Year: 1871

by my suspicious. I involuntarily
compared him, whatever were his
good or bad deeds, at least an humble
penitent before his God, with the
wretch that had decided but few
moments ago to make of myself, by
the Misrepresentation Of my employ
ers' meney, still haunted, however,
by the relief il could obtain for me,
would not quite give way to the feel
ing of repentance which was knock
Ing for admission at my breast. /
had half decided to turn away ard
drive these better thoughts from my
mind, when / observed something
moving In small crib that was
placed at tho side and toward the
foot of their bed. It's occupant, a
grand.child whose parents they had
Informed me were dead, awakened
probably by its grand. fathers voice,
rose up looked around, and settled
down upon its knees, clasping its lit
tie hands as its grand fathers were
clasped, and looking upward, out
through the window at the moon,
whose bright light fell full.npcn its
darling face, began moving It's lips as
Ii trying to repeat the words. Moth.
Ing so like an angel ever met my
sight. The grand-fathe began the
Lords prayer. That little fellow
seemed to have this by heart. He
repeated il word for word, his tiny
silvery voice sounding in sweet ac-
cord. / could not turn away. nor
any longer resist the better emotions
which l had hitherto kept down. A
rush Of repentant feeling passed
through me with an effect that shook
every fiber. fell, upon my knees,
and with tears streaming from my
eyes, Joined in the concluding words
of the prayer.


need not say changed my mind
with regard to the money. passed
IA quiet night, and rose early, hasten
ing away toward my journeys end,
40 as to give myself the least possible
time or opportunity for changing my
new formed resolution. In banding
the package to the agent, / said to
him that as there was money In it, IL
might rs well be opened in my pres
ence. to see that IL was all correct etc.
He, of course, discovered the error,
and handed me back the amount
that was over, with which returned
home and delivered it up to its prop
er owner in due time.


1t was fortunate for mo in every
way, that pursued the course had
adopted. 1t appeared that the money
had been obtained from the bank
after bank hours, in the absence OF
the teller, from one OF the officers
There were no loose notes on hand
of the larger denominations, but
there were sheets Of thousands and
five hundreds signed by the presi.
dent and cashier. Either two sheets
were picked up 10y mistake for one,
or the wrong batch of sheets selected
from-that is, thousands were taken
instead of five hundreds. The notes
were hurriedly clipped, strapped and
endorsed "$5, ,000" without recount
ing and so enveloped. and handed
over to me. The bank had discover
ed the error, and ho doubt was enter
tanned but that the missing money
was with me. Whether / should
have had the face to withstand tn e
imputation, even with the apparently
undisturbed condition of the envel-
ope in my favor, Is more than can
say, but doubt 1t.


But the notes, in pursuance of a
precaution still in use in some banks
were payable TO the order of one of
the clerks, and had not been endorsed
by him. / could not, therefore have
used them, or If 30 they could have
been traced back to me. found also
that the numbers had been carefully
ascertained, of all had taken with
me. and thus another chance of de-
lection existed. What an escape.


Upon returning and entering the
counting room handed the surplus
back to my employer with feeling
somewhat of pride. but mixed up
with other feelings not easily de-
scribed.


My precaution of having the mon
ey opened by the agent in my pres
ence, was highly commended and
the possibility Of his misapproprlat-
ing the undue amount, as very little
personal knowledge OF him was pos
sessed by the firm, was duly discuss
ed, what was said by them, brought
bushes to my checks.


In course of time, my senior ac-
countant was taken into the firm. /
was put in his position, and with his
salary. saved money, and finally
got into business on my own account
and am now, as you know rich. i
never forgot my former host and his
grandchild, but at the death Of the
former, took charge Of the boy. He
is now my partner and the husband
of my daughter.