True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-08-13
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MY FIRST TEMPTATION.

- m Fdil1 dSO ~ W AdtuCt, anu 10
he left us with but little of This worlds
goods il soon became necessary that
should find employment Twas thenlhir.
teen years OF age, and not very strong or
stout, but yet with a will to do. AT
length rny mother male an arrangement
viii a carpenter by the name of Morris,
and | was taken into his shop as an ap.
prentice. with him remained two years,
but at the end Of that time became so
WON down with the hard work imposed
upon me, that my mother resolved that |
should remain there no longer. My sis.
ter Lucy, who was two years older than
myself. had long detected nv failing
strength-and it was mainly through her
efforts that was removed from the
place. for l should never have complain.
ed.
was now fifeen--tall slim,' and pale,
and knew that | could not stand any
sort of work which taxed my physical
strength 10 any great extent. But for
tune favored me. A Mr. Joseph Evered,
who kept a dry goods store near by, was
IN want of salesman, and through my
sisters influence I obtained the place.
Mr.. Evered had daughter named Julia,
about my own age, who was very init.
mate with Lucy, and it was by her in
tercession with her father that Lucy
gained the point.
was duly installed in the place, and
was soon happy and contented, for my
employer was kind, and an intimacy
sprung up between myself and Julia,
which afforded me purer bliss than l
had ever before experienced. Thus mat.
ters went OH for 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. l was not
receiving such wages as | fancied my
services entitled me to. In fact | was in
debt. had purchased new suit of
clothes of a tailor in the neighbol hood,
snd was owing for them. The tailor
wanted his money and | had promised
him he should have it at certain time ;
but that came and went and still | could
not pay him.-He then threatened, and
promised anew. o, how many times
wished1 had not purchasedthose clothes.
l could have done without them, and |
resolved that never again would | buy
anything which l could not pay for on
the spot. But thai could not help The
case.
One evening I St alone in the store.
1t was Saturday evening and that day
had been busy one. We had sold a
great quantity Of goods, and the money
drawer was quite filled. Slowly de.
mon rose before me, and began to advise
me lie pointed to the money drawer,
and whispered: there are the means for
paying your debt Z" | knew that Mr..
Evered had no knowledge of the amount
of money there, for lie knew not how
much | had sold, could take fifty dol.
lars even and he might never miss it, for
had sold great quantity Of stuff which
he had no account Of. | had promised
tbs tailor that he should have the money
that very night, and | planned to get Mr..
Evered to advance me the necessary sum,
l had not been spending money foolishly,
bu!from my POOR pittance l supported
any mother, and that ate it all up.
For long while sat and looked upon
the drawer, and all the while the temDter
was persuading me. knew that young
clerks often did such thing, and necessity
compelled ia! least so | then thought.
How could inject my creditor again with
out the money! | could not, and at
length resolved and re.resolved that l
would not. | opened it and saw the
bank notes, which bad been fairly jam
med in lhere--I counted out twenty dol
lars ! Ny hand trembled, and my heart
beat quickly. | thrust the notes into my
pocket, and then hasted to my seat, and
ere long afterwards my employer enter.
ed.
"Well, Charles" said he, II guess
we'll shut up now."
arOse and went out and put up the
shutters, and when came back | found
him engaged in counting out the money,
As | approached him, he eyed me with a
sharp, searching look, and | trembled like
an aspen.
What ails you 7" he asked.
Nothing, sir" l answered, trying to
compose myself.
"But there must be something the
matter" be resumed, "for you look a.
pale as a ghost"
Il ain tired" | said.
Well, well, you have worked hare
10 day. and you may go. | will attend tc
the rest"
With desperate effort to compos,
myself | thanked him for his kindness
and then seized my hat and leil the store
The fresh air revived me somewhat ant
l hurried to the tailor's. l paid my bill
and for a moment my heart was lighter
but it was only for a moment. When
reached home professed 10 be sick, an
retired at once. But my mother, sic
ana weak herself, came up to my bed, an
wanted 10 fix me some medicine. Sh
gave me simple preparation, drew u
the clothes about me, and having kisse
me, she said:
"Be careful Charles, for it would }
painful indeed, to have you sick: Go
keep and bless you. Good night"
o. how these last words rang in m
ears,-What would my mother say-ho
would she feel, il she knew her son W
lh;pff II waa a lnn1 uhila hplOre