Year: 1860

| ing TO funeral


Wallace explained.


Well, it must be hard to do without ones
mother when mother is all one has. How il
the world do you manage at home?'
| There is a good old lady there who pre-
pares my meals somebody my mother has ia
ken in for charity" replied Wallace, land its
all well enough except evenings, then I'm lone
some


Should think you might be-thatis rather
hard society for young fellow. III tell you
what, Wallace. I've got room to myself. and
all prayer-meeting, old boy you ought to
see some of the sights. No excuses, you must
and you shall"


For the sake of companionship Wallace al
lowed himself to be urged and finally compro-
missed the matter by dividing his evenings, Au-
gustus to spend half at his desolate home
This agreed upon, this one doubtful step taken,
the way paved with so many good resolutions,
was furthermore trodden, but it tended not up
ward. One barrier after another was broken,
until Wallace had gone farther than he dared
confess even to himself.


Another year passed away, and again Mrs
Blake was summoned from home to spend sew
eral months. Hal it not seemed to be her i'm
peratiye duty, she would have preferred remain
ing with her son, for even her eyes were open
ing to the fact that something was going
wrong. He was, if it could be possible, mere
attentive to her than ever when at home, but
through many an evening she sat alone. Lee
lures were so frequent through the winter
months, and Wallace was man grown. She
could not as Of old question or command
She only grieved sometimes thought and pray
ed the more, and did what was the best thing
she could do, commended him fervently to God


Again Wallace and Augustus were thrown
almost constantly together, but terrible
stroke impended. Mr.. Hartley died suddenly
and it was found that his wealth was entirely
fabulous he left his family poor This
affliction had the effect to make Wallace
cling yet closer to his friend, and the young
men became inseparable.


One stormy night in March they sat togeth-
er Augustus had been gloomy for several
weeks, but now an air of buoyance was obser-
vable in his demeanor.


Wallace" said he have thought of
glorious plan, We mi ght become rich, you
and L."


How? ?" queried the other, i'll his matter
of-fact-wly.


My uncle offers to invest money for us in
the #. stocks says we can treble it and moro
in six months"


Yes, but where is the money coming from?''
asked Wallace. :" | have only what | earn
from week to week, and what little have put
away for my mott er-that is sacred


Oh, we could get money easy enough. As
we are sure of returns, why not borrow it o.


/ know of no one to borrow from besides
if did | don't like the principle-its a bad
one"


I'll tell you what would be safe thing"
returned Augustus-''say we.borrow, Just bor-
row, you know, a couple of hundred from the
bank, for few months. The starting capital
is what puts man up; after that we 90 Oil
the money we make


Borrow from the bank :" echoed Wallace
and his face crimsoned, "you mean, take money
without leavc.'


i" mean with the intention to replace it
of course we could do that in very short
time


No" said Wallace, with decision that is
dishonesty


His companion gave him peculiar look.


You know how ii coulc be donc;' he
said, " and how easily returned" " and he went
on TO argue the matter-he!d it up in all man
ner of lights and eentrived to place before
him with so much skill the probabilities Of ul-
innate success that when they parted, he was
almost persuaded TO do the deed of dishonesty
He went home rapidly that night, his brow
clouded over. 1t was almost the time of his
mothers return, but that thought now gave
him no pleasure. When quite nrar his dwell
ling, some one touched him on the arm. 1t
was strangely enough his mothers pastor.


/ recognized you by your walk" said the
latter, q and thought | would speak to you l
have just come from the dying bed of an old
man-old Father Hastings, and he said to me
Tell the first man you meet, to keep the gar
ments of his soul from the soil of sin. Every
spot of impurity grows more indelible and
harder to remove. l did not know | should
repeat my lesson so soon, but perhaps God
has sent me. All, here is your home-good
night"


Only brief sentence, but how full of mean
ing, of warning to the soul it was spoken to
How rushed over his memory his mothers

knew not how far he had gone from the ways
of innocence but God did. How terrible that
presence seemed to him now He rushed up
to his room in the darkness, writhing under
the stings Of conscience. The right word had
been spoken at the right time and God had
set his seal to it. All that night Wallace
slept not, and laggard, unrefreshed, he lifted
himself from his bed in the morning.


d" Augustus" he said, as he met his friend
have decided to let that scheme alone'


Perhaps you will turn informer," respond
ed the young man, in an excited manner.


No, not if you promise to have nothing
more to do with it" was the reply.


shall promise nothing of the Sort" said
the young man, in the tone of one ill-used.


Then you must not say another word to
me about it, was the response of Wallace.


Things went on usual, save in the init
macy of the young men. Wallace felt keen
ly that he had lost the confidence of his friend,
but he had determined to set his feet on firm
ground, and he could bear the cold looks and
averted glances. One day the senior teller of
the bank called him into the counting-room.


Il regret to tell you that we find deficit
of one hundred dollars he said sternly,


Well sir, and"


" And in your account, sir. You need say
nothing for yourself, for we have sufficient
proof. Still out of regard for your excellent
mother, who has been pleading for you
we shall take no steps to right the matter le
galy, nor shall we ever speak of it again
but, sir, you are at liberty to find another
place"


The man would not listen to a word. He
was one of those set. rigid persons, who make
up their minds, and there the matter must
end Wallace felt as if stunned to stone.