The Golden Shoemaker: or 'Cobbler' HornKeyworth, J. W.
General
The Golden Shoemaker: or 'Cobbler' Horn
Keyworth, J. W.
Christian life -- Fiction; Inheritance and succession -- Fiction; Missing children -- Fiction; Philanthropists -- Fiction
"Yes," replied "Cobbler" Horn, simply, "of course I have. I wanted you to
know that you are to have your honest share of our poor uncle's money. And
because I was determined to make sure that everything was done for you
that could be done, and because I wished to do some little for you myself,
I did not send, but came."
"Uncle's money! Ah, yes, they told me about it. Well, you might have kept
it all; and it's very good of you--very. But money won't be much use to me
very long. It's your coming that I take so kindly. You see, I hadn't a
friend; and it seemed so dreadful to die like that. Oh, it was good of you
to come!"
In his wonder at the loving solicitude which had brought his cousin across
the water to his dying bed, he almost seemed to undervalue the act of
rare unselfishness by which so much money had been relinquished which
might have been kept without fear of reproach. "Cobbler" Horn was not hurt
by the seeming insensibility of his poor cousin to the great sacrifice he
had made on his behalf. He did not desire, nor did he think that he
deserved, any credit for what he had done. He had simply done his duty, as
a matter of course. But he was much gratified that his poor cousin was so
grateful for his coming. He sat down, with shining eyes, by the bedside,
and took the wasted hand in his once more.
"Cousin," he asked, "have they cared for you in every way?"
"Yes, cousin, they have done what they could, thanks to your goodness!"
"Not at all. Your own money will pay the bill, you know."
For a moment cousin Jack was perplexed. His own money? He had not a cent.
in the world! He had actually forgotten that his cousin had made him rich.
"My own money?"
"Yes; the third part of what uncle left you know."
A slight flush mantled the hollow cheeks.
"Oh yes; what a dunce I am! I'm afraid I'm very ungrateful. But you see I
seem to have done with such things. And yet the money is going to be of
some use to me after all."
"Yes, that it is! It shall bring you comfort, ease, and, if possible,
health and life."
The sick man shook his head.
"No," he said, wistfully; "a little of the first two, perhaps, but none of
the last. I know I can't live many weeks; and it's no use deceiving myself
with false hopes."
As "Cobbler" Horn looked at his cousin, he knew that he was not mistaken
in his forecast.
"Cobbler" Horn did not remain long with his sick cousin at this time.
"There is one thing I should like," he said gravely, as he rose from his
seat.
"There is not much that I can deny you," replied Jack; "what is it?"
He spoke without much show of interest.
"I should like to pray with you before I go."
Cousin Jack started, and again his pale face flushed.
"Certainly," he said, "if you wish it; but it will be of no use. Nothing
is of any use now."
"The Golden Shoemaker" knelt down beside the bed, and prayed for his dying
cousin, in his own simple, fervent way. Then, with a promise to come again
on the following day, he passed out of the room.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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