Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1859-04-23

look. I am fully satisfied Of you ur hon
esty. I saw you when You picked up
my purse"
There was slight shudder starting
through the youths soul, for he could
not help thinking what would have
been the result had he kept the men
ey.
s'You are not the first one I have
tried" resumed the gentleman
''First, l looked upon Samuel Stephens.
He is poor, and I thought him capable.
dropped my purse with my name
plainly written upon it, where he should
lind it. He did find it, and he kept it.
Next tried Lot Pole, and he did the
same. Some may say [ had no busi-
ness to place temptation in poor
youths way; but [ would give employ
ment to those who most need it, and
there is ample temptation in the work
| must have done, ( thought I had a
right to try them. But you have prov
ed yourself trustworthy, and I am glad
OF it. And now, if upon trial you suit
me, I will 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 wondere d If he should get as
much as fifteen.
"F6rty?" he whispered, fearful that
he had sunderstood him.
eyes. Forty dollars month, will
not that answer?'
cob, yes, sir. It is much more than
| had expected-much h more"
''Then you will be better satisfied
l like to have those who work for me
satisfied; and then if they do wrong |
am not to blame. So suppose you
come up and look around; wewill com
mence 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.
He 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 sunk
upon her sons bosom.
ooh Abel-God has blessed us
wonderfully"
''suppose had kept the money z"
whispered the youth.
''Not that-not that, my son. O, it
was not the money; though the money,
like a mirror, reflected yourself: It
was the stern integrity Of your soul.-I
You could not have kept it. The SIM
pie carrying back Of ten dollars was
little to be compared with the princi pie
involved. He saw your honor, your
truth, and for what you are, has he
hired YOU"
Abel went UP to the great house and
soon found something to do. When
he returned home at night, Mrs. Thom-
son sent a covered basket for his moth |
er, and Mr.. Thompson gave him an
order on a tailor for a suit Of new
clothes.
The busy season came oD, and Mr..
T. was not long in discovering that he
had won treasure in his new hand
Abel sold more produce than had ever
been sold before from that place, and
he got better prices-or at least he re-
turned to his employer far better.-I
And that was not all. The business
was kept square-eyen to the fraction
of penny-every day; SO that at any
moment Mr. Thompson could tell just
how he stood.
But there was one difficulty. The
producer often wished for the assistance
of his produce agent in the evening"
So he talked with his wife, and it was
soon arranged that the widow Morton
should come and ind home beneath
their roof. She had grown stronger,
and the finish of health was again on
on her cheek, since her son had afford
ed ber the many comforts she had
needed, and she accepted the new Of
fer with pleasure. Abel could now
spend all his time in his employers IN
terests, and the happiness OF all con
cerned was greatly enhanced thereby.
I saw a wealthy man walk to his
house, and as he stood and gazed
around upon his broad acres, half a
dozen children broke from an old lady
who had been playing with them, and
bounded to his side, and [ could hear
their happy cries Of papa! papa!
It was Abel Morton; and the Old Ia
DIV was his mother. He was an honor
ed, haapy man., for strict honor and
truth lad been his guide through life.