[Written for The Flag of our Union]

The Power of Conscience

by James Dabney

Mrs. Jenkins was fond of sight-seeing, and her husband was equally fond of gratifying her fancy. But Mrs. Jenkins had the bad taste always to deck herself in her finest apparel and with her handsomest jewels on such occasions. She by no means believed that modesty and simplicity are the most beautiful features in a woman’s dress, and her practice always accorded with her belief.

One evening she accompanied her husband to a public meeting. She was dressed more richly than usual, and had noticed before starting, that the guard of her watch-chain was broken, but resisting the advice of her husband to leave the watch at home, she wore it, thinking that she would notice it closely during the evening.

As she was leaving the hall after the close of the meeting, she felt for her watch. It was gone.

“William,” she exclaimed, in alarm, “I have lost my watch.”

“I feared you would,” said her husband. “You may have dropped it in the hall. Come, let us go back and look for it.”

They returned to the hall, and a search was made for the watch, but it could not be found. Hastening home, Mrs. Jenkins searched through her clothing, but could not find it. The watch was gone, and it was vain to search for it. It had either been stolen from her during the evening, or been dropped in the hall, and picked up by some one. This much was plain, however, the watch was gone. An advertisement was inserted in the daily papers, describing the loss, and offering a handsome reward for the return of the property. This, too, was ineffectual. The watch was not heard from, and Mrs. Jenkins remained overwhelmed with grief.

Two years passed away, and Mrs. Jenkins had provided herself with a new watch and chain, having given up all hope of… Read More