Year: 1879

1 myself? Can't you see that it is Just be
cause you are a part Of myself that did
-not-dare-


He stopped. The hand which he still
held out was trembling. but Sam sprang
up and took it in both of his. see, see
father, he cried. Don't ask me 10 forgive
you. can't stand that; but-do please
believe in me, for indeed, indeed, VIH
try to be good.


Dear me! 1t makes the tears come now
to think of it, and they came fast enough
then, l can tell you. Though l didn't
know what the trouble was, cried so that
was ashamed of myself. and Mrs. FL
bridge kept wiping her eyes. Mamie
hadn't been in the room at all. | found
out aflerward that the poor child was Sob
through the whole of it.


All at once it came to me that rs | had
said my say, there was no need of my in


ruding myself up"n them any longer. l
was slipping quietly ont of the room, wien
Sam said suddenly.


Mother, You haven't thanked Miss
Adams for coming. You must thank her,
too, for her Kindness while you were away.
She's been like mother to me.


Nonsense! said l. 1t made me
ashamed to hear him speak so, for what
had | dcne!


She has, he persisted. She knows how
to play mother.


And then-but | can't begin to tell you
what they all said, and | wouldn't if
could. couldn't see that deserved it at
all 1t made me feel like Il goose, and |
told then so.


In the midst of it all, Sam happened to
think th,t they hadn't told me why | was
sent for. Well Mrs. Roker was ut the
bottom Of the trouble, as | suspected
She wen at the minister and his wife as
soon as they came home about Sans
queer behavior; told them she was quite
sure he had got into bad company, and if
she was h their place she sC0Uid know
where he went ut four O'Clock in the
morning. They didn't think much of it at
first, for they believe in Sam us they be.
lieve in the sun, but constant dropping
will wear a stone, they say, and at last,
without really feeling that he had done
wrong, they began to distrust him; and
when lie begged them not to ask where
he went IN the morning. his father shook
his headand his mother looked sober; and
somehow, though they didn't say so, Sam
felt they were loosing confidence in him,
and it lurt him dreadfully.


But things came to climax when the
minister lost u ten-dollar bill. He was
sure he left it in his dressing-gown pocket
but it couldn't be found.


One day Mamie in rummaging in SAM
drawer for Il piece of twine, came across
his precious n oney, and what did she do
but take it out and bring it down stairs for
her father to see. Of course, it did seem
strange that the boy should have such IL
sum hidden away, and horrible suspicion
came into the minister's mind.


II was dreadful time for sam; for
though his mother absolutely refused to
believe him guilty, his father was so stern
and severe that the poor fellows heart
was bo,h hardened and broken, if such n
thing can be. He told them ut once where
the money came from, but, us you already
know, his father refused to believe him
until mad confirmed the story.


1t WIS black, black cloud, but be-
,ieve the sun shone brighter after it, 1t
seemedas If Sam and his father loved
each otter great deal better. 1t WAS
Just rs II each OF them had seen little
bit Of himself in the othor, which be was
bound to respect and make allowance for.


Sam thought at first that his Christmas
was spoiled, but it wasn't; for the mulf
was as much n surprise us if his mother
hadn't seen the money that bought it. Il
went over to their merry making by
special invitation. This pin came from
their tree. 1t was done up in nice little
box, and directed to My other Mother"
Sans work, you know.


About that bill! Oh, yes. l forget TO
tell you that when Mrs Eldridge came to
clean house she found it rolled up in II lit
lie wad, just under the edge of the library
carpet. How did it get there? Well, that
l can't tell you, and | don't believe the
minister could either. Strange things will
happen sometimes, you know.-fFom The
Examiner and Chronicle.