The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-05-11
'This will buy bread Cor my wife and
Children thought Robert inatantlu

'This will buy bread Cor my wife and
children" thought Robert instantly.
A vision Of the comfort the money
would bring into that cherries room
lighted up his heart for an instant, but
then he was not dishonest. Conscience
spoke. The money was not his, much as
he needed it.
"But 1 can't see my wife and children
starve," he thought. GOOD has sent this.
He dropped it in my way-it will save
their ivcs-a life is worth more than any
thing-God will forgive me-"
But all this was sophistry and he knew
it. In a moment he felt it to be so.
There were some things worse than star
Walton. Dolly had said so the last thing
before he came out. Could he meet her
gaze if he returned with food so obtained.
'Pve lived honest so far. Iwont turn
thief now," he said.
He hurried after the owner of the
pockctbook with Jimmy's cry for bread
sounding in his ears. It was with a sub
lime effort that he stepped forward and
placed his hand on the tradcsman's
shoulder md extended the hand that
held the pockctbook.
'Thank you," said Mr.. Grimes, turn
ing round; I hadn't perceived my loss.
Pm much obliged to you"
"You have reason to be-" said Robert,
in a low voice. 81 was very near keep
ing it,"
"That would have been dishonest"
said Mr.. Grimes, his tone altering slight
~.
eyes, it would; but it is hard for a
man to be honest when he is pcnniless
and his wife and children without q
crust"
"Surcly you and your family are not in
that condition, " said Mr.. Grimes earnest
ly.
EYES," answered Robert, sit is too
true. For two months I have looked for
work in vain. Iapplied to you two days
ago."
81 remember you now. I thought I
lad seen you before. You still want
work2"
81 should feel grateful for it."
my foreman left yesterday. Will you
take his place at twenty dollars a weck?'
''Thankfully, sir" cried Robert, trcmb-
ling with joy.
"Thcn come tomorrow morning, and
take this for present needs"
He drc~ a note from the pocketbook
and put it into Roberts hand.
"Why, this is a twenty dollar bill"
cried Robert in amazcmcnt.
II know it. The pockctbook contains
q thousand dollars. But for you 1 would
have lost the whole. If 1 find you de-
serving I will give you twenty more as
q bonus at the end of four months"
GOOD bless you!" said Robert in a
choking voice. Good night"
"Good night"
Colly waited for her husband in the
cold and cherries room.
An hour passed, and there was q step
on the stairs. Could it be that her hus-
band was coming up with that light elias
tic stcp2
She ran to the door eagerly.
Yes, it was he, and he carried a huge
basket in his hand.
Jimmy danced at the sight of it. ooh,
it's bread, isn't it, fathcr"
~ should say So" cried Robert radi-
antly. "What do you call this2"
He heaped on the table the crisp rolls,
the golden pat of butter, the delicious
links of sausagcs, the packages of tea and
sugar and coffee, and som rosy apples
for the Children, which made their eyes
sparkle.
Soon n man appeared with a sack of
coal a bright fire warmed the room, and
there was a gay and merry laughter about
the little table that night.
The next week they moved to more
comfortable quarters. Mr.. Grimes proved
a firm friend and Robert has an account
in a savings bank. He thanks God for
the dark hour in which he resisted temp
tation.-Neao York Journal.
Are We Losing Our Teeth2