Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1850-07-10

None, whatever: though mother says
he is a very good man. and if she was
able. she should like to have him come and
live with us. because he is getting old,
and has nobody to take care of him.
And you peddle booKs'
Yes. | am willing to do any thing.'
What books have you in that package.
now!'
Marcus called the titles Of all the books
he had. and the stranger seemed pleased.
Those are very good books. and as
am in want of such works for my library.
will take them all
MOI exclaimed Marcus in great sur
prise. No! you won't take them all"
But | will. though persisted the s'ran-
ger. with smile. and commission you to
get more for me. So walk uptc my house.
and we will close the bargain
In much doubt and wonder. the pedler
followed his new friend The books were
actually unpacked. and placed upon the
shelves of the stranger library.
Now. my Young friend. what are they
all worthl Don't be afraid to ask q good
plice. for am able to pav'
Marcus sat down. and burst into tears.
Such unexpected kindness touched his
neart ana unmanneu nm.
'Ah! they are marKed.' continued the
stranger. Il will soon come at the amount
and for few minutes he seemed pro-
foundly busy in examining fly leaves and
figuring.
Il have come at it at last. | believe he
said, and then counted the money upon
the table. They only amount to about
forty dollars
Il din't think they were worth so much, ,
observed Marcus
Books count up fast replied his bene-
factor, seriously. The strage will pass
here at half-past four in the morning, and
you can go home, if you wish, without
any trouble. and your mother may need
some money. you KNOW
Marcus thanked his new friend. and
said nothing would suit him better He
went to sleep that night with his heart
swelling with garii,ude and hope. At all
early hour the next morning. he was on
his way home. having expressed his sense
of obligation to the stranger as well as he
was able.
Upon examining the bill Of the books
which he had sold. he found that they
amounted only TO thirty dollars. and gave
counting the money which had been paid
him, he found fifty dollars instead Of forty,
consequently he had twenty dollars too
much. 1t would have been an easy mat
ter to have returned the money by mail,
had he known the name Of his benefactor;
l--> L. Al .-. Al.l,~.. .,h i~ h~I ~ho n
several miles. and the delay would neces-
sarily detain him till noon, he resolved to
return and refund the twenty dollars, and
thus discharge an act which common
honesty required.
why have you returnedH asked his
benefactor, with some surprise in his man.
ner.
You overpaid me, and have returned
to refund the money replied Marcus. Il
find that the books were worth only thirty
dollars; you recKoned them worth forty,
and by some mistake paid me fifty. Here
are the twenty dollars
You are an honest lad, and will become
rich and prosperous man, | doubt not.
Keep the money. and when you come this
way again will take some more books.
Marcus and the stranger parted once
more. each with a higher opinion Of the
other: the one to carry Joy and comfort to
the bosom Of his mother. the other to reap
the reward of a generous act.
few DAYS after he reached home, our
hero's mother received a letter from her
husbands brother, Mark Bell, the old
bachelor. containing proposal to set up
Marcus in business in Boston. The wild
ow was overjoyed, and expressed her
gratitude in reply Of some length.
The business was soon arranged. Mar
Il.
mount Of two thousand dollars, and was
soon doing flourishing business as a
book merchant. The widow hired a COM
Portable tenement in the city BOSTON,. and
her children, neatly dressed, were seen
daily on their way to school.
One day an elderly gentleman entered
our hero's store, and inquired for a work
recently published. Marcus was struck
with the tones Of his voice, and upon
scanning his features more closely. recog-
nzed the stranger who had bought out
his little stock in trade some months be.
fore.
This is an unexpected PLEASURE cried
the young merchant, with unfeigned plea
sure.
You seem to be prospering.' replied
his friend. with a benevolent smile.
Yes, have prospered ever since saw
yom.'
Il am glad to hear it. Honesty always
prospers. But it is about dinner time,
and think l shall ask myself home to
dine with you
The stranger did 60 home to dinner
with Marcus. and enjoyed it as much as a
dinner could be enjoyed. As he was on
the point of departing. with hat in hand
the widow veniured 10 ask his name, as
Marcus had a large Bible which he desi.
red to present to him. and in which he de
sired 10 inscribe his benefactcr's name;
and il was a name. in fact, which they
wished to remember always.
Marcus may write Mark Bell in the
book he intends for me, and say it was
axoSan4od if ha olossos h;s