Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-10-04
THE LOST BANK NOTE.
By Mrs. Henry Wood.
CHAPTER |.
THE SHOCK.
By Mrs. Henry Wood. !
CHAPTER |.
THE SHOCK.

The family breakfast party was
gathered in a pleasant room III the
outskirts of Midd!eham, one of our
large towns "A gentleman, his daugh-
ter, and sons lie was tall, stout
man, with flushed face, but kindly
expression. He had not been IN
good health lately, he made blood
too fast, his doctor said, and yet he
was of remarkably abstemious hab-
it's. His name was West, and he
was the cashier in a banking estab-
lishment of the town. His eldest
son, George, was in the same house,
and the other one, Oswald, had now
left school, and it was not get decid-
ed what was to be done with him.
They were in animated splrits, an
ticipating a pleasurable excursion,
which they were to join in with
some friends on the morrow.
81 wish you could come, papa" ,
Miss West observed-a fair, pleas
ing looking girl of two and twenty,
with remarkably sweet, earnest ey es'
$50 would, Maria, if business
were not in the way. Business must
be attended to before pleasure, you
know.
"But, papa, if George can get hol-
iday for 1t, why can't you? spoke up
Oswald, with all the eagerness of
sixteen.
Mr.. West smiled. "Could my
services be spared, think you, as
readily as that young shaver's?'
pointing to George. "Have you set
lied about the eatables, Maria"
ooh, yes, papa. Each family
takes something. am TO provide
the pastry and the rolls. | ordered
the rolls yesterday, and | shall make
the pastry today"
"Then, if that is to be your de-
partment, mind you make plenty,
Maria" put in Oswald.
Thus they spoke, full of the autic-
ipated enjoyment, as the young like
TO be, and the breakfast concluded.
Then Mr.. West took the Bible, pre-
pairing for family worship, and their
merry faces were composed TO serl-
Gus reverence; for they had been
brought up to know that there is a
proper time for all things. The
second chapter of the first general
Epistle of ct. John happened to be
the one Mr.. West chose that morn
ing. He conversed with them upon
il after he closed the book, particu
larly on one of its verses: "The
world passeth away, and the lust
thereof; but he that doeth the will
of God abideth forever"
81 do not wish to damp your limo
cent enjoyment, children he con
cluded; "but even in the midst of II
I would have you always remember
that whatever is of the earth, both
Joy and sorrow, will pass away, and
the great thing is to be preparing
for eternity"
Mr.. West and his son departed
Maria went to the kitchen, where
things had been made ready for her
and began her pastry. Oswald fol
lowed, boylike-perhaps fearful thai
the tarts might run short unless he
was at hand to see after Maria. He
balanced himself on his chest at the
end of the long table, lifting his
heels in the air, and looked on.
II wonder what am to be- he
cried. "Has much been said about
it, Maria"
"Not much. know what you
may be, if you would like it,"
whats that?' asked he, eagerly
"You may 90 into the bank, a.
George did. They have told paps
So
Oswald's countenance fell. 81
should not like it at all, then. SEE
what fuss there is TO get holt
day
"But life does not consist in get
ting holidays, or in wanting then
either" returned his sister.
But | should not like the work
Besides, you may slave all your lif'
as a clerk, and be as poor as ever a
the end of it. There's papa, for al
example he has been able to put by
nothing"
eyes, | know it has its drawbacks
and it has its advantages, Oswald
Papa has been free from the ankle
ties that attend men in business 70
themselves.
'If it comes to liking, | SHOULD
like to be clergyman, Maria; and
have many times said So"
Maria leaned toward him, and lai,
her face for a moment against his
as if she would soothe his disap
pointment. 1--WE all know it, IN,
dear; and if it were right for you il
every other way, you know one rea