Year: 1861

expect you before long, and rever,
heptly the boy kissed her cheek, but
1.-THE mothers heart was SO full she
could only murmur.,, aGod bless;


and keep you from all harm, my
, son !"
| 1t was a pleasant, coy upper
, room into which the warm, spring


sunshine was stealing, and Mrs.


Heath, asmile Of contentment lin


gering upon her PLACID features,
and busy with her neSlle, sat by
the window, where a atrope, q


geranium, moss rose and a clus-


ter of blooming violets, basklng in


the bright light, filled the room


with soft perfume. She had al


ways loved flowers, and the cot


tage she had called home for so


many years was embowered among


Towering vines; and when the


heightened days ard warm sunshine


reminded her OF that loved spot,


she pined for the green foliage and


sweet spring violets; SO from her


not abundant means she purchased


a few plants, and the small rooms


in the noisy city became to her a
pleasant home. Then, too, she had


heard a good report of Paul, his


employer was pleased with him,


and if he conti9ped to do we'll his


salary for the SECOND year would


be more than he had promised, and


on that day as she laid aside her


work and hustled about to have


Paul s dinner in season, hooking at
the clock to see how long before he
would be there. She was happyz,l
happy aswhen in her cottage home,
for the future looked calmer, bright


er.


1t was November when Mrs.


Heath was prostrated by nervous
fever, brought on by over exertion
IN the sitting atmosphere of the
crowded city. Paul was alarmed,
but the physician said there was
no immediate danger, mild medical
treatment and care would soon re-
store her to usual health, A kind
hearted woman occupying rooms
upon the same floor sat with the
sick woman apart of each day, and
Paul brave boy, often rent with
out his supper that he might pur-
chase medicine, or some luxury for
his sick mother.


One evening, Paul on his way
home, after purchasing o loaf Of
bread, spent his last penny for
fruit, and was more than repaid for
denying himself the luxury of a
cake, when he saw her eat the fruit,
saying, "it was a pleasant relish"


That evening the physician drop
ped in, the patient was improving
slowly he said, but he left a pre-
scription for medicine to be taken
the following morning, telling Paul
he must get it prepared before 60
ing to the store.


Morning came, there was not one
penny in the house, but Paul would
not trouble his mother by telling
her, SO taking the prescription to
the druggist he begged to be trust
ed until evening"


"But it would De disobeying Or
ders," the clerk replied. "The cost
was only a shilling, and surely he
might pay that"


With heavy heart Paul went to
the store; it was Friday, and his
weeks wages would be paid to him
onthe next day; if he only dare ask
Mr., Hall to pay him that morning,
he might get the medicine, but the .
seldom spoke to him, and {
would he not think him intrusive,
and be angry; so he banished the
thought.


If was early, Paul and the porter
were the only persons in the store,
when q single customer coming in,
Paul sold him a few articles of little !
value, and he was paid in small
change. It was then that the
tempter came, he thought of his
sick mother; she must have the {
medicine the physician said, and he |
could not endure to think what {
might be the consequence if she did
not have it; would it be stealing to
keep back one shilling, when he in
tended to place that sum in the 6
drawer the first opportunity after
receiving his pay. 1t would be :
some hours before he could see his
employer, and his mother would
wonder why he was SO long away, {
as when leaving he promised to re- {
turn soon with the medicine; the :
that she might die decided
him, and turning a deaf ear to the
whisperings of conscience heplaced ]
the small sum in his pocket. G


But when he placed his hand on
The doorknob ofthc druggists shop,
The still, small voice was heard, and
Paul started back appalled, at the t
enormity Of the deed; true it was :
paltry sum that he had taken, but |
was he not guilty of crime, and if ,
detected would his employer ev-
er trust him again; and would it
not break his mothers heart when [