Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1859-03-12
rhe Rroken Saw.

A boy went to live with man who was
accounted hard master. lie never kept
his boys they ran away, or gave notice
they mean to quit so he was half his time
without or in search Of a boy. The work
was not very hard--opening and sweeping
cut The shop, chopping wood going on or
rands, and helping round. AT last Sam
Fisher went 10 live with him. Sans a
good boy said his mother.
] should like to see boy nowadays that
had a spark Of goodness in him. growled
the new MASTER
1t is always bad to begin with q man
who has no confidence in yon because, do
your best, you are likely to have little cred
it for IT, However, Sam thought he would
try the wages were good, and his mother
wanted him to GO Sam had been there
but three days, before, in saving cross
grained stick of wood, he broke the saw.
He was little. frightened. He knew he
was careful, and he knew he was pretty
good sawyer, too, for boy Of his age
nevertheless, the saw broke in his hands.
And Mr. Jones viii thrash you for it,
said another boy whow in the wood-house
with him. why, Of course j didn't mean
to, and accidents will happen to the best of
folks, said Sam, looking with very sorry
air on the broken saw. Mr.. Jones never
makes allowances, said the other boy L
never saw anything like him. That Bill
might have stayed, only be jumped into a
hens nest and broke her eggs. He darn't
aot tell Of it but Mr.. Jones kept suspect
,ng and suspectng, and laid everything ont
Of the way TO Bill, whether Bill was to
blame or no, till Bill couldn't stand it, and
Uoaldn't' Did he tell Mr.. Jones about
the eggs p asked Sam. No said the boy;
he was 'fraid to-Mr. Jones got such a
temper."I think he'd better own square up,
said Sam. j reckon you'll find it better
to preach than practice, said the boy
I'D rEn away before I'd tell him . and he
soon turned on bis heel and left poor Sam
alone with his broken saw.
IL was after supper, and he was not like
ly TO see MIR. Jones that night. The shop
was shut, and his master had gone to some
town meeting. The next morning ha would
get up early, go into the wood-house, and
see what was done, for Sam would never
hide the saw.
The poor boy did not feel very comforta-
BILE or happy. He shut up the wood-house,
walked out in the garden, and then went up
to his little chamber under the ewes. He
wished he could tell Mrs. Jones; but she
wasn't sociable and he had rather not. 80,
my God" said Sam, falling on his knees,
"help me to do the thing that is right
Sam always said his prayers; but he had
not put bis whole heart into his prayer as
he did that night; that night he prayed.
do not know what time it was, but
when MIR. Jones came into the hous, the
boy heard him. He got up, crept down
stairs, and met Mr. Jones in the kitchen
'Sir," said Sam, Il broke your saw, and
thought I'd come and tell You fore you saw
il in the morning" What did you get up
to tell me for 7" asked Mr.. Jones, II should
think morning would be time enough to tell
of your earelessness." ''Because," !" said Sam,
IL was afraid if put it off, might be
tempted to lie about it. Pm sorry broke
IL; but tried to be careful"
Mr.. Jones looked at the boy from head
to- foot, then stretching out his hand,
There, Sam,9 he said heartily, ''giye me
your hand. Shake hands; III trust you,
Sam. That's right. Go to bed, boy !;
never fear Pm glad the saw broke it
shows the metals in you. Go TO bed"
Mr. Jones was farely won. Never were
better friends after that than Sam and he
Sam thinks Justice has not been done Mr..
Jones If the boys had treated him hon
estly and "aboye board" be would have
been'a' good man TO live with. 1t was thfir
conduct, which sonred and made him sus-
picious. | do not know how that is; on
- koow that Sam Fisher finds in Mr.. Jones
a kind master and a faithful friend.