Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-04
oNlv 4 PANE OF GLASS.
IT WAS BROKEN BIT A BoY WHO
FEARED THE CONSEQUENCES.

Forty years ago q certain Cleveland
family lived on Huron Street close 70 the
corner Of Miami. Huron Street was
leading thoroughfare then, and Q NUMBER
OF prominent Clevelanders resided 10 the
neiehborhood. The lady Of the house
was young bride, and she and her
husband had arrived 10 Cleveland quite
recently. On Miami Street lived family
In very moderate circumstances, and
among the numerous children that oiled
the tiny house was q boy called Johnny.
He was bright, manly little fellow OF
perhaps 8 years, and the Huron street
bride took quite . fancy to him. he
would come to her home every day and
do her simple errands, and she always
had something nice to give him. :.
One day he was playing 10 front OF
the brides home with some other boys,
when he CHANGED to throw . stone that
missed its mark and crashed through a
parlor window. The bride happened to
see the accident, and a. the little fellow
looked up and saw her an agonized ex.
preston cloudcd his face, and he turned
and took to his heels. He never came
again to the Huron Street house. Look
as she might, the bride caught sight OF
him no more. A few weeks later john
ny's family left the city, and Johnny
was soon only faint memory.
The bride Is now . grandmother and
lives Ia handsome house Ia the sub
urhs. One day not long ago the maid
brought her callers card. IL bore the
name OF John Robinson. She looked at
Il with a puzzled air. She had no ac-
Qusintance Of that name.
But she went downstairs and con.
fronted a fue-looking, portly gentleman,
well dressed, and bearing an unmistak-
able air Of prosperity.
He advanced TO meet her.
"You wished to see mey' inquired the
lady rs she looked sgaiu at the card.
"Yes, madam" he answered, ION n
slight matter OF business"
She looked up at him quickly and
drew back little.
"No," he smIlingly observed, III am
not an agent. The fact Ia, madam,
have called TO pay debt that his been
accommodating interest all these years,
and which have neglected to pay before
because have never since been 10 the
nelghborhood."
IA debt" echoed the lady. There
must be some mistake"
mo mistake at all, madam" said the
stranger, cheerily, and he reached his
hand In his pocket. There was gold
coin In Il a. ne drew Il forth. "There,
madam" he said, III want TO pay you
for the window broke In your house on
Huron Street one July day 10 1857"
Then IL all came back to her.
And you-you are Johnny she
cried.
"Yes, madam" he answered, I'm
Johnny" And their hands met In
tight clasp.
"And you remembered that little &C
cident all these yesrsy" she said. "Wny,
had forgotten II long ago"
perhaps | had better cause to remem.
Der It," he smilingly said. ut was .
dr., adful affair to me. saw the jail
door opening. heard the clsnk OF
chains. Then somehow felt sure that
you would tell my father, and he was
not gentle man, as you may remember.
But rs hour followed hour, and you did
not come, began TO breathe = little
sgsin, and, o, you cannot tell how CRATE
ful was to you. did not dare 90 and
see you for fear OF possible consequences,
but when we wen, away made up my
mind that some day would pay every
penny II cost to mend that broken pane,
And here am"
The lady looked at him with gllstening
eyes. Somehow she seemed to see again
the tireless manly little boy OF that long
ago time.
And YOU have prospered r she asked
yes" he answered smilingly, I'm
reckoned one Of the solid men OF Cali
fornis. I live just outside Of San Fran
cisco, have what am told Is charm
ing home, a beautiful wife and two tlne
boys In the university. And when
have this little debt paid shall possess
thoroughly clear conscience as well. '
Put away your money, john" said
the woman. ats worth n hundred
times that to see you so well and happy
III found out about you before came
out here" said John. IL inquired with
some fear and trembling-forty year.
brinysmsny changes, you know. But
went direct to the fountsinhesd for in-
formation. I hunted up your husband
nj his Office had letter OF introduc-
ton from the president Of our road-,nd
we were soon great friends. Bless you,
he had never heard OF Johnny Robinson,
but that didn't make any difference. In
fact, he asked me to dine, and promised
to be home early"
When John Robinson left the house
the next morning-his stay In the city
was shortened by pressing business-he
left behind him on the plrlor msntel
box containing a dainty ornament OF
gold and this card:
my wife picked out little gift with
the firm belief that Johnny would surely
ind his early friend. Please let II square
the broken pane. cleveland Plain Deal