Year: 1874

1t has been many long days since
then, yet remember it all, just q.
though it had occurred yesterday.


l was carpenter, the foreman OF
large establishment, and as such
possessed the entire confidence OF
my employer, who, by the way, had
been an old schoolmate of mine.


One day he called me into his
Office to look at some rare coins he
had just purchased.


Here said he, placing in my
hand q heavy gold piece, lis one
which is worth more than all the rest
put together. 1t is great curiosity.
/ paid 5000 for it, and consider il
cheap at that. I could easily double
my money in selling it; and SO you
see, Harvey, it is . good invest.
ment.'


No doubt it u.s. said I, though i,
seems large sum to have lie idle.'


/ breathed an involuntary sigh as
laid the coin down on the desk, for
5000 would have seemed q fortune to
me just then.


The severe illness of my wife and
one OF my children, and the death OF
another, made serious inrosds on my
purse, and it had required the utmost
economy to keep myself free from
debt; nay, l had been obliged to
withdraw from the bank the small
sum which, besides my salary, was
all possessed of worldly treasures.
Thinking of this, / laid the coin down
with sigh, and turned away to at
tend my duties.


The next morning was again
summoned into the office, but this
time met with no friendly greeting
az usual.


Harvey said my employer.
abruptly, that coin We were looking
at has disappeared. / have made q
thorough sesroh, but it is not to be
found. 1t has been carried away by
some one. You alone saw or knew
Of it, and


He paused and 10 oked significantly
into my face. finished the sentence
for him, the hot blood dying my
cheek and brow as l spoke.


you mean, therefore, that l took
it,


'Whst else can ! think? the coin
was here; you alone saw IL. / oan-
not recall having seen it since it was
in your hands. You are in need OF
money; you have told me that
yourself. 1t was a great temptation,
and l forgive you because of our old
friendship, but l cannot retain you in
my employ. Here is the salary due
you


very WE'LL said I, with forced
calmness, $50 be it. Since you have
SO poor an opinion of me after years
of faithful service I shall not stop to
defend myself


Then took the money he had
laid upon the desk, and went on,
from his presence well-nigh broken
hearted man.


But for the tender love of my wife
/ doubt not but that / would have
buried my sorrows in the grave of q
suicide.


Supported by that love, however,
and the consciousness of my own in
nocence, took fresh courage, and
set resolutely to work to find Q new
employer.


But powerful is the breath Of Sian.
der; turn which way I might, 1 ever
found that the story of my dismissal
for theft had preceded me, and my
application for employment uniform
" met with q refusal.


Time went on; piece by piece o.
our furniture and every spare article
of clothing found its way to the
pawnbroker's until at length ever
this poor resource failed US, and my
children cried in vain for food.


Yet / did not sit down in idle de
spsir; ! could not afford to do 80
the lite or death of all I loved or
earth depended on my exertions-
and SO, turning away from home
with q heavy heart, once more se
out on the weary search for work.


All in vain! Refusal after refuss
met my entresties for employment
and l was turning homewsrd with {
listless step when, passing an i'm
mense church, l was attracted BY ,
group Of men at its base.


Impelled by some strange impulse
I approached and mingled viii
them.


A workman was standing near by
looking up at the great steeple
which lowered sloft some ESQ fee
above them, while . gentleman, svi
dently an architect, was addressing
him in earnest language, and 1t tht
same time pointing to the COLDER
cross 1t the summit Of the spirs.


Il tell you,' he exclaimed, -
drew near, it must and can be done
The cross must be taken down, OIL
the frst heavy gale will send il dowr
into the street, and lives viii be los
Coward I 10 this the way you bscl