The Washington times., 1894-04-13
A PICTURE OF THE
GREED FOR GOLD

"He saw was a mean-looking fellow, but
he trusted me-"
snid this to myself while held the gentle
mans horse. The cart was full Of peaches.
Presently some of the boys hailed me. They
wanted some peaches.
"Stand backr' 1 said. "The man told me
to take care OF 'em. He trusted me.
should like to have some Of 'em as bad as
you, but they can't be touched. He give 'em
in my charge, and you can't have peach"
With that they began to yell and hustle me;
but 1 hit right and left and drove them off.
You have good pluck, my boy" said the
owner of the cart. 81 saw how well you be-
haved, and here's a dollar for you.'' My
eyes stood out.
"a whole dollarl' says l.
''Yes: do what you please with it,
s'I'll make another dollar with it, said /.
The man had been looking at me intently.
III you want home, he said. Il think
can give you one. Jump in the wagon. l
make money and look after his employers
interests
l went with him, and from that day was
like a son to the man who had SO strangely
become my beneiactor.
When was Il he died and left me $40, 900.
With that / traded. speeulated, grew rich
rich enough. / thought, by the time I was 25
TO marry sweet Lilly West.
II Lilly had been my only lovel
Gold was the rival of my wife. I wanted
money. money, money! Lilly loved me, but /
was enGrossed in business and mad no time
for home.
At times l almost forgot had wife. 1
began to grow avaricious 1 was haunted for
fear Lilly was wasteful and extravagant I
looked at her purchases with suspicion. 1
cut down the expenses of the HOUSEHOLD
'Do you really needtwo servants!'' asked
her one day.
II don't know that 1 really do she
answered, for she was always anxious to
please me.
Il am afraid cannot afford It." said.
Then 1 will dismiss my housemaid," she
replied.
After awhile I begrudged her the cook.
How syly this passion steals upon the soul!
1t is like deadly frost that benumbs all the
faculties but one-the craving. the utter long
ing for money.
Year by year grew more saving. God for
give me- Sometimes there was no food in the
house Lilly grew like the flower for which
she was naned-white and waxen She
seemed a burden to me. II l were only
alone. l thought. how much richer could
get. Finally. l told her that she was bur
den. She learned to fly from my presence,
NV wish was granted. Now I could save,
l shut up all the house but one room. Peo-
pie looked askance at me. st last was taken
ii.
Heaven must have seen something in me to
save. for l recovered. ! wandered round the
cherries rooms, and one dav, all of a sudden,
like ray of light from the upper world. 1t
flashed upon me what had made them so.
| remembered my beneiactor's happy home
and now he had first trusted me. though I
had fallen among thieves. Was this the way
to repay his generous confidence?
And Lilly: she had been the child OF his
dearest friend and had, after making her
my wife. driven her away. The recollection
of her sweet, pale beauty fired my heart
''And yet she is mine | said. 'Shall send
for her? What-to abuse, mistrust and starve
her! Never
l called for my money and had it laid upon
the table before me. and then came mighty
struggle l rolled the bills together and then
threw them across the floor.
lie there, curse Of my soul,' l cried. ''Lie
there till have conquered myself; aye, if the
victory is not won till yon are rotteni"
/ shut that room and sealed il up. For one
year | toiled like a penniless man. By con-
stant exertion placed my business ou a sue
cessiul footing and began life new man.
1t was only another phase OF the malaiv,
my friends said, but knew what was doing.
l wrote to Lilly once or twice before l had
laid bare my heart. l dared not. even nov.
trust myself. asked if she would come back
if I proved myself changed man: and.
wonan-like. anGel-like, she said, yes.
Well she came. On the day OF her return
opened the sealed door The bank notes lay
where had flung them. l took them up
with the pride of conqueror, and placing
them in her hands, said:
They are no longer my tyrants. Use them
as you will
Now l am 4 man. redeemed from the thrall-
dom of covetousness. can look on my wife
without pang OF regret. save that I should
have caused her TO suffer. / think of my
good beneiactor without shame
l am redeemed, JOHN VI. DEPoNA1.