Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-03-06

Weii, OeOISc, snaii pe solry W nave
you go. We have always played togeth-
er, and I shall be real lonely without you.
| hope you'll have happy timo and be-
come as rich as you wish"
"Thank you. James, I shall certainly
try; andif success is possible ! mean to
be successful"
And so the boys parted for the night
the one to study his Sabbath school lesson
for the morrow. the other to dream over
his going to the city and becoming rich
man.
James Hardy and George Roberts were
playmates. Their parent were both farm
ers in tho pleasant little village of B..
By industry and economy they had gain
ed a moderate competence, and were sur.
rounded by all the comforts and some Of
the luxuries of life. 1t would be difficult
to tell which was the richer man, or which
conducted his business affairs the moro
shrewdly.
But in one very important respect tho
homes OF the two boys materially differed
James Hardy's parents wero pious people.
Morning and evening the father opened
tho old family Bible and read the COM
mandments of the Lord. and then they
all kneeled down around that family al
tar and prayed. But in the home Of
George the voice of prayer was never
heard. Mr.. Roberts was an honest, up
right exemplary man, but no was not re-
ligious. He did not believe 1t necessary,
in ordsr to live happily and honestly. that
men should be obliged to pray overy day
and snake SO much ado about religion"
Georges mother was kind-hearted, In
dustrious woman, always yielding to the
decisions Of her husband; and If ho pro-
nounced matter right she gave herself
very little trouble whether It was really
so or not. She never taught her little
boy to kneel by her side, as James was ac-
customcd to do, and offer his little pray
ers to God. She had no time, she said;
but she taught him to be honest, and al
ways to speak the truth, and to endeavor
to live in peace and harmony with all
around him.
Such wero the homes Of the two boys,
a chapter from whose lives am about to
give.
James and George wcro very nearly Of
an ago. When they were children they
used to walk, hand in hand, to school,
They sat at the same desk, studied tho
same lessons, and both wero good and
promising scholars.
Just at tho foot Of tho gardens that ran
down in the rear Of tho two houses was o
clear, sparkling rill, that sang sweetly as II
hurried along over its pobbly t,d, kissed
by the bright flowers that grew on either
side. This was favorite resort for tho
two boys. Hero they gathered tho wild
flowers for their mothcrs-and here they
built their turf dams, and made their
mimic mills. Here. toe, they would somo
times sit for hours upon green. grassy
knoll, and talk Of the glowing future, and
as boys are won't to do, build their beauti-
ful "air castles" of future greatness and
fame.
But there was always difference in
the boys plans for the future, which SEEM
ed to be Of home growth. James was rs
ambitious rs George. But he had been
taught by his pious father and devoted
mother to desire wealth and honor. that
might be more useful and dc good in tho
world. This lesson he had also learned
in the Sabbath school His teacher had
taught him that If he wished to DO happy
in life hc must seek to DO good--if he de-
sired to become agrcat man he must re-
solve to be good one--to serve his hsav-
enly Father and be useful to his fellow
men. And young as James was he un.
ders.ood much Of this, and daily prayed
to God to make him good and holy.
But George had never had this great
lesson impressed upon his heart. His
father rejoiced to sec tto evidence ol
,martness in his darling boy; and when,
at the age of eight years. he marked his
rapid progress in knowcdge, and discov-
cred also his inclination 10 trade, and saw
marked evidence of shrewdncss in his
boyish bargains, hc would smooth bacl,
the sunny locks from his noble brow and
say. ho "hopcd somo day to see bis son O
merchant, and rich one, too"
Mr.. Roberts was a strictly honest man
SO far rs dealing with his fellows was con.
cerncd, for he had sagacity enough to sec
that "honesty is the best policy" But
for all this, money was his idol. Ho low.
cd anything else on earth save his son. -
He had no higher ambition than to soc hi,
boy grow up to be rich man and when
the rich and eutcrprising merchant, Mr.
Walcott, after the refusal Of Mr.. Hardy tc
part with his son, came and desired
George TO enter his splendid store and GIL
the place designed for James. he did no.
hesitate moment TO give his CONSENT
This was Just the opening no had beer
desiring for him, and Mr.. walcott Just th,
kind Of man that he wished his son 4
initiate. Thirty years before. that gen,
tlcman left that very village poor, ill-clat
boy Of twelve years, and with all hi
worldly goods tied up in red cottor
handkerchief, and with but singl,
shilling in his pocket had entered tn,
great city perfect stranger. And by un
tiring and pcrsevering effort he had arisen
step BY step, to become one Of the riches
merchants in the city. Truo somc.though
him almost too sharp TO DO honest, but b
/ x,na rarof.,I toy.r ~. L. ans. SL..<~ n.