hsrlon understood
the speaking looks that could no. find ex-
preston except through tears.
Years went on, and Harry rose steadily
and honestly from one post to another, until
he sat in the same counting room where he
had received twenty dollars too much-the
equal and partner Of the man who had SO
fell