SAVED FROM THE WRECK.

NZ Truth, Issue 72, 8 December 1906, Page 6

SAVED FROM THE WRECK.

A Pathetic Story. Everything had been/swe,pt away m the crash— stock of goods, business house, home— even the household furniture, and now the ruined man and his wife stood with drawn and blanched faces as the auctioneer sold to the crowd of grasping and curious j strangers their household goods and ' the treasured heirlooms of the bankrupt's home. ' ' ' i Presently he held up a rockinghorse, battered, scratched, , and paintless—the favorite, plaything of their little golden haired boy. now, alas ! without even a tool to shelter Kirn. j The woman, turned pale, and the man started forward,' and cried hoarsely : • ■ , "Not that.. Oh ! not that." A sudden silence fell upon the gay and, frivolous crowd of buyers, and the auctioneer, with a suspicion of moisture tin Ms eyes, turned and handed him the toy. There were fathers and mothers among that worldly and chattering assemblage, and that one touch of nature m the tv forced, from the parent's heart softmed every soul present. The man seized the faded rockinghorse and hurried from the room, with the pale woman clinging to his ar . ■.-.... They then went to another part of the house, and he »set the horse lovingly and tenderly upon the floor. "How could you forget it ?" asked the woman, reproachfully. "I intended to hide it again," said the man, "but I had no opportunity." He took out his knife, cut a slice m | the horse's neck, and drew out seventeen ten-pound notes neatly folded. "Some day," said the woman, " your carelessness is going to ruin : you." , ' \