Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1900-03-30
The Lost Loaf

church and could not often get there,
what with rheumatism and other ails
and aches, but she knew the golden rule
and Ten Commandments and practiced
them, too, as well as the clergyman.
Steal! Not II she were to win the world
by it. Lie! Not to save her life. Muir
DER The possibility was not in her, and
she did unto others as she would have
them do unto her always.
So when she found by the river side
one night 4 poor, deserted babe, she,
dreating that it might be i'll used by cold
charity, took it to her own freside and
fed and warmed it,
1t was q boy. He grew sturdy and
strong. After awhile he was poor old
Betty's blessing and joy. She taught him
to pray first. then TO read. She brought
him up on fihlc truth. For food she could
only give him potatoes and oatmeal por-
ridge, but 10 child ever lollged for better
! than it has tasted. and little Hugh was
happy.
50 he grew up a tall 10y OF II and
| worked III the fields and ran crrands and
so he earned 1T least his own bread.
But one evening he came home with
something on his mind, and at last he
spoke.
l. "Granny." said he. Il want to do some
thing besides wedding and soaring the
Crows | want to earn money enough to
keep you comfortable in your old age
They say London is the place, and there
I'm going to find work. I'll send you all
l get and come back when my fortune is
! made
Betty cried awhile but soon she said,
Maybe the boy is right and tied his
| clothes IN bundle and put in, besides,
oatcakcs and cheese and gave him her
blessing and at daylight little Hugh was
on his way. to seek his fortune.
1t was long, long time, three days and
more, before he saw the lights of Lon
don as the night set in. He was footsore
and weary, but he found an old church
porch to sleep in.
| NO harm can come to me in THAT holy
place. thought Hugh. And no harm did,
He awokc at dawn, said his prayers,
ate some of the little he had left and set
out to find work.
Alas, there were plenty of smart Lon
don boys at hand! Nobody wanted the
chubby country hoy, with his bundle on
his shoulder, huffed here, scolded there
and warned to leave with an oath in an
other place.
Tormented by bad boys, weary and
alarmed. Hugh spent that day and an
other and still another sleeping in the
street, nibbling bits of oatcake to make
it last, and in the end found work no
nearer and all his food gone.
He never thought Of begging-London
people seemed SO cruel-and he had been
taught to be ashamed of it, poor as Betty
was.
SO he suffered such hunger as you
know nothing of-desperate hunger,
gnawlng, burning hunger. He was giddy
&nd weak, and, waking in the morning.
found policeman shaking him by the
shoulder and promising to send him to
prison as vagrant if he slept again in
the street.
Alas, where should he sleep?
lie arose and wandered on. 1t was
very early. and only one cart rumbled
over the stones Of the street
Hugh nlodded after it, scarcely caring
whittier he went. and, looking at it, saw
within baskets of great loaves, white and
brown. the sight of which made him
weep for hunger. And as he looked a
great white loaf, fragrant with freshness
was shaken by jolt from the basket
and fell at IFS feet
Hugh seized it, had it half way to his
lips and then shut them tight
He seemed to hear old Betty reading
from her Bible:
- '"Thou shalt not stcal-'
1t was the bakers bread-not his.
Can you believe it? Hugh ran after
the cart, calling as loudly as he could:
Master. you've lost Il loafr'
''fEank ye lad he said. and took it,
Then, seeing the boys wet checks, he
} kindly said:
'What ails ye:'
> It came out. Hugh couldn't help it.
Tile smell of bread. master. I'm bit
hungry Eve ate naught this two days.
"Ana vnu gave back the loaf?''
} ITS wrong to steal. granny says"
"Talk O parsons and angelS!' said the
baker. IF this don't beat
} And he had Hugh in the wagon and
piles! hot rolls on his knees and babe him
"Stuf limself''
} After that bidding Hugh ate his I'LL
And, riding along, the man drew the
truth from the boy, and, hearing he
wanted work. took him to his masters
bakery.
The old baker heard the story and en-
ployed the lad. Soon he was able to send
money to Betty. After awhile he brought
her to London, and, being known to he
honest beyond all possibility Of tempta-
ton. soon arose to place Of great trust
At last the baker took him into partner
ship
In time the whole business became his,
but before he died little Hugh had grown
to be wealthy -four merchant
His grandchildren are rich people now
and live in mighty state in England. but
they are very good and lowly minded
race and never blush, much as high rank
is esteemed in that land, to tell the story
of their ancestor, little Hugh, and the
loaf of bakers bread.-Exchange