Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-07-15

am fully SATISFIED OF your honesty
saw you pick up my purse
There was a slight shudder starting
through the youths soul, for he could
not help thinking what would have been
the result had he kept the money.
You arenot the first one / have tried,
resumed the gentleman.
First I looked upon Samuel Stephens.
He is poor, and l thought him capable.
I dropped ny purse, with my name
plainly written upon il, where he should
find it. He did find it, and he kept it.
Next I tried Lot Poole, and he did the
same. Some might say I had no bust
ness to place temptations in a poor youths
way but l would give employment to
those who needed it, and as there is
ample temptation in the work l must
have done, thought had a right to try
them. But you have proved yourself
trustworthy, and I am glad of ii. And
now, if upon trial, you suit me, I viii
pay you forty dollars a month and board
you. What say you to that?'
But poor Abel knew not what to say.
The sum named was enormous to him.
He had wondered if he should get as
much as fifteen.
'F0ry2 he whispered, fearful that
he had misunderstood him.
Yes, forty dollars month. VIII not
that answer?'
'Oh-yes, sir, 1t is more than I had
expected-much more
Then you will be better satisfied. 1
ike to have those who work for me sa-
tisfed, and then if they do wrong am
not to blame. So, suppose you come up
and look around; we will commence
the first month to-day
The poor widow felt it her duty to say
something before the kind man left, SO
she turned toward him and opened her
mouth, and then-began to cry. Mr.
Thompson understood it, took her by the
hand, and bade her be of good cheer, and
then hastened away.
Until the sound of his horses tramp
had died away in the distance, both
mother and child sat in perfect silence
At length the widow arose and sank up
on her sons bosom.
sOh! Abel-God has blessed u:
wondrously.'
Suppose I had kept the money,
whispered the youth.
Not that-not that, my son. Oh! i
was not the money; though the money
like a mirror, reflected yourself. 1t wa
the stern integrity Of your soul. 1or
couldn't have kept II. The simple car
rying back of ten dollars was little to b
compared with theIprinciples involved
He saw your honor-your truth-an
for what you are, has he hired you
Abel went up to the great house, an
} soon found something to do. When b
returned home at night, Mrs. Thompsol
sent a covered basket for his mother, an
Mr.. Thompson gave him an order o
, the tailor for new suit Of clothes.
The busy season came On, and Nj
; Thompson was not long in discoyerin
that he had won a treasure in his ne
hand. Abel sold more produce tina
had ever been sold before from the placc
; and he got better prices; or at least b
returned more money, which was far be
ter. That was not all. The busine;
J was kept square-even to the fraction (
penny every day; SO that any momer
d Mr.. Thompson could tell just how /
stood.
But there was one difficulty.
The producer often wished for the a
sistance of his produce agent in Il
evening, especially when he had any a
Il count to make out. So he talked wit
his wife, and it was soon arranged tn
the widow Morton should come and fiji
a home beneath their roof. She hs
grown stronger, and the flush of heal
was again upon her cheek, since her 81
Il had afforded her the many comforts 81
. needed, and she accepted the new off
with pleasure. Abel could now spel
" all his time in his employers intere
'e and the happiness Of all concerned W
: greatly enhanced thereby.
I saw a wealthy man walk to i
house, and as he stood and gazed aroul
upon his broad acres, half dozen ch
dren broke away from an old lady VI
lad been playing with them, and boun
ed to his side and could hear the ha
:. py cries of PapaP
II was Abel Morton and the old la
was his mother. He was an honorI
happy man, for strict Honor and Trr
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