Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-06-05
SELECTIONS.
A MOMENT OF TEMPTATION.

i can't stand 1t any longer Dolly.
I'll go out and perhaps something
will turn up"
It's a cold night, Robert"
"Cold, yes, but It's not much cold.
ec out than in. 1t would have been
better for you, dear, if you had mar.
ried John Tremain."
"Don't say that, Robert. l have
never regretted my choice"
"Not even when there is not a
loaf of bread in the house for you
and the children ~
"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
u.s." said Robert bitterly. "Day
after day | have searched for en-
ployment. l have called at fifty
places and received the same an.
swer everywhere"
A curly-headed boy crept up to his
mothers knee.
"Mother," he pleaded, "won't you
give me piece of bread? l am
hungry-just little piece, mother"
"There's no bread, Jimmy dar-
ling" said the mother, with an ach-
ing heart.
"When will there be some ~ ask
ed the little one piteously.
Tears came into the mothers eyes.
She could not speak.
Jimmy, I'll bring you some
Bread" said the father hoarsely, and
he seized his hat and went to the
door.
His wife alarmed, laid her hand on
his sleeve. She saw the look in his
eyes, and fear that he might be
be driven to some desperate step.
I" Remember, Robert" she said SOL
EMMY, cit is hard to starve, buG
there are things, that are worse"
He shook her off, but not roughly,
and without 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. Robert Bruce was
a mechanic, competent and skillful.
Three years since he lived in a coun,
try home, but in an evil hour he re-
moved to the city. Here he vainiy he
hoped to do better. For while
was successful, but he found his lodg-
ing house 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 pinned to do so.
Then a time of great depression
came and business seemed suspend.
ed. 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 borrowed ola neighbor till bet
ter times, but now he felt hopeless.
When he went out on the street he
did not know how he was to keep his
promise to little Jimmy. He was
absolutely penniless, and had been
so for three days. There was moth
ing that he was likely to find to dc
that night.
81 will pawn my overcoat," he
said. 81 cannot see my wife and
children starve.n
1t was a well-worn overcoat and
the night was raw with the bluster
ing winds of March. He was 81
weakened by fasting that he wa
shivering even while wearing it, ant
needed something much warmer.
EYES," he said, Kit must go.
don't know how l shall get alon,
without it, but l cannot hear til,
poor little ones cry for bread"
He was not in general an enviou
} man, but when he saw the slick
weli-fed citizens buttoned up to til
chin in warm overcoats coming on
OF their grand home, while his Chi
dren were starving, he had som
; bitter thoughts of the inequality {
> fortunes gift. Why should they b
: happy while he was so miserable
There was a man just passin
= with his hands thrust deep in til
pockets of his shaggy overcoa
There was a jolly smile on his fac