Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1855-06-21

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He was SO earnest, that to have refused
would have offended him more, and SO reques-
ting him to call on me at seven o'clock In the
evening, I told him to go home to his mother,
and>tell her that he had found friend who
would get him a situation.
He tripped away with a light heart. !
went my way, thinking how I could and
would befriend him. 1t was only the day be-
fore, that friend had told me he wanted a
boy OF about his years, and if he was faith
ful and trustworthy, would pay him liberal
salary. Iresolved in my own mind, would
60 and see him Immediately after breakfast
But,
The flighty purpose never is oertook,
Unless the deed go with it.
At the breakfast table got engaged in an
cry political discussion. The Senatorial elec-
ton was on tie tapis, and we had got news
that morning, that reverend Senator, be-
longing to our side, had sold out and gone
over 20 the enemy. went down town after
breakfast to learn the facts of the NATTER
talked with one and another, till the case
Of the poor boy was quite driven out Of my
head. Before I returned, the dispatches be-
gan to arrive from the capital, and what with
talking to interested friends, and writing for
the next mornings paper, quite forgot the
pae.faced boy and his dying mother.
At seven o'clock the came. My heart
smote me when saw him, for had neglec.
ted and forgotten my promises. But told
him, God forgive me,-not so much for the
deception as the neglect--that l could not
see the man that thought would employ him
but If he would come the next day at o'clock,
l would get him situation, and pay him the
first months salary in advance. Detected,
he turned upon his heel and left the off CO.
The next morningI vent to my friends store;
he was out for few minutes. While was
fine horse and buggy came along ,and asked
me to ride with him TO the Mansion. l at
once consented, thinking to call as l came
in. We went to the Mansion, and from
there to the race. course. Time flew swiftly,
and before was aware of f., two o'clock had
passed, and | came home TO find that the BOY
had been to see me and had gone away.
did not suppose would see him again that
night, and would put off the lna.ter-so i'm
pOTlduL " HllH-lill Lhu uSA' hOi
But he came again in the evening, and had
to tell him that had been away. The next
day, at Twelve, however, should see him in his
new place.
1t was nearly twelve of the next day, when
bethousht myself of my promise l hast
ened down to see my friend and found Il al
l was too late, the vacancy had been filled a.
bout an hour before. Conscience smitten,
returned to my office, and I met the boys
anxious look as entered the door. ! told
him had just been to see about the promised
situation, and it was takep. Yet thought
could get him place soon. He thanked me
but his heart was bursting. l saw that ar
anxiety, terrible for one 80 young, was wear
ing his life away.
The next day found him place, and en-
gagel it for him. l sat in my office writing
when the door softly sopened, and he entered
He was pale, but calmer than / had before
seen him. ......
swell, my fine fellow" said |, ~ have
got you place at last. You are to have
twenty five dollars week, and you shall have
whole months salary in advance if you
like .....
He came toward me and handed me a slip
of paper. 1t was notice for the newspaper,
and announced the death Of his mother!
have had many severe crosses. my dear
Jim IL have felt that ali was lost, and that
my life was not worth rush. l have seen
my fondest hopes crushed by one fell blow
l have felt to cry out in agony at the crue
fate that pursued me. But all that ever suffered
wss nothing to what felt when looked or
that pale, calm, intellectual boy, with his
bright, big, blue eye, gazing suPernaturally
into mine, and thought how that perhaps, but
for my neglect, his mother might then have
been alive. l know not how | looked, o.
how acted, but know that man never
suffered more in short space Of time than
did. l have never got over IL yet, and l neve
shall. You may not bo able to realize tat
full force of it, but 81 would not have ,h'
same touch of heart break again,-no, no
for all the lands ever owned by McGregot. ;.
Alter that, tried to do wfat could t.
drive away the deep melancholy that seeme
to havelsettled upon him. But he would not b
comforled. He seemed to be impressed wit
the idea that there in San Francisco, wher
SO many i've III eStruFdSduCe anu ePieHuoi
, his only friend, his beloved and affectonat
, mother, had been allowed to perish in abjec
poverty and neglect. l attended the funera
= and interested some Of my friends in tn
q case, SO that she had a decent burial. b.
the boy thanked me not. How could he fe'
v gratitude, that had shown an interest in :b
d dead, which had denied to the living! IL
seemed disinclined to receive any favor froI
e me, and his clear, calm, mild eye, was to
- much for me to look at. | quailed before i
o as never quailed before. That he might nj
- suppose that it was who was acting in h
/, behalf, got fried to offer him situation
o where he could earn more than his support
l. But he did not keep it long. He grew pail
d and paler each day, and soon was too weak
attend to his duties at all. watched hi
& with more than fraternal interest, and ofte
d, went to see him at his room. 1t was tvde
to that he would soon die. procured watch
J" for him, for my own presence seemed
ut trouble him, and when went the next d
10 see him, found that he was dead.
to died, as he had lived, cursing me, belle,
a Il, HE ha.,t I falt, while he liyed TINT