Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-10-24
MY FIRST TEMPTATION.
story of u CIassmntc.

AT Az early age lost my father, and
rs he lett me with little of this world 5
| goods, it soon became necessary that
should find some employment. l was then
thirteen years Of age, and not very stout
or strong. but yet with a will To do any,
thing that could he found tor me to do
At length my brother made an arrange>
ment with a carpenter, by the name Of
Morris, and was taken into his shop as
an apprentice. With him remained two
years, but,at the end Of that time l be-
came SO worn down by the hard work
imposed upon me, that my mother resol-
we'd should remain there no longer. My
sister Lucy, who was two years older than
myself, had detected my failing strength
and it was mainly. through her efforts that
l was removed from the place, for should
never have complained.
was now tiheen-tall, slim, and pale,
and knew that could not stand any sort
of work that 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 infu-
ence obtained the place. Mr.. Evered had
daughter, Julia, 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 in my place, and !
was soon happy and contented, for my en-
ployer was kind, and an intimacy sprang
up between myself and Julia which affor:
ded me purer bliss than had ever be-
| fore experienced. Thus matters passed on
for year, and at the end of that time my
health was restored, and [ had so far gain.
ed upon the confidence of Mr.. Evered that
he now trusted me with some of his most
important business. Only one thing trou.
bled me. l was not receiving such wages
as fancied my services entitled me to-
In fact, l was in debt. l had purchased
suit Of clothes of q tailor in the neigh
borhood, and was owing for them. The
tailor wanted his money, and had pro.
missed him he should have it a certain time
but the time came and passed, and could
not pay him. He threatened, and pro.
missed anew. o, how many time l wished
l had never bought those clothes. eovd
have got along without them, and resol
we'd that never again would l buy any
thing which 1 could not pay for on the
spot. But that did not help the case.
One evening l sat alone in the store. l
was Saturday evening, and the day hat
been busy one. We had sold grea
quantity of goods, and the money drawer
was we'll filed. Slowly a demon arose
before me, and began to advise. H,
pointed to the money drawer, and whis
pered: 'There is the means for payin.
your debt, knew that Mr.. Evered haC
no knowledge of the amount of money
there for he knew not how much I hat
. Sold. 1 could take nearly fifty dollars
HnaNhe might never miss it, for / had sol,
ageeat4uantity of stuff of which he hal
no aceesna had promised the tailo
snas .is! ne SAsqld have the money that YER
. nIg9t' andES Mad, planned to get Mr.. Ey
- :. e gred ed TO adyaAss me, the necessary sum
a a l mad not been spSading money foolishIy
s but from my poor Tttancs 1 supports
my mother. andsthat' =. i all mn. IN Pp0'I'
4 For long time L sat Sss iooI.d -.
le that drawer, and all the whNssI. Su upo
was Dersuaflints me kn,ys ~ - 'StnPte