St. Landry democrat., 1886-04-10

He sat down and mOtlOncd FELIX to a
chair.
when | was not many years older
than YOU are my father died and | had
to stop going to school for awhile and
90 to work | got situation in a large
business house and often had valuable
parcels placed in my care.
1T is pity that had not deeper
sense of the need of being faithful in
the performance of all duties whether
grea. or small, to the very letter.
was careless to an extent which led my
mother often to warn me that should
come to serious harm if | did not
mend my ways. l paid little heed to
her cautions, feeling quite satisfied
with myself in view of the fact that
no one could bring shade Of rcproach
against my honesty or my tluthfulness.
Zone day | was given parcel to car
~ to the bank.
"'Bc careful, they said. 1t contains
seven hundred dollars
Il had secure inside pocket and
had little fear of any loss. As | took
my way towards the bank | saw an eX-
cited crowd gathered about one of the
principal newspaper offices. 1t was
during the darkest days of the war and
| soon learned that some stirring news
was being received.
"Of course had no business to stop.
The news would have been rs we'll re-
ported without any supervision of mine.
But | looked at my watch and saw that
| had nearly an hour to spare, SO |
threw myself into the crov.d and joined
my voice with the enthusiastic cheers
which rose higher and wilder as each
particular of one of Grants earliest
victories was given out. Time and
prudence were lost sight of, until the
last item was learned.
"Thcn | rushed to the bank to be
faced by the forbidding looking card:
Bank Closed
Il had not been specially told to de-
post that day, but Of course it was I'M
dcrstood that I should. 1t would have
been the right thing for me to carry it
back and have it placed in the safe, but
| was ashamed of having it known that
| had loitered, so committed second
unfaithful act to conceal the first, al
ways dangerous thing to do. The
only way to make amends for fault is
to confess it at once.
Il carried home the money and hid
it in the safest place knew of. You
may be sure it was a heavy weight on
my mind and as night settled down it
grew heavier and heavier. l resolved
not to sleep but lay awake listening
and starting in alarm at every sound.
AT length was sure heard mystic
rious noises, but something seemed to
hold me down 80 that | could not
move. The sounds increased-surely
people were in the house / could
hear them moving-hear them in the
money. Finally with a desperate eff
fort | sprang up to find myself in the
grasp of a fireman. NV room was full
of sutfocatng smoke-the house was on
fire. | had fallen into an uneasy sleep
and would have been strangied by the
smoke if | had not been found just in
time.
And the money! asked Felix, in
great excitement.
Il fought against my rescuers with
all my might. declaring | would get it
if died for it. But the stout fellow
dragged me downstairs and out-just
before the roof fell in.
What did you do then, sir?''
What could do but 90 to niv en-
ployers and tell them what mischief nv
carelessness had worked for
them2'
Felix drew a long breath and shook
his head soberly.
1T was as dreadful as my having to
tell you about the book, wasn't it?''
"A little worse, | Think said the
gentleman, with Il smile. II hope you
will never have such burthen to carry
as that one | bound upon myself
through my own folly. 1t weighed me
down all through the young years of
my life, for it took me long to pay the
debt. 1t is not for me to say the lesson
was too severe one-it was chosen
for me in Infinite wisdom, but l have
always felt strong desire that others
should profit by it..
81 will try to, SIR said Felix, very
as he got up to take his
cave.
''Do so, Felix. And try to bear in
mind the promise to those who are
faithful in few things. ''-Sydney
|l13fro ~, Tbinnoo Sty,,,!1r1