Year: 1878

eyes, sIOoQ DeIOre ner, ana begged TOT @ nights shelter, or something which would procure him one.

 The former, Mrs. Bruges could not give; and the latter. She looked up the narrow alley where she lived, to the wide steeet which ran along at it's head. The dwellings of the wealthy were there. She saw the costly edi6ces, through whose richly -curtained windows the brilliant lights were gleaming; and thought how easily the dwellers beneath those roofs could make the poor creature comfortable. But she hesitated only for 8 brief instant 1; and then, stepping back into her apartment, she picked up the bit of silver lying on the table.

 Poor little Annot, she had fallen asleep while talking of the pretty present mann ma would buy for her tomorrow she could not remember ever having received one before, and she had kissed the piece of silver 8 thousand times during the day, in anticipation of what it would bring her. The widow glanced on the coin which the child had, with sharp pointed instrument scratched her name in quite legible characters and she brushed tear from her eye as she thought of the disappointment in store for her.

 The hand that was outstretched to re- ceive the pittance, sensibly trembled.

 "It is the poor widows mite:" said Mrs. Bruges; "do not spend it for what will make you more wretched than you now are.'

 The fingers closed over it, and the man turned away and walked rapidly down the street, though now and then he checked his speed for an instant, and muttered indistinctly to himself. At the end of few minutes he stood before the door of miserable rum-shop and looked through the torn window curtain into the room, where drunken, half-idiot group were gathered around an old rickety table, busted with game of haz- ard, @ -'.5

 The man was now sober, and as he gazed on those faces, purple and bloated, or of deathly palIor, those tottering forms, and those wildly staring eyes, and listened to the deep oaths. and the fiend- ish laugh, uttered by those tremulous voices-his better feelings awoke. His uplifted hand fell from the door-latch, and he averted his eyes from the wretch ed group but the face of their comrade had been seen through the window, and before he had quite decided to turn away from the spot, two or three of the more sober of the company were dragging him into the shop.

 The man did not go very reluctantly, but when he had entered the room he slunk away in corner and sat down by himself. His cheek, habitually so pale, was crimsoned with shame not because the eyes of those miserable men were up on him, but awakened conscience was whispering in his ear in tones that sent his blood like fiery torrent through his veins.

 For half an hour, nearly, he sat there silent, but writhing in bitter agony, while his companions, who had forgotten h1s presence, continued their drinking and play; that is, those of them who had not fallen to the floor, overcome with their deep potations. At length the man shook off those terrible thoughts his appetite had conquered.

 He took from his pocket the bit of silver which the poor widow had given him. It was an old coin, and it's in- scription was very nearly obliterated, and he drew near the light to ascertain it's value. For an instant his eye gazed upon it with strange expression, and then it fell to the floor, while an excla- nation, such as silenced the noisy group in the shop, and made them pause in their play, burst from his lips; but be- fore they had time to inquire the cause of his sudden emotion, the man picked up the silver, and rushed out of the shop.

 In an incredible short space of time, considering the distance he had to walk, the same individual stepped into one of the largest and most fashionable dry goods stores in the city. A half-sup- pressed litter was heard among the younger clerks as he made his appear ance, but the man did not seem to hear 1t he walked on with firm, quick step, till he reached the counting-room, where the owners of the establishment were | %has J then, and look of shame and degrade tion stole over that face which nature had made noble and handsome, as the mild blue eyes of the senior barter were fixed on his countenance.

 "Why are you here again? have told you already we cannot employ youl' p There was pity in the old gen tleman's tone, but his voice was firm

 "If you would promise what we require there is no one we could sooner trust ?

 "I will promise p said the mar quickly and firmly. ''I will sign tho pledge, MT. Compton p

 The old gentleman drew forth iron the desk paper, on which was list O names, which his own and those of hi partners, headed the name of every mal in his employ was there. The man tool the paper, and in large, bold characters added his name to the list, while MT

 Crompton looked over his shoulder. "George, you will never break tha : pledge" he said there is something in your look and manner which assure me of it ! Take this" and drawing iron his pocket-book small roll of bills. h ] placed them in the mans hand" an,