Year: 1874




1t has been many long day since
then, yet | remember it all, just as though
1t had occurred but yesterday.


| was Il carpenter the foreman of a
large establishment, and as such pos
sessed the entire confidence of my en-
ployer, who, by the way, had been a
schoolmate of mine.


One day he called me into his Office to
look at some rare coins he had just pur'
chased. Here, r" said he, placing in
my hand heavy sd pisee q is one
which is worth moro han all the rest put
together 1t is grtat curiosity. l paid
two hundred dollars for it, and consid.
cred it cheap at that. could easily
double my money N selling it and so
You see, Harvey, it is really good in
vestment.


mo doubt it is, ? said l, "though il
seems a large sum to have lie idle. "


] breathed an Involuntary sigh as
laid the coin down en- the desk, for two
hundred dollars would have seemed a
fortune to me just then.


The severe illness of my wife and one
of my children, and the death of another,
made serious inroads on my purse, and
it had required the exercise ofthe utmost
economy to keep myself free from debt /;
nay | had been obliged to withdraw from
the bank the small sum which, besides
my salary, was all ! possessed of world
ly treasures Thinking Of this, | laid the
coin down with sigh, and turned away
to attend to my duties.


The next morning l was again sum-
moned into the office, but this time met
with no such friendly greeting as usual


Harvey, said my employer, abrupt
ly, 4" that coin we were looking at has
have made thorough
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 looked significantly
into my face / finished the sentence
for him, the hot blood dyeing my cheeks
and brow as | spoke


You mean, therefore, that | look it
.Im


"What else can | think? The coin
was there, you alone saw it. | cannot
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 | forgive you be-
cause of our old friendship, but cannot
retain you in my employ. Here is the
salary due YOU


Very well, " said /, with forced calm
ness, " SO be it. SLsee you have SO poor
an opinion of Inc after years OF faithful
service, | shall not stop to defend my
self


Then took tie money he had laid
upon the desk, and went from his pres
cnce well.nigh broken hearted man.


But for the tender love of my wife, ]
doubt not that | would have buried my
sorrows in the grave Of a suicide.


Supported by that love, however, and
The consciousness Of my own innocence
| took fresh courage, and set resolutely
to work to find new employer


Powerful is breath of SANDER: turn
which way might, ever found that the
story of my dismissal for the theft had
preceded me, and application for EN-.
ployment uniformly met with a refusal


Time went on piece by piece our fur.
niture. and every spare article Of cloth
ing, found its way to the pawn brokers',
until at length even this poor resource
failed us, and my children cried in vain
for food.


Yet did not sit down in idle despair ;
could not afford to do so the life or
death Of all loved on earth depended
on my exertion, and SO, turning away
from them with heavy heart, once
more set out on the weary search for
work.


All in vain refusal after refusal met
my cntreaties for employment. and |
was turning homeward with listless
step, when, passing an immense church,
l was attracted by group OF men at its
base.


Impelled by some strange impulse,
and mingled with them.


A workman was standing near by,
looking up at the great steeple, which
lowered aloft some two hundred and
fifty feet above them, while n gentleman,
evidently an architect, was addressing
him in earnest language, and at the same
time pointing toward the golden cross at
the summit of the spire.


81 tell you" he exclaimed, as drew
near, "it INST be done. The cross must
be taken down, or the first heavy gale
will send it down into the street, and
lives will be lost Coward is this the
way you back out of job after engag
ing to do itY'


Il didn't know the spire was so high
up there Do it yourself, if you want it
done.


II would if | were able. " said the
architect But 60 if you will let it be.
My honor is pledged to have it done at
any price, and can find braver man
than you to do it. .


The carpenter walked off with dog
ged slouching step, and the gentleman
was about to move away also, when |
stepped forward


What is it you want done" l asked
50 am a carpenter; perhaps | can do it. !"


He turned eagerly toward me.


IL will make it worth your while.
Take down that cross, and | will pay