The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1853-07-21

bJ $4,000 by his absence"
But Mr. Everett was excited. For
half an hour after the individual left
who had communicated this unpleasant
piece of news, the broker walked the
floor of his office with compressed lips,
lowering brow, and most unhappy
feelings. The $4,000 gain in no way
balanced in his mind the $500 lost. The
pleasure created by the one had not
penetrated deep enough to escape OBJ
liberation by the other
OF all this the boy with the dark sad
eyes had taken quick cognisance. And
he comprehended all. Scarcely mo-
ment had his glance been removed
from the colntenance or form of Mr..
Everett, while the latter walked, with
uneasy steps, the floor of his office.
AS the afternoon waned, the brokers'
mind grew calmer, The first excite
ment, produced by the loss, passed
away; but it left a sense of depression
and disappointment that completely
shadowed his feelings.
Intent as had been the lads observa-
tion of his employer during all this
time, it is lsttle remarkable. that MIR.
Everett had not once been conscious of
the fact that the boys eyes were steadi-
ly upon him. In fact, he had been, as
was usually the case. too much absorb
ed in things concerning himself to no.
tice what was peculiar to another, un-
less the peculiarly were one readily
used TO his own advantage.
j" John," said Mr.. Everett, turning
suddenly 70 the boy, and encountering
his large, earnest eyes, "lake this note
around 10 Mr.. Legrsad."
John sprang 10 do his bidding; re-
ceived the note, AMI was off with IN
usual feetness. But the door which
closed upon his fern did not shut out
the expression of his sober face and
humid glance from the vision of Mr.
Everett In fact, from some cause,
tears had sptnng TO the eyes of the
musing boy. at the very moment he
was called upon TO render a service !;
and quicker than usual though his mo-
tions were, he had failed TO conceal
thes-
A new tra.in Of thought now entered
the brokers' tnind. This child of his
old fsend h ad been taken into his Of
fee fFem lSiad Of charitable feeling
though of very low vitality. He paid
him 2 couple of dollars week, and
thought it'll e more about him. or his
widowed nlother. He had too many
Important interests of bis own at stake,
10 have his lniud turned aside for tri-
fling matter like this. But now, as the
image of .th at sad face-for it was un-
usually sad at the moment when Mr..
Everett looked suddenly towards the
boy-linger,sd in his mind. growing
every nome Mt more distinct, and more
sonchingly loeautifal, many considera-
tions of duty and humanity were ex-
cited. He remembered his old friend,
aad the pleslsant hours they had spent
together, in years long since passed,
ere generous feelaRgs had hardened in
to ice, or given place 10 an all-per-
yading self shness. He remembered,
Too, the beautiful girl his friend had
married. and how proudly that friend
presented her te their little world as
his bride. The lad had her large, dark,
spiritual eyes-ouly the light of joy
had faded th.eretnom, giving place 10 a
strange sadness. B-
All this was now present 10 the mind
of Mr.. Everett, and though he tried,
once or twice, during the boys absence,
to obliterate these recollections, he was
unable to do so.
How is your mother, John 2" kindly
asked the broker, when the lad return
ed from his errand.
The question was SO unexpected, that
it confused him. a-
She's well-thank you, sir. No
not very well, either-thauk you, sir"
And the boys face flushed, and his
eyes sufused. Ha 1e
"Not very well, you say9 Mr..
Everett spoke with kindness, and in a
tone of interest. "Not sick, | hope W
"No, sir: not very sick. But"
"But what, John," said Mr.. Everett,
enconragingly. s,..sss, ais 4,
ashes in trouble" half stammered
the boy, while the color deepened on
his face.
All, indeedq Pm sorry for that
What is the trouble, John 2" |
The tears, which John had been
vainly striving to repress, now gushed
over his face, and with a boyish shame
for the weakness, he turned away and
struggled for time with his overmas-
tering feelings.
Mr.. Everett was no little moved by
SO unexpected an exhibition. He wait
ed with newborn consideration for
the boy, not unmingled with respect,
until 4 measure of calmness was re-
stored,
nyohn,. he then said, Hif your moth.
er is in trouble, i may be in my power
TO relieve herr a&a 80
20, sir p exclaimed the lad, eagerly,
coming up to Mr.. Everett, and, IN the
forgetfulness OF. the moment laying his
small hand upon that Of his employer,
'if you will, you can
Hard indeed would have been. the
heart that could have withstood the ap-
pealing eyes lifted by John Levering
n