Year: 1871

Once more he trod the streets of his
native city, not now penniless boy,
soliciting aims for the relief Of those he
loved, but the we'll developed man, who
had fought the great battle Of life and
won.


He found that his Quaker friend, to-
gether with his kind hearted wife, had
passed to the world beyond, to reap the
reward of life spent in acts of kind
ness and good deeds. The family were
scattered and he could obtain no tidings
of them.


At the time of his arrival the city was
convulsed by financial crisis. The
stoutest business crafts bowed to the
gale and went down in the vortex.
About week after Edgar'S arrival at
his native city, as he was me morning
reading the morning papera his room
in the hotel where he found a tempo
rary home, he read list of recent fail
ures, and the names of number of bus
mess men likely to be ruined by the
present financial pressure.


Among the latter he read the name
of James Wilton. A thrill ran through
him as he read this name in this con-
nection. For moment he experienced
feelings of exultation at the thought
that misfortune had overtaken the man
who treated him so roughly at the time
when he was in deep distress. 1t was
only for moment that he indulged IN
| feelings of this character, and they soon
gave place to determination to return
good for evil, and heap Goals of fire on
the head Of the man who had treated
| him ill for our hero was Christian.
He dispatched to Mr.. Wilton q note
requesting an immediate interview at
| his rooms at the hotel.


In about two hours it was answered
in the person of him to whom the note
was addressed. He was a man past the
middle age of life, with countenance
marked with care, and exhibiting signs
of recent grief.


AS he entered, Edgar approached him,
extended his hand, and thus addressed
| him: "This is Mr. James Wilton Of
No - Pearl street I believe" He re-
Piled "That is my name, out can
not recognize you, nor can imagine
why you have requested this interview"
"My name is Edgar Foster. Years ago
| lived in this city, and then | knew
you. | have been absent for years, and
few days since returned; l did not
expect you to recognize me. But now
to business! | noticed in the papers, q
few hours ago, a statement that your
financial affairs were in a precarious
condition, and having some funds on
derosit, for which have no immediate
use, | sent for you to see if | could not
assist you in your difficulty. OF what
amount are you in need, to avert the
threatened disaster p


"Thank God!" exclaimed the CRATE
full man; off there is a prospect
that the cloud will be removed. In
forty years experience in business, ruin
has never come SO near me as now.
Ten thousand dollars will carry me
over this crisis. But why my young
friend, do you, a stranger to me, take
such an interest in my welfare?''


"Here is my check for the amount
you have named take it and save your
self from ruin, and we will defer expla-
nations to future time," was the reply,
as the young man handed him the val
liable paper.


With a hearty "God bless you," the
grateful and relieved man took his leave.
About week after the above occur
renee took place, Edgar received note
from Mr.. Wilton, requesting him to ac-
company him that evening, to his home,
and take tea with him-urging him not
to refuse, as his family were extremely
anxious to become acquainted with the
man who had conferred so great a favor
on them.


At the appointed hour Mr.. Wilton
called at Edgars rooms for him, and
found him ready to accompany him.
He told Edgar that his embarrassment
arose from the failure of several firms
that were deeply indebted to him, and
that he had given up in despair Just as
his note reached him, as he had tried
every source that he knew of, and had
failed. "Never. before" said he, "in
forty years experience of business life,
| had matters looked as dark as then.
In few hours more my notes would
have been protested, and then my ruin
would have been certain. But, all is
safe now, until l can dispose of some
Western lands, and then all will be fair
sailing again. Your timely aid secured
to me still fortune, though have lost
heavily. But cannot longer rest with
out knowing who you are, previously
knew nothing of, was induced TO reach
forth helping hand in the hour of my
extremity"


Edgar then related to him how, when
a poor boy, he had solicited aims OF
him for sick mother, his cruel rebuff,
the kindness of his Quaker friend, his
feelings when he recognized him at his
place of business, of his success
in business, and his return to
his native city, and how he saw a state
ment relative to his affairs in the daily
papers. CAT frst,," said he, the old
desire for revenge came up, and soon
banished the feeling, and resolved to
return good for evil, and thus obey Him
whom profess to serve"


The merchant bowed his head and
wept. you have heaped Goals OF tire
on my head with vengeance. l re-
member the circumstance we'll. Your
sorrowing eyes haunted me, and In hall
an hour, if l had thought | could have
found you, l should have sought you,
and have given you relief But 1t was
a lesson for me, and never since have |
passed by the pleadings of child un-
needed. 1t shall be my purpose to atone
for my fault and prove to you that |
am not ungrateful for your generous
aid and noble forgiveness.


Edgar extorted promise from him to
say nothing of this circumstance to his
family at this visit, and then accompan-
led him to his luxurious home. His
family consisted of wife and three
daughters. Angeline, the eldest, was
twenty-four years of age-ine scholar
and an amiable and accomplished lady
The others were younger, but beautiful