The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-08-29

ID here. Listen, sir, and blame me NJ you WI
IN but believe me not yet lost. My father
" poor-too poor to keep me here. l ha'
y learned the ways of the city, and l haV
longcd for some of those innocent, health
. amusements which have seen my compan
II ions enjoying. For long weeks together
Q have been without q penny in my pocket
and at such times have felt much sham
y in view of extreme poverty. Ny father ha
: given me two dollan-onc when hc left mi
!. here, and one when ho came to visit me-
But what was that7 Nearly all oft wen
0 for small articles which absolutely needed
/, Lectures, concerts, and various places o
4 healthy entertainment, were visited by m!
companions, but could not 60. Atlengtf
the fatal knowledge was mine, that other
, of my station had money for such things
money which they took from their employ
ers without leave. Ipondered upon it long
and deeply; and in pondering was lost
Yesterday took-two-dollars-"
Here the poor boy burst into tears, but
the merchant said not word. In few
moments Gilbert resumed
"You know the worst now. l took it,
and part Of 1t I used last night-but o, !
want no more such hours Of agony as l have
passed since that time. Here is q dollar
and half. sir. Take it and when l get
home I will send you the rest. D, let me
60, sir, for cannot stay whcrc temptation
haunts me. Away in the solitude of my
fathers barn, / shall not want the money |
cannot have. You may tell me that l have
had expcricnce-but alas, that experience
only tells me that while ! remain here the
temptcr must be with me. / would not
long for what cannot possess. While |
have wants and desires, the wish must be
present to crafty them. Let me 60, sir |;
but o, tell not my shame"
The boy stopped and bowed his head
The merchant gazed upon him awhile in
silence, and during that time variety Of
shades passed over his countenance.
Gilbert" he said at length, in low,
kind tone, "you must not leave me. For o
few moments I will forget the difference in
our stations, and speak as plainly as you
have spoken. have been in the wrong. /
freely confess. should have known that
temptation was thrown in your own way
temptation which should not bs cast in
the way Of any person, much less in the
way Of an inexperienced youth. Since you
have been so nobly frank. will be equally
SO. Forgive me for the situation in which
l placed you, and the past shall bo forgot
ten. Until this moment l never thought
seriously of this subject. never before
realized how direct was the temptation thus
placed before the apprentices Of our houses.
But see it all now. know that to the
boy who has no money, the presence Of mon
ey and costly amusement must be too fear
full temptation for ordinary youths. But
you shall not leave me. From this moment
l shall trust you implicitly,-and love you
for your noble disposition and fine sense of
honor. l shall not fear to trust you hence
forth, for you shall have pecuniary recon-
pcnsc somewhat commensurate with the Ia
Dor you perform. have often blessed the
hour that brought you to my store, for !
have seen in you valuable assistant, and
if have ever held lingering doubt of your
strict integrity / shall hold it no more, for
it requires more strength Of moral purpose
to acknowledge, unasked, q crime, than it
does to refrain from committing one. New
er again will | accept the labor of any per-
son without paying him for it, and then il
he is dishonest no blame can attach to me.
You will not leave me, Gilbert"
The boy gazed up into his employers face
but for awhile tears and sobs choked his ut
terance. Mr.. Phelps drew him to his side,
and laying his hand upon tho youths head,
he resumed -
"It blame you for this momentary de-
parture from strict honesty, the love bear
you for your noble confession vastly more
than wipes it all away. Hcnceforth you
shall have enough for your wants, and when
the year is up we will mako an arrangement
which can but please you. What say you
will you stay?"
"IE-if-I only knew that you would
never abhor me for this"
stop, Gilbert-I have spoken to You
the truth, and you need have no fear. l
} will pay you three dollars week for your
own instruction and amusement and when
you want clothes or other matters Of like
necessity. if you will speak to me you shall
/ have them. All Of the past is forgotten,
, save your many virtues, and henceforth
I know you only for what you shall prove
Gilbert tried in vain to tell his gratitude,
s but the merchant saw it all, and with tear
: in his own eyes nc blessed the boy, and then
a bade him 90 about his work.
The year passed away, and then another
boy came to take Gilbcrt's place, for the
, latter took his station in the counting-room
: But the new boy came not US other boy'
n had come before. The merchant promiset
; to pay him so much per week, enough fol
. oil practical purposes-and then he felt tina
: he should not bo responsible for the boy
}, honesty.
IS At the ago Of seventeen, Gilbert Goodwin
10 took the place Of one Of the assistant book
+ ers, and at the age Of nineteen he took hi
q place at the head Of the counting-room (; 70
to an aptncss at figures and an untiring ap
d plication to his duty, he added strength Q
moral integrity, which made his services al
IN most invaluable.
,,n.- H. H.. -.