The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-05-11
A Moment of Temptation:

sits a cold night, Robert"
"Cold, yes, but it's not much colder
out than in. It would have been better
for you, dear, if you had married John
Trcmain."
'Don't say that, Robert. I have ncvc
regretted my choice"
'tNot even when there is not a loaf of
bread in the house for you and the chill
drens"
"Not even now, Robert. God has not
forsaken US. Perhaps on Easter day the
tide will turn"
''It's been Lent all the winter with us"
said Robert bitterly. "Day after day I
have searched for employment. I have
called at fifty places and received the
same answer everywhere"
A curley-headed boy crept up to his
mothers knee.
"Mothcr," he pleaded, "wont you
give me a piece of bread2 lam hungry
just a little piece, mother"
"Therc is no bread, Jimmy darling,"
said the mother, with m aching heart.
''When will there be some2" asked the
little one pitcously.
Tears came into the mothe-'s eyes.
She could not speak.
"Jimmy, I'll bring you some bread"
said the father hoarsely, and he seized
his hat and won't to the door.
His wife alarmed, laid her hand on his
sleeve. She saw the look in his eyes,
and feared that he might be driven to
some desperate step. Remember, Rob-
ert," she said solcmnly, sit is hard to
s~tarve, but there arc things, that are
worse"
He shook her of, but not roughly, and
without a word went out.
Out into the cold streets that would be
their home ere long, for the rent would
soon be due and then even the shelter of
the cherries room in the poor lodging
house would be denied them. Rob
ert Bruce was a mechanic, competent
and skillful. Three years since he lived
in q country home, but in an evil hour he
removed to the city. Here he vainly
hoped to do better. For a while he was
successful, but he found his lodging
house a poor substitute for the pretty
cottage that had been his country home.
He saw his mistake, but was too proud
to go back, though his wife pined to do
80.
Then a time of great depression came
and business seemed suspended. Work
ceased for Robert Bruce as for others.
If he had been in his old home he could
have turned his hand to something else,
or at the most have borrowed of q neigh
Dor till better times, but now he felt
hopeless
When he went out on the street he did
not know how he was to keep his prom
ise to little Jimmy. He was absolutely
pennies, and had been so for three days.
There was nothing that he was likely to
find to do that night.
81 will pawn my ~overcoat," he said.
II cannot see my wife and children
starve.n
'tIt was a well-worn ~overcoat and the
night was raw with the clustering winds
of March. He wa 80 weakened by fast
ing that he was shivering even while
wearing it, and needed something much
warmer.
"Yes," he said, ct must go. I don't
know how I shall get along without it,
but I cannot hear the poor little ones cry
for bread"
He was not in general an envious man,
but when he saw the slick, well-fed citi-
zens buttoned up to the chin in warm
overcoats coming out of their grand
homes, while his children were starving,
he had some bitter thoughts of the inc
quality of fortunes gifts. Why should
they be happy while he was SO miserable2
There was a man just passing with his
hands thrust deep in the pockets of his
shaggy overcoat. There was a jolly
smile on his face. He was doubtless
thinking of a pleasant circle at home.
Robert knew him as a rich cabinet-maker,
whose ample warehouse he often passed.
he applied to this man only two days be-
fore fer employment and had been re-
fused. just as he passed Robert Mr..
Grimes drew his handkerchief from his
pocket. As he did SO he did not per-
ceive that his pocketbook anne with it
and fell on the pavement. He did not
perceive, but Robert did.
His heart leaped into his mouth and a
sudden temptation entered his mind. He