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THE ATHENS GEORIGAN: JUNE 12, 1877.
THE DARK HOUR.
“ I can’t stand it any longer, Jane;
I’ll go out, and perhaps something
will turn up for us.”
“ It’s a cold night, Robert.”
“Cold, ves. Tint it’s not much
colder out than in. It would have
been belter for you if you had mar
ried John Tremain,” he said, bitterly.
“ Don’t say that, Robert; I’ve
never regretted my choice.”
“ Not even when there is not a loaf
of bread in the house for you and
the children ?”
“Not even now, Robert. Don’t
lie discouraged. God has not forsaken
us. Perhaps this Christmas Eve the
tide will turn ; better days may dawn
upon ns to-morrow.”
Robert Brice shook his head de-
spcndingly.
“You are .imre hopeful than I,
Jane. Day after day I have been in
search of employment. I have called
at fitly places, only to receive the j c i rc i e at home,
same answer everywhere.’’
Just then, little Jimmy, who had
been asleep, woke up.
“ Mother,” he pleaded, “ won’t
you give mo a piece of bread ? I
am so hungry.”
“ There is no bread, Jimmy, my
darling!” said the mother with au
aching heart.
“When will there be some?”
asked the little child, piteously.
Tears came into tile mother’s eyes.
She knew not what to do.
“Jimmy, I’ll bring you some
bread,’’ said the father, hoarsely.
And lie seized his hat and went to
the door, llis wife, alarmed, laid
her hand upon his sleeve. She saw
the look in his eyes; she feared to
wliat step desperation might lead
hint.
•• Remember, Robert,” she said,
solemnly, “It is hard to staive; hut
there are thin, s that are worse.’’
He shook off her hand, but not
roughly, ami, w thont a word, passed
out
Out in the cold streets! That
would he their only, home next. For
n btief tpne longer he had the,shell
of a cheerless room in a cold lodging-
house, hut the rent would become
due at tiie end of the month, and he
had nothing to meet it.
Robert Brice was a mechanic,
Competent and skillful. Three years
since, he lived in a country village
where his expenses were moderate,
and he found no difficulty in meeting
them. But in an evil hour he grew’
tired of his village home, and re*
moved to the city. Here, he vainly
hoped to do I Tetter. For awhile, he
met with very good success; hut he
found the lodging-house in which lie
had to live a poor substitute tor the
neat cottage he had occupied in the
country. He saw liis mistake, but
was too proud to go back, although
it was his wife’s desire to do so.
But the time of great depression
canto, and with it a suspension of
business enterprise. Work ceased
for Robert Brice ar.d many others.
If lie had been in his old home, lie
could have turned his hand to some
thing else, and, at the worst, could
have borrowed from his neighbors
till lielter times.
So, day by day, lie went out to
seek work, only to return disap<«
pointed. If he had been alone, lie
would have got one some way ; but
it was a sore trial to come to the
cheerless room anil a | ale wife and
hungry children, with no relief to
c ffer them.
Wheu on that Christmas Eve Rob
ert Brice went into the streets, he
hardly knew how he was going to
redeem the promise he had made
little Jimmy. Hu was absolutely
penniless, and had been so for three
days. There was nothing that lie
was likely to find to do that night.
“ I will pawn my coat,” lie said.
“ I cannot see my wife and children
starve t”
It was a well-worn coat, and that
winter night be needed something
more to keep him warm. Weakened
by enforced fasting, ho was more
sensitive to the cold, and shivered as
he walked along the pfivement.
“Yes,” he said, “mv coat must
go. I know not how I shall get
along without it; but I cannot see
my children starve before my eyes.”
He was uot in general an envious
man; but when lie saw the sleek,
well-fed citizens, buttoned up to the
throat* in warin'. overcoats, come out
of brilliantly lighted shops, provided
with preseuts for happy children at
home, while his were starving, lie
suffered some bitter thoughts upon
the inequality of Fortune’s gifts to
come to his mind. Why should they
be so happy, while he was so miser
able?
There was a time—lie remembered
it well—when he, too, suffered not
the Christinas Eve to pass without
buying some little gifts for Jimmy
and Agnes. How little lie dreamed
that they should ever want bread!
There was one man shorter than
himself, warmly clad, who passed
him with his hand thrust deep in the
pockets of his overcoat. There was
a pleasant smile upon his face. He
was doubtless thinking of a happy
Robert knew him to be a rich
cabinetmaker and upholsterer, whose
ample warehouse he oftcu passed
He had applied to this man only two
days before tor employment, and had
been refused. It was perhaps, the
thought of the wide difference he*
tween them, so far as outward cir
cumstances were, that led Robert to
follow him.
After a while the tradesman, Mr.
Grimes, drew l.is handkerchief from
his pocket. As he did so, he did not
perceive that his pocket-book came
out with it, and fell on the pavement.
He did uot perceive it; but Robert
did. His heart lenjied into his month,
and a sudden thought entered his
mind. He bent quickly down and
picked up the pocket-book. He
raised his eyes to see if the movement
was noticed. It was not. Mr.
Grimes went on, unheeding his loss.
“ This will buy bread for my wife
aud children,” thought Robert, in-
•tantly.
A vision <»f i l.e comfort which the
money w.-uhl bring that cheerless
room lighted up liis heart for an ;
instant,'huttlieti—tor he iAis riot dis
honest—then came another thought.
The money was not his, much ns he
wanted it.
“ But 1 cannot see my wife and
children starve,” he thought again.
“ If it is wrong to keep the money
God will pardon the offense. He will
understand my motive.”
All this was sophistry, and he knew
it. In a moment he felt it to be so.
There was something worse than
starvation. It was his wife who said
this just before he came out. Could
he meet her gaze wheu he returned
with food so obtained ?
“I’ve lived honest so far,” he
thought; “I won’t turn thief now.”
It was with au effort he came to
this decision, for all the while it was
before his eyes that vision of a cheer
less home, and lie could hear Jimmy
vainly asking for food. It was with
an effort that he steeped forward and
placed one hand on the tradesman’s
shoulder, and extended the hand that
held the pocket-book.
“Thank you,*’ said Mr. Grimes,
turning rouud ; “ I hadn’t perceived
my loss. I am much obliged to you.’’
“You have Yea son to be,” said
Robert, in a low voice. “ I was very-
near keeping it’’
“ That would have been dishonest,”
said Mr. Grimes, his tone altering
slightly.
“ Yes, it would; hut it is hard to
he honest when otic is penniless, and
his wife and children without a
crust.”
“ Sure you and your childreu are
uot in that condition?” said the
tradesman, earnestly.
“ Yes,"said Robert, “it isonly too
true. For two months I have vain*
ly sought for work. I applied to
you two days since.”
“ I remember you now. I thought
I had seen you before. You still
want work?’’
“ I should feci grateful for it.”
“ My foreman left me yesterday.
Will you take bis place for twenty-
five dollars a week ?”
“Thankfully sir; I would for half
that.” •
“Then come to-morrow morning,
or, rather, as to-morrow will be a
holiday, the next day .succeeding.
Meantime, take this for your present
necessities.” • »
He drew from ins pocket some
notes, and handed theml#Robert.
“ Why yon have given me thirty^
dollars!” said Rohc;t, ip amazement.
“ I know it. The pocket-book
contains five thousand dollars. But
for you, I should have lost the whole.
I wish you a merry Christmas.’’
“It will, indeed, be jyjierry Chris-
mas,” said Robett, with emotion
“ Heaven bless you, sir! Good
night’’
“ Good night.”
Jane waited for her husband in the
cold and cheerless ruonT^which for a
few days longer she might call her
home. An hour passed ; there was a
step on the stairs—her Ipisband’s? It
could not be, for this'was a cheerful,
clastic step, coming up-tario stairs at a
time. She looked eagerly to the
door. Yes, it was he. , The door
opened, Robert, radiaift with joy,
entered with a basket fuj^of substan
tial provisions. -
“Have you got some bread,
father ?** asked Jimmy, hopefully.
“ Yes, Jimmy, some bread and
meat from a cook’s shop ; and here’s
a little tea and sugar. There’s a few
coals left. Lei’s have a blight fire
and a comfortable meal, for please
God, this shall be a merry Christ*
mas.’’
“How did it happen"? Tell me
Robert.’’
So Robert told liis wife ; and soon
a bright fire lit up the before cheer
less room, aud there were four hap-'
pv hearts that waited in -joyful hope
for the dawn of a “merry Christmas
Day.” ’ *
The next week they move-1 to
better rooms. They have never
since known what it is to want. Rob.
ert found a firm friend in Mr. Grimes,
and 1ms an account in the savings
bank, and has reason to remember
with a grateful heart God’s goodness
on that Christmas
THE GEORGIAN FOR. 1877.
With increased facilities for carrying on the publication of our paper
for the New Year- the Georgian will bo found, as heretofore.
Strictly Democratic,
And will endeavor to supply its‘readers with the most careful, com
plete and trustworthy accounts of current events. It will
remain its usual size, eight pages, and has
More Reading Matter In tts Columns
Thau any two weekly papers in the State. Wc have the largest
bona fide subscription list in Northeast Georgia, and we
intend to make it, as heretofore, an interesting
FIRESIDE COMPANION.
mil iid an
JOB WORK.
reductioh
IN PRICES.
Drifts Al
f »r ?
Lost, and I know not wbtfe tt)oh art!
1 know wc change in mind and heart,
And dearest friends will drill apart,
Upon Time’s treacherous tide;
And yet I dreamed chat thou and 1.
On waters culm, ’ueath cloudless sky,
Might onward float—lorcver nigh—
Across Life's ocean wide.
Aud still I mourn the luckless day
I marked thee slowly glide away;
My heart in piteous tones cried, Stay,
Aud leave u>e uot alone!
No uuswering word or look Grom thee
Came through the distance back to me ;
Only the waves of Life’s deep sea
Made melancholy moan.
No parting word, no farewell kiss;
Only a vanished dream of blits,
A void that cches for what we tuise
From ont the life and heart,
To weary of the world’s dull ways,
To scorn alike ita blame aud pryuse,
And weep for joya of bygone gaya—
Ah me, to drift apart I
I loved thee 11 who love so few;
I trusted thee and loved thee too,
They always trust whose hearts are true,
Nor fear the change of yean.
Some hearts are made to love la rain,
Some brows to ever ache with pain,
Some lips to sing a sad retrain,
Some eyes are made for tears.
I quit the busy liauuts.of men,
Aud seek sweet solitude again,
With friendly book and faithful,pen—
These are not lost to ine;
But, Love, I know not where thon art 1
We change in miud aud change in heart
And this is why we drift apart,
Upon Time’s storm-tossed pea.
Moral Character.—There is
nothing which adds so much to the
beauty aud power of man, :is a good
moral character. It is his wealth—
his influence—his life. It .dignifies
him in every station, exalts him in
every condition, and glorifies him at
every period of life. Such a charac
ter is more to be desired than every'
thiug else on earth. It makes a man
free and independent. No servile
tool—croaking sycophant—no treach
erous honor-seeker ever bore such a
character. The pure joys of truth
and righteousness never spring in
such a person. If young men bnt
know how much a good character
would dignify mid exalt them, how
glorious it would make their pros
pects, even in this life; never should
we find them yielding to the grovel!-
ing.'and base-born purposes of human
nature.
Connected with our newspaper, we have a
Cottrell & Babcock Press,
, - i' •- • - \ ( , ^ y / t * - ,
The finest Bo.ik and Job Press, together with the best selection
of Job Type, all new, and ordered within the last six month*,
and arc prepared to do all kinds of
With :» new supply of Rules and Figures, we are prepared to turn
out all and every kind of
Railroad Blanks, Abstracts, Tags,
WAY BILLS, ETC., TOGETHER WITH
9Ci*«
As Cheap as they can be done in any city in the South. The Work
tnen in our Job Department cannot be surpassed in
Sxoellenoe and. Finlsli.
(Er*Give us a call at our old stand. Broad street, Athens, Ga. «£9
Having Secured he Services je
a pirst-class
JOB PRINTER,
We are enabled to turn out us iroo.l
work as can be done
IN THE STATE,
We call the attention of all our citi
zens to the following
Price List:
Bill Heads, per Thousand,
v Assorted;’ $5.
Canary Colored Envelops,
Furnished to Merchants and
Business Men, with their
cards priuted on them,
At $3 PER THOUSAND.
LETTER HEADS,
$4 50 to $5 Per Thousand.
Ca FIDS,
Common 75cper Hundred,
—AND-
$4 50 to $5 per Thousand.
Fancy Work Proportionately Higher.
VISITING
BLANKS, NOTES,
Peters,Circulars,
Handbills, Pamphlets, ete. T
Priuted in any color desired, and as
cheap as can be done in the State.
GIVE US YOUR ORDERS,
SAVE MONEY,
And get good work, and sustain a
home institution. Call at the ATH
ENS GEORGIAN office, Broad
street, A tliens, Ga.