The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-02-13
TEN CENTS PER- WEEK
NUMBER I59.
1t was true. Reuben did not spend his mon

| --sIt was true. Reuben did not spend his mon
| ey Do you suppose it was because he loved
lit more than other boys do?
Reuben tarned slowly away n1editating
upon what had occurred. Il will not care for
what Thinks" he at length said to himself; Il
have four dollars now, and. when have sold
my cabbages, l shall have another dollar, |
shall have enough;' and his heart bounded
ljoyfully, his step recovered its elasticity, and
his pace quickened, as the present thought re
moved the sting which the accusation of
meanness had inflicted on his sensitive spirit.
Enough did not mean with Reuben as with
grown people, It had limit. He haStened
cheerfully home, OF to the place he called
home. He had no father, but had a poor
mother and kind and loving friends. Mr.. Por-
4 ter had died two years before, leaving wife
and four children without property to sustain
them. Reuben was the eldest; and as he was
old enough to assist in the labors of farm, it
was thought best that he should leave his
mother Mr. johnson, neighbor, took him
into his family, where be very soon became
great favorte. There was one thing about
the boy, that good Mrs. johnson regarded as
great fault. 1t was what she called "a spirit
of boarding" She said she never gave him an
apple or an orange that he did not carry it to
his room instead of eatingit Perhaps his SIS
ters at home, or dear little brother Benny,
could tell what became of them.
! Mrs. Johnson had noticed, too, in his draw
er, a box, which W; quite heavy with money.
She did not believe he had bought so much as
a fish-hook, since he had been in their family.
If he should go on this way he will grow up
to be mser Mr. johnson smiled at his
wite's earnestness, and remarked that with
such an example of generosity as Reuben had
constantly before him, he would not believe
that the child was in much danger from the
fault she feared. at must be remembered" ,"
he said, "Reuben has his own way to make in
/ life. He must early learn TO save or he will
always be poor There are his mother and
sisters, too, who need his aid.'
In various ways Reuben had added to his
store. When the snow came, he made nice
broad paths about the house, which 50 attract
ed the notice ofa neighbor th.t she asked ifhe
might be allowed to make PATHS for her. He
arose early that he might h,ye time for this ex-
ira work, and was well pad for his Efforts
The box grew heavier front week to week.
Reuben had almost enough. se
One day there was barrel Of -four left at
Mrs Porte. 's. She thought there must be some
mistake about it; but the man said ne was di-
rected at the store to take tito that house.
Mrs Porter went Immediately to learn about
/
her son had been the purchaser How could
he pay for a whole barrel of -four? "The mo-
ney," said the merchant che brought in box.
1t was in small bits, which took me some time
to count, but,there was enough"
The mother called with full heart at Mrs.
Johnson'S, and related what had occurred.-
Reuben wondered why his mother should cry
so. He thought she would be happy. He was
sure he was. He had been thi ing o. th It
barrel Of flour, and now he felt more like laugh
Iing than crying. Those tears, noble boy, are
not tears Of SORROW but of the deepest joy
You are more than repaid for your self-denial.
You have perserered in your determination;
you have resisted every temptation to deyiate
from the course which you had marked out as
fright. You have borne meekly the charge o.;
|meanness, so calling to your generous spirit,
and now you receive the reward. You are
happy, and so is your mother, and so are your
kind friends, Mr.. and Mrs. johnson.
That night Mr.. j oh.lson remarked to his
wife as they sat together before the cheerful
fire, that he had some idea of keeping the lt-
tie miser and educating him. "a boy who
can form such purpose and keep it, will in all
probability make useful man." After years
proved the correctness of this conclusion. Reu-
ben is now man Of intelligence and wealth.
He is one whom the world delights to honorj
but among his pleasantest memories doubt
not, is that Of the barrel of -four he bought for
his beloved mother.