Frank Hardy's choice, and what came of it

by Charlotte Grace O'Brien

"The one shall be taken, and the other left." It is an awful thought!

Here were two lads, with precisely the same opportunities of self-advancement: the one, by God's grace, keeping in the straight and narrow way; the other, resisting God's Holy Spirit, and going the road to ruin.

As Frank listened to the sound of the retreating steps of his master and Walter, he threw himself upon his prison bed in an agony of remorse.

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During the two years that followed, Mr. King did not lose sight of his former apprentice. From time to time he heard, through the governor of Forley Gaol, that Frank was conducting himself well in his imprisonment, and that the chaplain was pleased with the attention he paid to his religious duties. As the term of his imprisonment drew towards a close, it became a question with his kind, former master what he would do when liberated.

There was a decided objection to his returning to his native village; and, after much thought, Mr. King arranged with a friend of his, who was captain of a merchant vessel, to take Frank abroad with him, where he would have a chance of earning for himself a good character in a place where the circumstances of his past life were unknown. This benevolent plan was carried into effect, and Mr. King had the gratification of hearing that Frank had obtained work abroad, and was going on steadily.

Meanwhile, Walter had continued in the path he had chosen. When the term of his apprenticeship was expired, Mr. Danvers sent him, free of expense, to London, for the purpose of studying six months at the School of Design. At the end of that period, he returned to Springcliffe, where Mr. King, whose foreman had just left him, was glad to take Walter in his place. In this position he remained a few years, when Mr. King retired from business, and Walter succeeded him.

Springcliffe had, by that time, become a place of great importance, in consequence of the railway passing within a quarter of a mile of the village. This had given a great impetus to building; and Walter, whose talents for drawing enabled him to combine the profession of architect with the trade of a builder, had as much work as he could get through.

Some of the best and prettiest houses now in Springcliffe were designed by him; and in one of them lives Mrs. White, who has long since given up her shop, and concerning whom Walter's affectionate wishes have thus been fulfilled. Walter lives with his mother, and so does Walter's wife, the daughter of a respectable farmer in the neighbourhood. They have three fine healthy children, and live in peace and contentment.

Frank Hardy remained abroad some years, earning a good character for steady conduct, but suffering much from bad health, which kept him very poor. Those two hard years of prison life had left their traces upon a constitution never very strong; and there was no chance of his ever being a robust man.