Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-08-10
AMY'S WEDDING GIFT.

When Bert Hammond was
about eighteen years Old his moth.
er died. BH. before her death she
exacted fIOn him a promise that
he considered it his sacred duty 10
fulfil. He was a CONSCIENTIOUS
10y and hat been a good son.
"YourfAther,7 The dying woman
slId, "to.k one thousand dollars
from Syth Manning, of whom YOU
/ haye cl;en heald me speak. He is
Il hard man, treating those less for
'urate tlan himself cO!dly and sup.
ercili0usly. But that was not the
/ slightest excuse for your fathers
. dishonesty. Mr. Manning meyer
even suspected his guilt. L have
/ tried during all the years of my
/ WidoHhO)d t. earn the eStOlen mOu-
+ ev and restore It. | found 1t utter
/ e. inp is iD'e u d. 50, for it took
ali | COul earn to support myself
I'D YOU IA even The humblest way.
Bus you are young and strong
aud brave. Bert, dear, if you
want me to rest quietl, IN ny
crave, ycu will strive to return
tdaJ mooey"
IIe made the p OmiSe without
any miSgiv,ngs, TOO young to rea.
lize how severe the task might
be. He was naturally gay and
happy, and what upoa some
shoulders would have been a very
heavy burden rested lightly and
easily on Gs. He expected to
work hard ana was determined to
spend rO mole money upon him
/ self than was absolutely necessary.
ne tried to 6nd a better situation,
/ and after a few months his per
severance was rewarded. He liv-
ed quite as simply as before, man
aging to save one hundred aud fit
/ ty dollars or more every year.
When Bert was about twenty
one years old he was walking enc
day in the street, carrying a valna
| ble vase home to its purchaser.
Suddenly he heard a great noise
and outcry, and as he TUNED a cor
ner he saw dog, his mouth GOV
ertd with foam, just ready to
spring upon ayOung girl, who stood
as If plrAlj II with feac. Tie vase
was large and heavy, and without
a moments hesitation Bert threw
it at the dogs head. 1t stunned
the creature for a few moments
( and be ore lie could spring VI
again two policemen attacked bin
with their clubs and soon all dan
ger was over. When Bert picket
up bis vase he saw with sinking
heart that the handle was broken
He sighed, lnvOluntarily.
"Wh you have to play for thai?
asked the girl.
"Yes. l think so,' lie reph d
gravely.
.'Hov much will 1t be-"
"Iwenty.fYe collars, at the yer,
least
"Oh, | am sosorri.' she exclaim
ed. "Yon did 1t for me--and an
not worth it,"
"You must not say that" ii
answered, approvio sly. "Wnat Is
this thing compared With the lif
of a human b,ingl Think of youI
mother"
GT haVA m moftQrO y
"YOur sister, then, or brother.
IL have neilher-n0r relative Q
any kind
NO one7'
"No. s. you see my life cannot
be of mach consequence, alihOug'
l thank you for saving it,"
Il am all alone, too" B,rt said
1--WE ought to be friends"
GLOW can We be?' she asked
sadly.
"Do look like a rascal = be dc
manded, IN his hrLSqn ne lmpetuOu
way.
"No,' she replied, gazing straigh
into the big, honest eyes. Il WIS
you were ny brother. If you wi
1T me help yOu to pay for that vas'
broken on my account, | shall b
very glad. l can give you ten d.
5 lars now, that | have saYed.1
"What were you saving II for
"To buy winter cloak; but
can wear my old one"
"No, you cannot. Do You thin
l would deprive you of a GARNER