Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-02-27
The Lost Loaf

faAt tVutu ubl often keI t0efe,
what with rheumatism and other ais
and aches, but she knew the golden rule
and len Commandments and practiced
them, too. as well as the clergyman.
Steal! Not IL 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,
dreading that it might be Ill used by cold
I charity. took it to her own Preside and
fed and warmed 1t.
Ii was 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 il has tasted. and little Hugh was
happy.
So he grew up tall boy of IL 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, 81 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
| 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.
oatcakcs and cheese and gave him her
blessing. and at daylight little Hugh was
on his way to seek his fortune.
II was long. long time. three days and
more before he saw the lights of Lon
don as the night set in. He was footsore
aud 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
ii last. and in the end found work no
nearer and all his food gone.
He never thousb of Decentralization
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.
k,,- h,,p II u-aa o.fHJv
and weak, and. waking in the morning,
4 found policeman shaking him by the
shoulder and promising to send him to
/ prison as vagrant il 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 il, scarcely caring
I 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 MS he looked
great white loaf. fragrant with freshness,
! was shaken by a jolt from the basket
/ and fell at his feet.
| Hugh seized il. had il half way to his
/ lips and then shut them tight.
| He seemed to hear old Betty reading
| from her Bible:
Thou shalt not steal.'
! 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 a loafP'
"Thank ye. lad" be said. and took 1t.
Then. seeing the boys wet cheeks, he
I kindly said:
What ails yeT'
4 Oz,,f1nft bnfn II
/ "'Fhe smell OF bread. master. I'm bit
hungry. I've ate naught this two days"
/ .And you gave back the loafT'
"It's 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-
! ployed the lad. Soon he was able to sssd
! money to Betty. After awhile he brought
her to London, and. being known to be
honest beyond all possibility Of tempta-
ton. soon arose to a 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 a wealthy -four merchant.
His grandchildren are rich people now
and live In mighty state in England, but
they are a 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