The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-06-21
Hta I'emntat1on.

It lay there just within reach, the prct-
ty glittering thing, dropped carelessly
on the velvet lining OF the jewelers.
window-tray, just as it had fallen from
the case when some hasty hand had
moved it, and the man standing outside
knew that he could slipin and snatch it,
unnoticed, at almost any moment when
the door opened; and what beautiful
thing it would be for his Janey to wear
on her dainty. white neck
His Janey! The jewels in their vel
vet cases faded out of sight, the gold
neck-chain with its engraved heart
shaped locket, vanished, and there stood
before him little slender child, with
the light of Heaven in her eyes, with
soft, falling locks of bright hair, with
pale lips, and the weary, wasted look
which suffering brings Overshadowing
herlike the clouding Of an angels wings.
All! an angel! And he wanted the gold
en-, glttering bauble for her-he would
sell his soul that his child might have
the paltry, perishable thing!
He won't on his way then, grimy, I'M
washed-a laboring man who had no
work to do-nothing to live on but
promises and the little his good wife
could earn by days labor when she
could leave Janey, the sick child. He
went home to tho one poor room they
occupied, and was cautioned not to wake
the little one. She was very sick-the
doctor had been there, and said it was a
crisis; she must be kept very quiet. The
man strobe to the bed and looked at her,
his one wee lamb. There she lay, sunk
deep in the poor pillow scarcely alive,
scarcely breathing, her cheeks pale and
sunken, her small hands crossed on her
bosom. Should she wake she would
ask with the pretty caprice of babyhood
what ''pappie" had brought her. and
he had not earned penny that whole
week.
When the supper of bread and tea
was eaton he said he would go out and
take a stroll while his wife cleared up
the dishes, and he took his hat and
walked down the street in the direction
of the jewelers. store. He half hoped
that it would be closed, but it was not.
He looked in the window; the gold
chain lay there yet. Some purchaser
hurried in, leaving the door open. He
did not think of Janey; he did not think
at all. The only thing he knew was
that he was walking away, and clasped
in the palm of his grimy, closed hand
was the bauble he had coveted. 1t was
tho first fruits of dishonor that hand had
ever clasped.
''Stop thief! Stop thief" He ran
when he heard that cry, not in the di-
rection of home, but towards the river;
he sped on with tho words ringing
knell in his ears. Then he found that
he was not followed; they must have
lost track of him, or-it couldn't be that
they meant him; his sin had not surely
found him out 80 soon. He turned and
went home,
There all was confusion-lights, hur-
rying feet, and y Clergyman coming out
with bowed head. What did it all
meanP He went in and saw his wifo
crying, and a strange woman regarding
her with compassion-Janey-Oh, my
God-Janey was dead! He had made
himself thief for nothing.
''Hugh, Hugh, wake up! What's the
matter, manp Here's Mr.. Gardiner
waiting to see you; he wants to engage
you for reg lar work, and Janey's bet
ther; out of danger, the docthor says
Wake up, man-what ais YEP"
Sure enough, what did all himP He
jumped out of his chair like lunatic
and hugged Janey to his breast as if no
would never let her go-and I'm sure
lisa wonder it didn' kill her-and then
he lifted his eyes to Heaven, ''The Lord
be praised" he said: sit was only
dreamr'
''He must have been dreaming tho
child was dead" said his wife; ''he al
ways has bad dreams when he sleeps
after simmer that way -
But he had dreamed that he was dead
himself morally dead in trespasses and
sin-which would have separated him
forever from little Janey. He had been
tempted, but he had not fallen.
''Oh, never from thy tempted heart
Let thine integrity depart"
Mrs H. L. RGy79e,