St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-06-28
Tee Stolen Shilling.

Maggie was bright little Irish girl,
living in cabin with her many brothers
and sisters, away over in Ireland her ma
tive land. Maggie was for the most part
lovabIe child, generous and kind but
she was careless and sometimes untruth-
full; for the poor little one was not we'll
taught regarding these matters.
Each week Magg:es jealous mother sent
the girl to the tests house in order to
send pr sert to bis leyt renee aud to have
the cLid make acquaintance with him.
When tbs children saved tritie of their
own 10 present Io the priest the mother
was dounly pleased with theEu. and Judged
thai they were gaining ground religiously.
Maggie loved to give her half pennies to
the priest, but she also loved to have
money to spend for herself, and she would
sometimes pilfer from her mothers hoard
to crafty her desires for sweets of some
kind
One day when the mother was out of
the cabin Maggie crept slyly to the cup
board and took a shilling from the pile
that was being saved towards the rent.
This was quite large sum for the child
to handle, and also large sum for the
mother to lose, but...sMaggie paced the
coin in her shoe to hide it, and, strange to
soy, eAO HOtAC1 bio hOt Iliob
Maggie planned in this way She was
to visit Ter uncle in q few days, and when
she returned she would bring forth her
shilling as present from this kind rela-
tive The money was carried about almost
a week in the cbilds shoe, and then Mag
gle was sent to visit the priest and ha f
penny given her for the reverend father
AS the child went along the green edged
road she held the half penny in her hand
and took the shilling from her shoe to
gaze at its bright face and to put it beside
the half penny and observe the difference
between the two coins.
The priests house was reached at length.
Maggie had lesson from the catechism,
gave her present and departed for home.
She kept her hand tightly closed over the
shilling, as she thought, but all at once
concluded to replace it in her shoe, and
then she discovered that in her confusion
in the presence of so great parsonage as
the priest she had presented him with the
shilling instead of the half penny.
'Ob, me oh, me y cried poor Maggie,
what have | done? and now the mother
will ask if ] gave the half-peDny, and
must tell lie over it, | suppose
The child was disappointed that the
shilling should have disappeared from her
grasp after all her pains, and she shed a
few tears and then wiped her eyes and
mentally exclaimed: 'It's no great matter
after all '' and by the time she reache
home was in excellent spirits once more.
"Did you give the priest the present 2
asked the mother, after Maggie
had taken off her bonnet and was eating
some oaten porridge.
Indeed and did, cried Maggie pleased
that the question was framed as it was.
Maggie had ceased to care about the
matter when the priest called few days
after the occurrence. Maggie was ready
to faint with fright when his reverence
said, Well, Mrs. Mack. this little girl
brought me fiue gift. Was it her OVID 2"
What, the half penny, sir7 Oh, no,
gave it to her for you from my earnings"
1t was not half penny, Mrs. Mack
it was shilling, bright new shilling.
Wasn't it, Maggie?'
Chow is that, Maggie? Speak out"
cried the puzzled mother.
Maggie was forced to confess, and the
mother, acting on the priests suggestion,
logged the child until she will remember
the stolen shilling to her dying day.
This true story is one among many that
illustrate the folly of dishonest actions.
Hl-gotten gains cannot bring enjoyment
with their possession. and be sure such
sins will come to the light for God Him
self has said, amid the thunderings and
of Sinai, Thou shalt not steal
Christian InteUigencer.