El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-07-23
TheLOSt 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, we'll as the clergyman.
Steal. Not if 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 poor, deserted babe, she,
dreadng that it might be ill used by cold
charity, took it to her own fireSide and
fed and warmed it.
1t was n 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 Bible truth. For food she could
only give him potatoes and oatmeal por-
ridge, but no child ever longed for better
than it has tasted, and little Hugh was
happy.
So he grew up a tall boy of - and
worked in the fields and ran errands, and
so he earned at least his own bread.
But one evening he came home with
something on his mind, and at last he
spoke.
Granny" said he, Il want to do some
thing besides wedding and soaring the
crows. 1 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
1 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 a bundle and put in, besides,
oatcakes 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 awoke 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 boy. 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,
gnawing, burning hunger. He was giddy
and weak, and, waking in the morning.
found a policeman shaking him by the
shoulder and promising to send him to
prison as Il vagrant if he slept again in
the street.
Alas. where should he sleep?
He arose and wandered on. 1t was
very early. and only one cart rumbled
over the stones of the street.
Hugh plodded 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
great white loaf. fragrant with freshness,
was shaken by a jolt from the basket
and fell at his 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 stealn'
1t was the bakers bread-not his.
Can you believe it? Hugh ran after
the cart. calling as loudly he could:
Master. you've lost loaf"'
'"Thank We, lad" he said, and took it.
Then, seeing the boys wet cheeks, he
kindly said:
What ails yep
1t came out. Hugh couldn't help it.
1.-The smell of bread, master. I'm a bit
hungry. I've ate naught this two days"
"And you 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 |
piled hot rolls on his knees and babe him |
stuff himself
After that bidding Hugh ate his fill.
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- |
)loyed the lad. Soon he was able to send !
money to Betty. After awhile he brought |
her to London, and. being knOwn to be |
honest beyond all possibility of tcmpta-
ion, soon arose to place of great trust. |
At last the baker took him into partner
ship.
In time the whole business became his, |
,ut before he died little Hugh had grown
o be a wealthy flour merchant.
His grandchildren are rich people now
md live in mighty state in England, but !
hey a very good and lowly minded
ace and never blush, much as high rank
S esteemed in that land. to tell the story
If their ancestor. little Hugh. and the
oaf of bakers bread.-ExchanCr
The Ways of Princes.
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