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the sack, and in it you will find a sealed envelope containing that
remark. If the remark mentioned by the candidate tallies with it,
give him the money, and ask no further questions, for he is certainly
the right man.
"But if you shall prefer a public inquiry, then publish this present
writing in the local paper--with these instructions added, to wit:
Thirty days from now, let the candidate appear at the town-hall at
eight in the evening (Friday), and hand his remark, in a sealed
envelope, to the Rev. Mr. Burgess (if he will be kind enough to act);
and let Mr. Burgess there and then destroy the seals of the sack, open
it, and see if the remark is correct: if correct, let the money be
delivered, with my sincere gratitude, to my benefactor thus
identified."
Mrs. Richards sat down, gently quivering with excitement, and was soon
lost in thinkings--after this pattern: "What a strange thing it is! . . .
And what a fortune for that kind man who set his bread afloat upon the
waters! . . . If it had only been my husband that did it!--for we are so
poor, so old and poor! . . ." Then, with a sigh--"But it was not my
Edward; no, it was not he that gave a stranger twenty dollars. It is a
pity too; I see it now. . . " Then, with a shudder--"But it is
gamblers' money! the wages of sin; we couldn't take it; we couldn't
touch it. I don't like to be near it; it seems a defilement." She moved
to a farther chair. . . "I wish Edward would come, and take it to the
bank; a burglar might come at any moment; it is dreadful to be here all
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