The Monitor-register., 1897-05-28

the pooketbook inside in a hurry. And
he had made himself believe that Ralph
had stolen the pooketbook. True, he
never had heard of Galph's taking any
thing before and he had worked around
among the farmers there for three years
or more. When they were In stress of
work Ralph would be hired, for he was a
handy lad and a jack of all trades.
Ralph's father was no honor to his son,
not that he was a thief, but he was a
shiftless, drinking man, and lived on the
earnings of his wife and Ralph.
Horace argued that suoh a father
would not be unlikely to rave a son, who
might be tempted to steal money when it
was such an easy matter and at the time
OF such a temptation. But here Was the
su bstantial, practical proof that Horace
had wrongfully accused an innocent per-
son. He thought the reason Ralph
stopped going to the Christian Endeavor
meeting right after that showed that be
was guilty, but not enough Of a hypo.
critic to go to meeting and pretend to be
in earnest when he was at heart a thief.
To be sure he never accused Ralph in
direct words of taking that pocketbook,
but he asked him very pointed questions,
and the boy knew Horace suspected him
of being a thief. A coldne IS came
at once between the two boys. Horace's
endeavors to get Ralph interested in the
Christian Endeavor and the Sunday
school came to an end. He became a
hinderer, instead of a helper. in poor
Ralph's life. "Horaee thought him a
thief. Horace had no more confidence in
bim," and SO the boy drifted away from
the safe anchor his fellow friend thought
to give him, and all through his friends
false accusations. Horace remembered
something be had read in one of George
MacDonald's stories at is a hard thing
to be wronged, but a terrible thing to
wrong any one."
As Horace put the ppcketbook in his
pocket and went to carry the hay to the
horses, he remembered how anxious
Ralph had peer to get a place that
winter where he could work for his
board and 60 to school. Mr.. Whitefeld
eame over. not long after Ralph left
Horace's father, to ask about the boy.
He was thinking of taking him for the
winter. Mr.. Waifeld was not at home
and SO he spoke TO Horace III regard to
the matter.
HE is all right as regards work, Mr..
Whitfield, no doubt, but he will do we'll
for you-but-"
"But, but what, Horace Pr
"Well, l don't like to say. OF course
you won't mention iG, as no one knows of
the matter outside of our family-a
pocketbook of mine disappeared very
strangely one day in haying time, and
under very suspicious circumstances,
too"
swell, that's enough. l don't want
any such boy around; glad you told me.
l shall not hire him. His father is a
miserable sort of a man; sorry if the boy
is going to take after him. Good bye"
and Mr.. Whitefield drove off.
"Mr. White field" called Horace. 'Mr.
Whitfield, stop a minute. l don't want
to injure Ralph; father and mother don't
hardly think be took the pocketbook,
but | tell you things pointed right that
way"
Instantly there came to Horace's mind
a quotation he had used in his essay at
the High School exhibition. 1t was from
Lord Bacon, and Horace had thought it
a fine point to make in his essay: Even
when we speak in terms of commenda-
ton we are sure to come in with a but at
the last and drive a nail into our neigh.
boris reputation"
Horace had driven a nail into the rep.
utation of a poor boy who had nothing
but his character to help him on in the
world.
What was to be done I? Conscience
said: lose not a moment in making
wrong right" But pride came in and
suggested the humiliation of being found
as a false accuser of his n~eighbor. What
would folks think of him ? Should he
put the po%cketbook away and let the
matter rest just as it was?
mo, no. , he exclaimed, mot that. l
will go to Ralph and to Mr.. Whitefeld
and tell them l was wrong and how sorry
l am" and the boy fell down on his
giveness for Jesus sake for the wrong he
had done his brother, and prayed for
help to do his duty in making that wrong
right, so far as it was possible.
Father, mother" he said, as he went
to the supper table that night; Il have
done a grievous wrong. Ralph did not
take my pock5tbook l found it in the
hay.mo~ with the money all there just as
l left it,"
Then Horace related how he knew the
way the pocketbook disappeared. As
soon as supper was flashed, Horace
harnessed a horse aud drove off five miles
to the place where r slph lived.
SIS Ralph IMP" he asked Of the thin,
pale, discouraged looking mother, who
came to the door.
she hain't come home from the wood
lot yet. He's chopping for the saw mill
folks. He didn't never take your pocket
book, never. Ralph is just as honest and
true as he can live"
81 know he didn't" replied Horace.
'I've found it. [ came to tell him about
it and ask his forgiveness for the way l
treated him."
The woman burst into tears.
so, how | wish you had found it
before. It's made R.lph a sight of
trouble being suspected about that
pocketbook."
IL haven't told any one but our folks,
and"
"You told Mr.. Whitefield, and he told
his " fife, and his girl Laura, she over
heard it and shs told it at school, and
lies travel av full fast, SO its all over town.
Ralph would not have told me about it;
be does hate to tell me things that bother
me. You see, I've had lots of trouble,
and Ralph, he ia awful good to me.
| He thinks hacauaa hie fathar hain,t all ha