Part 19 (1/2)
”Ben,” said Captain Sedley, going to the window, and calling the old sailor who was at work in the garden, ”Ben, put the bay horse into the chaise.”
”This is a world of trouble, Captain Sedley,” said the widow, with a deep sigh.
”But from trouble and affliction come forth our purest aspirations. G.o.d is good to us, even when he sends us trials and sorrows.”
”I will not complain; I have much to be thankful for.”
In a few moments the horse and chaise were ready.
”I am going over to see Farmer Whipple, Mrs. Weston, and then I shall ride down to Rippleton. Keep your spirits up, and be a.s.sured everything shall be done to comfort your son, and to prove his innocence. I shall engage Squire Benson to defend him.”
”Heaven bless you, Captain Sedley,” said the poor widow, wiping away her tears, as her benevolent friend got into his chaise.
Farmer Whipple was fortunately at home when he arrived at his house, and Captain Sedley immediately opened his business.
”I don't much think that Tony did it,” said the farmer; ”but things were agin him, you see.”
”How much money was there in the wallet?” asked Captain Sedley.
”More'n I can afford to lose, Cap'n. It was a careless trick of mine.”
”What was the amount?”
”There was forty-six dollars in bills, besides some odd change.”
”Do you remember what banks the bills were on?”
”Most on 'em. There was a twenty dollar bill on the Rippleton Bank, a ten on the Village Bank, and some small bills, mostly on Boston Banks.”
”Where is the wallet now?”
”I got it; Squire Little said I might take it agin.”
”Was the money all right?”
”Bless you, no! If it had been, I wouldn't say a word. All the small bills were there, but the big ones were gone.”
”Indeed!”
”That's the wo'st on't.”
”Have you any description of the lost bills?”
”Well, yes; I reckon I should know the twenty agin, if I saw it.”
”How?”
”Well, it happens rather lucky. Arter we came from the jail, I went into Doolittle's store to git some tea. When I went in there, he was fixin' some kind of a plate, with his name on't; a pencil plate, I believe he called it.”