Year: 1859

gy Turton, came up dressed in her plaid
and blue apron.


HeaYens-Mr. Hoper cried she, gather
ing up her apron with her hands, what a
horrible thing on your backF e.. {.
Robert turned around to tell her to let il
alone; but then the blacksmith perceived
the mark.


sBy heavens, lookr said he laughing,
'he can. serve as q sign for the inn Of the
White Crossp :; e
4 suppose added the butcher, that bis
wife put this sign on his shoulder for fear
of losing. him" -. -


Hope felt that there was but one way
to escape, their jokes, SO he hastily left the
place, but not without calling them foolish
idlers; the cross began to weigh on his
shoulder more than he had at first sup
posed possible.


The unhappy Robert seemed destined
this day to unpleasant meetings, for scarce
ly had he taken few steps when he found
himself in the midst of the school children.
The school WIS over, and the scholars burst
out into the road, disposed to make the
most Of any Of any occasion for frolic
which might present ITSELF Hope was
seized with terrible restlessness; he SEEM
ed already to hear the hue-and-cry after
him. Before long his fears were relieved ;
hardly had be passed, when loud cry
was heard, aud at last fifty scholars be-
gan to run after him, pointing al him,
and throwing their bonnets and caps in the
air. go


Look, lookr cried one: 'look like a
sheep marked for the butcherr


sDo you not see, said another, that be
has been crossed, ANA is going to leave for
Palestineg


And the shouts Of laughter began again,
loader than ever. Hope now became pale
with anger, be turned round like a surly
house dog worried BY children, and perhaps
would bare taken cruel revenge on his per-
seeutors, if Mr., johnson the schoolmaster,
had not Just thsn shown himself at the
door of his house. =


Robert -snt towards him and began to
complain that his school was composed of
vagabonds and insolent children. Mr..
johnson replied geoly, that he would not
for all the world encourage inpertiaenee in
his scholars, but that the white cross which
he had on bis back would make people
wiser than children laugh


what business is that to your replied
Robert, haughtily, is not my back my own
propertyr rs


The schoolmaster bowed, and Hope con-
tinued on his way. But the cross bore
more and more heavily on bis shoulders.
He began TO think it would not be so easy
to avoid paying Mr.. Taylor his rent after
all. Ifso many jokes followed him already,
what would it be when they knew the rea-
son of this foolish ornament? Rejecting
thus, Robert came near the tavern; he
was going to pass on, when he perceived
Mr.. Taylor himself few steps in advance,
and on the other side, his neighbor Hull
Inns, dragging along bis wooden leg,
and chatting with Harry Stoke the car
penter.


Harry Stoke was the Wit of the village,
and on no account did Hope wish TO be
joked by him before Hullius. Sc he took
refuge In the tavern. But that was not
long tenable. The drinkers were not slow
to perceive the cross, and joke Hope about
it; q quarrel broke out, and the inn keeper,
fearing something serious would happen,
had Robert put out of his house by his
man.


Robert had left his own house, intend
ing to 90 and look after some work which
had been offered him in the neighboring
village, but his temper bad been so ruff1sd
by the old man Fox, Patty Stephens, the
blacksmith, the butcher, Peggy ;Turton,
and the scholars, that he decided to return
home, thinking that after all he should be
more quiet there. So he started for home.


Sometimes he would walk quickly so as
not 10 be oyertaken; then he would take
step minute; in order not to pass some
one be would see 10 advance; sometimes
in the fields, he would glide behind bushes,
jump over walls, and fly from the sight Of
men with as much care as a robber who
had stolen chicken from farm yard
all this time the white cross was insup-
portably heavy. AT last be reached home,
and be hoped now to find little quiet
But as soon as his wife saw him she cried
OUT .-..s....s-4


sAre you not ashamed to come back as
you went outi Already five or six of
our neighdors have asked me if you had
not lost your senses. Quick now let me
pass my apron over that cross


So saying, Mistress Hope tried to get
hold of her husbands arm; but be rudely
pushed her back. Mistress Hope, who
was not oyerburdened with patience, re-
piled with blow, and the result was reg
ular fight between the two, to the great
scandal Of the neighbors, who ran to sepa-
rate them. 3.


1t is not necessary to say that every body
decided against Robert, who at first brayed
the general disapprobation, and even found
consolation in his fury; but the more i'm
petuously fire burns, the sooner it con-
sumes that which nourishes it; even as pas
sionate men soon exhaust their energy by
the violence of their feelings. Robert,
on becoming cslmer, had not the courage
TO continue this painful contest; he felt
that there was no hope of quiet for him,
either out of doors or in his own house, as
long as be wore that cross on his coat, and
he decided to efface in that evening him
self of his own accord. The following
Monday he went at an early hour to the
-. a. ...k E. Al