Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-09-23

eyes, sir"
''I am sorry fer it then, for Joseph
Cooper is kind. honest, generous youth,
and he ought not thus to ruin his repu-
tation. You look surprised, but | speak
the truth. No man, be he ever SO pure,
can associate long with evil companions
without losing his standard with respect
able people. Why, you are looked upon
by some as having had hand in the
mischief of which l have spoken"
"But the people who know me would
know BETTER" uttered Nathan quite con-
fdently.
elbow should they know better?-
You seek these evil companions, and are
present at their evil work. You know
who pulled down Eastman's fence, of
course. 1 don't mean to ask you who
who did it, but say you know
Yes, sir, 1 do.''
"And yet, were you asked who did
it, you would not tell"
"Of course not, would not expose a
companion"
$50 1 supposed. And now look at if:
you were in the company-one of the
party, the party did certain deeds, and
you must bear your share of the blame?'
But let this pass. You know that
those young men with whom associate
are evil disposed; and you know, too,
that if they go over to McWayne's to
night they will be up to some sort of
mischief. l think l have said enough
to enable you to understand the rest
Now you may spend your evening with
Mabel, or you may go over to the back
village, just as you choose"
Nathan Wilder started as he heard
these words; but before he could make
any reply, his master was gone. But.he
was not long left alone, for in moment
more bright eyed lovely girl Of some
fifteen summers, came tripping into the
room. She was Mr.. Clark's only child.
Long bad the youthloyed Chat fair girl.
and he knew that she loved him in re-
turn; but he had not yet had the cour-
age to mention the subject to his master,
for he was only an apprentice now,
though a few short months would see
him free. But a strange hope started TO
life in his bosom now. Those last words
of the parent, and the peculiar tone in
which they were spoken, and the look
which accompanied them meant some
thing.
"Are you going out this EVENING""
the girl asked.
"No," he promptly answered.
"Good. 1 shall have company, for
father and mother are going out to spend
the evening""
Halfa an hour afterwards, Joseph Coop
er called for Nathan 10 accompany them,
but bis mission was fruitless. He urged,
and urged, but Nathan said "No!''
When will you go?" asked Cooper.
"Never again on any such scrapes,
and l advise you to follow my plan."
Cooper at length found that the youth
was in earnest, and with derisive laugh
he went his way.
We need not tell how Nathan spent
the evening, nor how happy he was
But one thing we will state. Very late,
after many meaningless things had been
talked about, Nathan arrived at point
where he found courage to ask Mabel if
she thought her father would ever con-
sent to receive him for son-in-law.
''He has spoken with me on the SUBJ
ject," answered the maiden frankly, and
firmly, "and he told me that if you make
as good man morally, as you had thus
far been boy and youth, he should be
very happy to see me your wife,"
For some moments after that, the
youth thought more than he spoke; and
the glistening tears that stood in his
eyes told how deep were his feelings.
On the following morning, Nathan
went early to the shop. happy and buoy
ant. About an hour afterward. Joseph |
Cooper made his appearance, looking
sleepy, and with pale face.
"Well Joe," said Nathan, "what sort
of time did you have last night"
Neutrality-suspicious." cried Cooper.
"Rum enough, though 1 was fool enough !
to drink some."
This last clause was spoken in a
changed tone.
"Why, l did not know that you ever
did drink" said Nathan with much sur
prise.
al don't like to; but had to do ii last
night. They hung on so l could not
get rid of it."
"Ah, Joe, you had better taken my
advice"
"And how long is it since you have
become so nice?" asked Cooper with
some irony.
"only since last evening"" kindl an
swered Nathan; "and even then, be-
came SO only from the plain advice and
counsel of another"
"But we had some rare SPORT"
"And what kind of sport was it?"