The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-03-12
4A
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER xI.
The Spirit Of Michael Henry and
Others.
At the examination of Amos Grim
shaw my knowledge was committed to
the records and ceased to be source
of danger to me. Grimshaw came to
the village that day. On my way to
the courtroom / saw him walking
slowly, with bent head as | had seen
him before, followed by old Kate. She
carried her staff in her left hand while
the foreinger OF her right hand was
pointing him out. Silent as ghost
and as unheeded--one would say--she.
followed his steps
/ observed that old Kate sat on a
front seat with her hand to her ear
and Grimshaw beside his lawyer at
big table and that when she looked at
him her lips moved In a strange I'M
uttered whisper of her spirit. Her
face filled with joy as one dafnning
detail after another came out in the
evidence.
The facts hereinbefore alleged, and
others, were proved, for the tracks fit
ted the shoes Of Amos. The young
man was held and presently indicted.
The time of his trial was not deter
mined. at
l wrote good hand those days and
the leading merchant of the village
engaged me to post his books every
Saturday at ten cents an hour. Thence
forward until Christmas / gave my
free days to that task. estimated
planned to divide 1t in equal parts and
proudly present 1t to my aunt and
Uncle on Christmas day.
One Saturday while j was at work
on the big ledger of the merchant ]
ran upon this item:
/ October SIS Wright-To one suit
of clothes for Michael Henry from
measures furnished by S. Robin
son lf-90
I Shirts TO match ......................... L7o
/ knew then the history OF the suit
I Of clothes which had worn since that
7 rainy October night. for remembered
X that Sam Robinson, the tailor, had
measured me at our house and made
up the cloth of Aunt Deels weaving.
! observed. also. that numerous ar
4 ticles--a load of wood, two sacks of
+ flour, three pairs OF boots, one coat,
ten pounds Of salt pork and four
bushels of potatoes-all for michael
4 Henry"-had been charged to Silas
4 Wright.
4 So by the merest chance 1 learned
that the invisible michael Henry" was
the almoner of the modest statesman
and really the spirit of SiIas Wright
feeding the hungry and clothing the
naked and warming the cold house,
In the absence of Its owner II was
the heart of Wright joined to that of
the schoolmaster. which sat In the
green chair.
fear that my work suffered mo-
rnent's interruption. for just then
began to know the great heart of the
senator. It's warmth was In the cloth
ing that covered my back, its deIicacy
In the ignorance of these who had
shared Its benefactions.
count this one of the great events
of my youth. But there was greater
one. although 1t seemed not so at the
time of II. A traveller on the road to
Ballybeen had dropped his pocketbook
containing a large amount of money
S2,7O0 was the sum, II remember
rightly. He was a man who, being
Justly suspicious of the banks, had
withdrawn his money. Posters an
nounced the loss and the offer of a
large reward. The village was pro-
foundly stirred by them. Searching
parties went mp the road stirring Its
dust and cropping in its grass and bri-
ers for the great prize which was sup
posed to be lying there. 1t was said,
however, that the quest had been un-
successful. SO the lost pocketbook
became a treasured mystery of the
village and of all the hills AMI val
leys toward Ballybeen-a topic of old
wives and gabbling husbands at the
Preside for unnumbered years..
BY and by the fall term Of school
ended. Uncle Peabody came down to
get me the day before Christmas.
had enjoyed my work and my life at
the Hackets', on the whole. but I was
glad to be going home again. My
uncle was In high spirits and there
were many packages in the sleigh.
"A merry Christmas to ye both an
may the Lord love -yei" said Mr..
Hacket as he babe us goodby. "Every
day our thoughts will be going up the
hills To your house."