St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1886-05-15

with myself in view of the fact that
no one could bring shade of reproach
against my honesty or my truthfulnesa
One day | was given parcel to car
~ to the bank.
".Be careful, they said. 1t contains
seven hundred dollars
| had a secure inside pocket and
had little fear of any loss. As / took
my way towards the bank I 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 as well re-
ported without any supervision of mine.
But l looked at my watch and saw that
l had nearly an hour to spare, so I
threw myself into the crowd 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.
"Then l rushed to the bank to bo
faced by the forbidding looking card:
Bank Closed
II had not been specially told to de-
posit that day, but of course 1t was un-
derstood that l should. 1t would have
been the right thing for me to carry it
back and have it placed in the safe, but
l was ashamed of having it known that
had lOitered, so committed second
unfaithful act to conceal the first, al-
ways a dangerous thing to do. The
only way to make amends for fault is
to confess it at once.
II 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. / resolved
not to sleep but lay awake listening
and starting in alarm at every sound.
AT length was sure heard myste-
rious noises. but something seemed to
hold me down so that / could not
move. The sounds increased-surely
people were in the house. / could
hear them moving-hear them in the
room in which / had hidden the
money. Finally with desperate ef-
fort sprang up to find myself in the
grasp of fireman. MY room was full
of suffocatng smoke-the house was on
fire. / had fallen into an uneasy sleep
and would have been strangled by the
smoke if l had not been found Just in
time.
..And the money!" asked Felix, in
great excitement.
II fought against my rescuers with
all my might, declaring would get il
il. l 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 60 to my en-
ployers and tell them what mischief my
criminal carelessness had worked for
them?'
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?n
"A little worse, I think" said tho
gentleman, with a smile. II hope you
will never have such q burthen to carry
as that one l 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 q one-it was chosen
for me in Infinite wisdom, but i have
always felt strong desire that others
should profit by it."
II will try to, SIR" said Felix, very
earnestly, as he got up to take his
leave.
'Do SO, Felix. And try to bear in
mind the promise to those who are
faithful in a few things" ."-Sydney
Dayre. TN Chicago Standard.