The Georgetown news., 1856-01-03
From Ballou's Pictorial.
MY FIRST TEMPTATION.
The Story of n CIassmate.
BY HORACE D. STAMFORD.

At an early age l lost my father, and as
he left us with but little of this worlds goods,
it soon became necessary that | should find
some employment. | was then thirteen
wears of age, and not very stout or strong,
but vet with a will to do anything that could
be found for me to do. Atlength my moth
er made an arrangement with a carpenter
by the name Of Morris, and | was taken in
to his shop as an apprentice. With him |
remained two years, but at the end of that
time [ became so worn down by the hard
work imposed upon me, that my mother re-
solved | should remain there no longer
My sister Lucy, who was two years older
than myself, had long detected my failing
strength-and it was mainly through her
efforts that | was removed from the place,
for [ should never have complained.
was now fifteen-tall, slim and pale,
and knew that could not stand any sort
of work which taxed my physical strength
to any great extent. But fortune favored
me. A Mr.. Joseph Evered, who kept a
dry goods store near by, was in want of a
salesman, and through my sisters influence
| obtained the place. Mr.. Evered had a
daughter Julia, Just about my own age, who
was very intimate with Lucy, and it was
by her intercessions with her father that
Lucy gained her point.
[ was duly installed into my place, and l
was soon happy and contented, for my en-
ployer was kind, and an intimacy sprang up
between myself and Julia, which afforded
me purer bliss than | had ever before ex-
perienced. Thus matters passed on for a
year. and at the end Of that time my health
was restored, and | had so far gained upon
the confidence of Mr.. Evered that he now
trusted me with some Of his most particular
business. Only one thing troubled me. |
was not receiving such wages as | fancied
NV services entitled me to. In fact, | was
in debt. | had purchased suit of clothes
of a tailor in the neighbOrhood, and was
owing for them The tailor wanted his mon
ey, and [ had promised him he should have
it at certain time; but that time came and
passed, and couldnot pay him. He threat
ened, and promised anew. 0, how many
times | wished that | had never bought
those clothes | could have got along with
out them, and | resolved that never again
would buy anything for upon the spot
But that did not help this case.
One evening | sat alone in the store. 1t
was Saturday evening and the day had been
a busy one. We had sold great quantity
of goods, and the money drawer was well
filed. Slowly a demon arose before me,
and began to advise me. He pointed to
the money-drawer, and whispered, There
are the means for paying your debt - |
knew that Mr.. Evered had no knowledge OF
the amount of money there, for he knew not
how much had sold. | could take even
fifty dollars, and he might never miss it, for
| had sold great quantity Of stuff which he
had no account Of | had promised the
tailor that he should have the money that
very night, and had planned to get Mr..
Evered to advance me the necessary sum.
[ had not been spending money foOlishly,
but from my poor pittance | supported my
mother, and that ate it all up
For a long while [ sat and looked upon
that drawer, and all the while the tempter
was perSuading me. | knew that young
clerks often did such things, and that some
times necessity compelled them to it-at
least so then thought. How could ] meet
my creditor again without the money? l
could not, and at length l resolved that
would not. | arose and went to the draw
er. I opened it, and saw the bank notes
which had been fairly jammed in there.
counted out twenty dollars My hands
trembled, and my heart beat quickly [
thrust the notes into my pocket, and then
hastened back to my seat and ere long af
forwards my employer entered.
"Wel, Charles" he said, q guess we'll
shut up now"
| arose and went out and put up the shut
ters. and when | came back, | found Evered
engaged in counting the money. AS | ap-
preached him, he eyed me with a sharp,
searching look, and l trembled like an as
pen.
What ails you?" he asked.