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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.