Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1859-05-26
4 STORY FoR noSs.

when ! was Elk years old say. a vel
known merchant, my father died, lrayin.
nothing TO my mother bu, the charge OF IN
self aad two yoIng sisters Nfrcr ,cllin.
the greater part of the household furnitur,
'he had owned, she took two small uppel
rooms IN W street, ard there. by BET
needle, eobrived 10 some way-ho. | can
not conceive, when reeollect the bare lit
tanoe tor which che worked o. support N,
IN comfort. Frequently, however, rcmsm
Der having sat down to a supper that con.
sisted sinply Of shce Of bread, seasoned
BY hunger, ard rendered inviting by the
neat manner iu which our rerast was served.
our table always beiug sprcad with a cloth
which, like my good mothers h,ar,. seemed
ever to preserve sueS-whitc purity
Wipng his eyes the merchant continued
">peaktc 80 those da,s rem O. d. u,s Il NJ.
s'sse WaCn ~e sat l0wG o. tie tai. o.a
evening aud my mother had asked tho
blessings Of our Heavenly Father on her
little d,fopcoless ONES, IN tones of tender
paibos which / remember yet aud Which #
possible, must have made the angels veep
she divided the little remnant of her laa {
into three pieces, placing one on each ul cur
plates, but rcseryInc none for hcTseif
stole around TO ber, and was Abou, o. toll
her that vas not uugry, when food Of
tears burst from her eyes, aud clasrcd "a,
20 her bosom Our meal Was let uutourL.
cd W sat up late that night. but what We
saIi i canuot tell know that my mother
talked 10 me more a. companion than a
ehi.d, aud that when We kbelt down 70 rr,y
consscrated myself 10 bs the Lord and t.
serve my mother
But said he, "this il not telling YOU
how Deaiuess made my fortune. IL va.
some time after this that my mother found
an Advertisement IN the newspaper for an
errand boy III commission store ia r.
street. Without being Leccs,it4tci to vail
to have my clothes meOdel. i0r my mother
always KEEP; them in perfect order. aul al.
though on minute inspection ;hcy bore ira.
ees OF more than one patch, Yet upon the
"Ho.e thsy Ia! a :e!y Respectable air With
out being Obliged TO wait even To polish my
shoes, ior my mother always kept n box If
backing with which nv eowAiIc> must he
set of before took my breakfast without
waiting to arrange my hair, for | hai hccn,
ooiiged TO observe from my earliest youth
the most perfect neatness IN every respect
my mother sent me of 10 see II | could
obtain the situation. With q light step
started, for had long time wished my
mother - allow mc to DO something 20 as
sist her
Ny heart beat fast, assure You. as I
turned ont Of W into b street. and
made my way along TO tie number nv 9th
er Lad given me. summoned all the cour
age l could muster, aud stepped brishly
into the store, ard made known tho reason
Of my calling. The merchant smiled, and
toia '1e iksi there N=s aaJtlcEboy zho had
come in n little before me he thought he
should hire Iloweve:, he asked me rome
questions and then went out and couverssd
with the other boy. VITO stood in the back
part of the office The result was. thA, the
lad who first applied was dismissed, and |
entered the merchants emI Iioyncnt drs, rs
an srrand boy, then As clerk afterward.
his partner, un;il his de,th. when he lef, me
the whole business, stock &c. Ansr had
been in his service some years be tsld me
the reason he chose me in preference TO the
other boy was because Of the general neat,
ness Of my person, while in reference 10 tho
other lad he noticed that he neglected p-o>
pc. ly to tuck down his vest t. this cir.
cumstance has probably been owing the
greater part Of nv success in business -
". Hampshire MaissDiau