Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-06-21
WHAT A MARCH WIND DID.

whistled, and did everything that wind
could do in the way of noise and confusion.
But think the queerest thing it was guilty
of that day was to snatch up bank bill for
500 from Lawyer Eldon's desk, where he
was counting some money, and carry it out
of the open window. He ran down stairs
after it, but by the time he had reached the
street the bill was out of sight.
Mr. Eldon looked at the crowded sidewalks,
and felt that it would be hopeless quest to
follow money which by that time was either
in the pocket of some passerby or lodged on
the roof of some house.
Mr.. Eldon was greatly annoyed. The
money lie was counting was not his own, but
a clients, and he knew he would have to re-
place it, He did not like to lose money under
any circumstances, but to lose it in this sense
less manner, and when he could bring no ac-
ton in a court of law against the audacious
robber was more than his equanimity could
stand.
sits the hardest thing that eyer happened
to me!'' he cried, throwing himself in his
arm chair and glazing angrily around him
ITS all that COMPOUNDED woman Simpsons
fault What did she mean by leaving both
windows open and a strong draught through
the room? A nice housekeeper she is! It's
I'll dismiss her this very day. I've great
mind not to pay her a cent of her last months
wages"
But he remembered that Mrs Simpson
might declare that he had given her strict
orders, when she cleaned his house and office
on pleasant days, to leave the windows up for
an hour, that the fresh air might circulate.
So as no blame could be attached to anything
h,,r+ ba ind 1,-bi oh oil
party, the lawyer had to content himself
with grumbling against his own bad luck.
In a small house on the very outskirts of
the town there was no grumbling that morn
ing. It was tiny little place, with flower
beds in front and trellis against which
large Marechal Mel rose was twined.
In the front room, very bare of furniture
but shining with neatness, Mrs. Grafton sat
at her sewing machine Her son John, a lad
of IS, had just arisen from his breakfast, and
was buttoning up his jacket before facing
the sharp wind which was screeching round
the cottage.
Mrs Grafton was a bright, active little
woman, hardly past middle age. She was
poorly dressed, but Enthusiastically lady. In
every line of her resolute face, in every tone
of her cheerful voice you recognized one of
those rare natures which can put aside all
regrets, all vain repininss for the past, and
throw themselves heart and soul into the
work of the day.
John was not handsome boy, but his face
repeated some of the strong, resolute lines
which marked his mothers, and the same
cheerful light shone from his brown eyes.
His fault was that when he wanted anything
he wanted it SO passionately that it possessed
his whole being, and he would sacrifice any
thing to attain it,
''Whewl How that wind does blow!' John
cried, shivering. sit chills the marrow in
my bones to think of facing it all the way to
the warehouse. Old Hansell is always cross
in this kind of weather, and he'll make me
fetch and carry and hustle me around till Pm
tired enough to drop Oh, you needn't look
at me, nlother!" with a laugh "Did you
ever know me to shirk works don't expect
to be errand boy or boy of all work in a ware
house all the days of my life"
II hope not" she answered. gravely. "But
then, don't you know, my son, it depends
very much upon how you do your duty as
errand boy whether you will rise or not7
Hard work will never keep you down. In
fact, it is the stepping stone by which all poor
boys rise"
Given if l do well, mother" he said, and
there was discontinued ring in his voice, 81
have no education but the little you have
been able to give me. Oh, how do long to
go to school! That wouldn't cost me any
thing, you know, for the public schools here
are splendid; but then we'd starve if l stop
work"
''lf l get the work of Stevens clothing
store, which they have partly promised me-
Mrs Grafton said, ''you can stop work for a
year at least, john"
He stopped and kissed her.
''You're a dear, good mother, but that's
very uncertain Besides l don't think
ought to let you slave yourself to death for
me. We won't talk of it any more" with q
sigh. "Maybe something may turn up"
Holding his hat firmly on his head, John
opened the door to meet such blast that he
almost staggered. Dead leaves and dried
twigs were blown in his face, and as he raised
his hand to brush them aside it caught a
piece of paper. Half blinded as he was, he
saw the paper was green and silky. Another
glance and he darted to his mother, waving
his hat
''Hurrah for the glorious March wind!n he
shouted. 'See, mother, what it brought u.s.!
A real, true one hundred dollar bill Look
at it! look at it'll"
''Sure enough, it isl" his mother said, exam
lining the bill. "What a strange thing!"
'What good thing! What a grand thing
for us, motherl" he cried excitedly "Just
as was longing for a little money SO could
go to school, slap, bang, it comes in my facel''
He capered around the room like crazy boy
''That means school for me, don't it, mother,
and you won't have to work SO very hard?"
''Stop minute, John!n Mrs Grafton said.
"Don't you understand the money is not
oursg'
"Whose is it, then, I'd like to know?" his
face falling. "Do you expect to find an
owner for money that's just blown in your
face? Why, we couldn't begin to look for
one! Now, mother, that's just ridiculous!"
''We must advertise the bill, not naming
the amount, of course" Mrs Grafton said,
disregarding Johns excited protest "Be.
sides, here is little private mark in the left
hand corner of the bill Looks like star in
blue ink. Your father always marked the
large bills that came into his possession, that
he might identify them if lost This bill may
have tieen blown from railroad car in pass
ing through. and if the owner does not claim
it when advertised, after certain time the
money will be yours"
SITS going to take money to advertise, :"
John said, sullenly-his disappointment was
too acute for him to bear it patientfy-"and
I'm sure | don't know where that's to come
from"
SIT will take very little. The advertise
ment will be only a few words, and the owner
OF the bill, if he turns up, will refund. If he
does not appear, we certainly will have done
our duty to try and find him. will write
out the advertisement and you can drop it at
The Times office. Here is money enough for
its insertion"
A heavy heart and disconnected spirit John
Grafton took with him to his work that day.
He was cross and snappish to the other boys.
He had no laughter, no jests, but a moody,
discontinued manner, as if some one had i'll
jured him. There was a sense of grievous
injury in his heart. He felt that his mothers
course was defrauding him of what was justly
his own.
He had been carefully reared, and his
mothers teachings of honesty and integrity