Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-01-15

I 70 Amos Williams hrst'
81 wall CO."
"Thcn give me the siSpcncc." "
| Amos Williams stood a, his great dc'k in
the countlng.room, and ho was alone.
While he thus stood, casting up a eolnnn
Of figures upon page Of one Of hl' ledgcrs,
the door was opened and Charles Aubrey
entered. Ilc was yet pale and haesard aud
looked as hc did when we saw him two
hours ago.
The merchant started back, with an Ut
tcranco Of pain and surprise, as he rccog-
nircd, in the miserable form bclor, him, the
once happy and beloved youth, whom he
delighted 10 honor.
"Chailcs," he uttered, Us soon as hc
could command his speech, "why have you
come hcrc2'
"Mr. Williams, spoke the youth, in a
choking voice, 81 have com, to--to--tell
you that, my course OF wickcdnc.' is run.
and from this moment am--a-"
Here be stopped. Ilchc,iatcla a moment
and then his feelings oycramc him, and
bowling his head he burst into tears, and
.ob., loud and dccr, broke from HI, lips.
Charles" uttered Mr. Williams, in a
,rcmulous, eager yoic,, "hayc You rcso!,ol
10 b. man ?''
"with God'shclp will be a man again, e"
was the youihs reply.
l. your money all gomez
"Ye. sir. This morning had one soli.
nry siSp,nrc lcii, but tha, gave to poor
old woman, who baic me come here.
aye. know her. She Is ana unCpr,u-
nate creature. has suffered much tadc
her, lf she saw you, and Won were cast down
and rJpcn,an;, to send You here, ior | heard
yesterday that You were at the foot Of the
prcipicr. Now If You are determined You
shall not wan, rur help"
In eager, broken, sobbing sentences,
Charles poar,l oat his thanks, and stated
the resolution hc had taken.
" And now, said Mr.. Williams, after
,Ls matter naa brew talked o,-, -s.--. e. $50
must find pacl wberl you can recruit
your strength little b,luro YOU try to work.
There :. my brother, who own, flrm in
NJ. llc would BE- glad T. have you
como and stop a wh,lc; anI when YOU
wholly recover your wasted strength YOU
may have place here"
Ai first the youth refused to accep. 50
much, Tor DO know hi, uuworihines,; but
the merchant, simply answered him
"You can pay mc hr all thi. IL You
choo.s; p, yon necl not b, delicate about
IL; aud as Tor w,rthiuc,,-whcn the
lost oncs Ut earth a-e not worth rcdceming.
then some other standard Of worth mus, be
regarded than tia; simple ono which Jesus
Of Nazareth CAV, to his followers"
50 il was settled tina, Charlie, should 90
out into thc country and remain awhile.
lie found Mr. Williams, tho brother, reaiy
and happy 10 receive him, and there he son
began g. regain hi, health and spirits. Ia
two wcrk' Doc was rs strong Ms ever, and at
the end Of month the mark. of dissipation
had lett his laca. Then hs returned 10 town,
and entered store. Amos Williams gave
him lucrative station, and bads him re-
member nothing. save the one great lesson
he had learned.
Charles" he said, "you know the
widow swami"
" Yes sir"
"wcll, have engaged board Cor you
there. hops the arrangement will suit
you"
"Yc', sir" returned the youth with emo.
ton.
From that time Charles Aubrey went on
nobly and truly in the path he had marked
out
As soon as he again made his appearance
in prosperity, hl' older companions sought
hi, company, one, more, but hc repulscd
them with a stern frmness that lel, them no
hopes. Vet or a month he was surrounded
with temptation in every shape bu. he hcsi-
tatcl not once. lis mind was made up,
and be- made bu, ono answer to all invita-
,ions to dcplr, from his course. At length
these temptations became les ir,Quent, and
finally he was LET, to pursue his own course.
Little did Charles Aubrey know how close
be bad been watched. Mr.. Williams knew
his every movement, even TO his prayers
which he poured forth in the privacy Of his
own apartment. Thus passed away three
months; and at the end Of that time Mr.
Williams called the young man into the
eounting.room one evening after the rest Of
the people had gone.
"Well, Charles" the merchant COM
mcnced, "how would you like to change
your boarding place ?"
There was something IN the look and tone
Of the man, as he spoke, that made the
youth start. The blood rushed to his face,
and anon he turned pale.
"lf you would like" the merchant re.
sumcd, in tho simo low, strange tone, "you
may come aud board with me. will not
deceive you Charles. Until | could know
that you had entirely reformed dared no,
carry you to my house. But AIN satisfied
now. have not doubted you, bat would
prove you. And now, If you please you
may inform Mrs. Swan that you shall board
with her no more. She will not be disap.