Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1885-12-22
MISCELLANEOUS.
A Christmas Eve Event;
Or, Honesty tie Best Policy.

can't stand IL any longer, Cor
nelia; I'll go out, and perhaps some
thing will turn up for us.
g It's cold night, Robert
Cold, yesi But It's not much
colder out than in. 1t would have
been much better for you if you had
married John Tremain," he said,
bitterly.
Don't say that. Robert; never
regretted my choice"
!" Not even when there is not loaf
of bread in the house for you and the
children?''
F" Not even now, Robert. Don't
he discouraged. God has not for
saken us. Perhaps this Christmas
Eve the tide will turn; better days
may dawn upon us tomorrow.
Robert Brice shook his head de-
spondingly.
4" You are more hopeful than I,
Cornelia. Day after day have been
in search of employment. 1 have
called at fifty places, only to receive
the same answer everywhere.
just then little Jimmy, who had
been asleep, woke up.
Mother" he pleaded, won't
you give me piece of bread? 1 am
so hungry
"There is no bread, Jimmy, dar-
ling" said the mother, with an ach-
ing heart.
"When will there be some?" asked
the little child, piteously.
Tears came to the mothers eyes.
She knew not what to do.
+" Jimmy. I'll bring you some
bread" said the father, hoarseIy /:
and he seized his hat and went to the
door.
His wife, alarmed, laid her hand
upon his sleeve. She saw the look
in his eyes; she feared to what step
desperation might lead him.
Remember, Robert - she said,
sol6mniy, it is hard to starve, but
there are things that are worse.'
He shook off her hand, but not
roughly, and without a word, passed
out.
Out in the cold street! There
would be their only home next. For
a brief time longer he had the shelter
of n cherries room, but the rent
would become due at the end of the
month, and he had nothing to meet it.
Robert Brice was n mechanic,
competent and skillful. Three years
since, he lived in a country village
where his expenses were moderate,
and he found no difficulty in meeting
them. But in an evil hour he grew
tired of his village home, aud re-
moved to the city. Here he vainly
hoped to do better. For awhile he
met with very good success; but a
time of great depression came, with
it n suspension of business enter
prises. Work ceased for Robert and
many others. If he had been in his
old home, he could have turned his
hand to something else, and, at the
worst, could have borrowed Of his
neighbor till better times. So day by
day he went out to seek work, only to
return disappointed. If he had been
alone he could have got on somehow !;
but it was a sore trial to come to the
cheerless room and his pale wife and
hungry children, with no relief to of
fer them.
When. on that Christmas Eve,
Robert Brice went into the streets,
he hardly knew where he was going
to redeem the promise he had made
little Jimmy. He was absolutely
penniless, and had been so for three
days. There was nothing that he
was likely to find to do that night.
"I will pawn my coat" he said.
"I cannot see my wife and children
starve.''
1t was well worn overcoat, and
that winter night he needed some
thing more to keep him warm
Weakened by enforced fasting, he
was more sensitive to the cold, and
shivered as lie walked along the
pavement.
!" Yes" he said. e my coat must
go. know not how ] shall get on
without it; but 1 cannot see the
children starve before my eyes"
He was not in general an envious
man; but when he saw sleek. we'll
fed men, buttoned up to the throat
in warm overcoats, come out of the
brilliantly lighted stores, provided
with presents for happy children at
home, while his were starving, he
suffered some bitter thoughts, upon
the inequality of fortunes gifts, to
come to his mind. Why should they
be so happy, while he was so miser-
able?
There was time, he remembered
1T we'll when he, too, suffered not the
Christmas Eve to pass without some
little gifts forJimmy and Agnes
How little he dreamed that they
should ever want bread
There was one man, shorter than
himself, warmly clad, who passed
him with his hands thrust deep in the
pockets of his overcoat. There was
pleasant smile upon his face. He
was, doubtless, thinking of happy