The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1860-09-27

J
little, and two or three sunbeams, wit
their light and warmth, had gone dow
into it,
"What shall I pay him for his servi,
esq" said Mr.. Hickman to himself,s ti
dwelling on the subject.
''There are plenty of lads to be Ok
tanned at a couple of dollars a week, TO
the fl st one or two years !; or even 70
nothing, in consideration ofthe oppor
tunity for learning a good bushes in
good house. But Franks case is pecu
liar, and must be considered by itself
There is question Of humanity involv
ed His mother is poor and sick, anC
she has no hope but in him. Let mt
see; shall | make it three dollars a week.
That Will help them considerably. But
dear me the dollars will hardly pay
for Franks eating. ] must do some,
thing better than that. Say four dollars.
Mr.. Hickman dropped his head a lit
tie, and sat turning the matter over in
his mind. He had once been poor
boy, with mother in feeble health ;
and he remembered how hard it was
for him to get along how many priva>
tons and hardships his mother had to
endure and yet their income was near
ly double the amount he had thought
Of giving Frank Mr.. Hickman had al
ways loved his mother, and this memo
ry of her had softened his feelings still
more toward the poor widow, for whom
an appeal had come to him so unexpec-
tedly.
Crank is an unusually bright boy"
said Mr.. Hickman. Gle has an apt
ness for business is prompt and faith
fnl. | can afford to make his salary
liberal. I'll pay him six dollars now,
and if he goes on improving as fast as
he has done so far, it viii not be long
before | can make it better for HIM"
Mr.. Hickman arose, aud going to the
counting room door, called the lad, who
came in Immediately.
GLOW do you like our business, Frank
asked Mr.. Hickman, in kind way.
every well, sir" replied the boy,
promptly.
"And you would like to remain ?"
"Y es sir, if / give satisfaction
"You have done very well SO far
replied Mr. Hickman $50 well that I
have concluded to put you on wages
now, instead of waiting until the six
months OF trial have expired"
The boy started, and quick flash of
surprise and pleasure went over his face
Il did not expect it," he said grate>
fully. "You are very good"
'Your mother is not well, I hear"
said Mr.. Hickman.
Franks eyes glistened as he answer
ed "No sir she's been sick for good
while; and I'm so glad to be put on
wages for now can help her."
evil you give all your wages to your
mother p
81 see you are a good boy, Frank"
said Mr.. Hickman, his heart still soften
ing, ''and your wages shall be six dol~
lars"
The boy struck his hands together
with sudden JOY, exclaiming:
ooh, mother will be so glad!-so glad!"
As he went back into the store, Mr..
Hickman sat quietly in his chair, feel
ing happier than he had been for a lone
time.
When the sun went down. and Frank
came in to shut the windows of the
counting room, Mr.. Hickman handed
him sealed Envelope, saying,
"Iake this to your mother. It con
tains thirty-six dollars, as your wages,
at three dollars a week for twelve weeks,
the time you have been in my store.
Tell your mother you have been a good,
industrious boy, and have earned the
money"
Frank took the little package in 81
lence ; his feelings were so much over
come by this additional good fortune,
that he could not speak his thanks.
But his eyes told what was i'll his heart,
and MIR. Hickman understood them. !.
There are many ways to catch sun
beams, if we would only set traps for
them. Nay there is no occasion to 90
to that trouble. The air is full of sun
beams, and we have only to open the
doors and windows Of our hearts, and
they will enter in countless multitudes.
But the doors and windows Of most
peoples hearts are shut and barred as
was the heart Of Mr.. Hickman. How
are they to be opened Just as the
doors and windows of his heart were
opeeed-by kindness to others.
When Mr.. Hickman took his way
homeward, his step was lighter and his
feelings more buoyant than they had
bee for long time. Though concious
of this, and Of the sense ofpleasure that
was new to him, his thought did not go
directly to the cause, not that he had
forgotten Frank and his sick mother;
or the glad face that looked into his
when he told the boy Of his generous
decision in his favor all this was pres
ent to him, though he he had not yet
connected the kind act and the pleas
ant feelings in his consciousness as
cause and effect.
There was no sound of pattering feet
on the stairs as Mr.. Hickman came in.
Time was, when his first step in the
passtge awoke the echoes with laughing
voices and the rain of eager footfalls.-
But that time had passed long ago -
The father came home so often in q
cold, repe!lant mood, that his children
had ceased to be glad at his return, and
no longer bounded to meet him. Sit
ting on the stairs were a little boy and
girl, of the ages of five and six years.
As he advanced along the passage, they
neither stirred nor spoke, nor smiled,
though their eyes were fixed on his
face. Mr.. Hickman stood still when he
came near to where they were sitting,
and looked at them with a new feeling
of tenderness in his heart He he'd out
a hand to each, and each laid hand in
his, but with an air of doubt as to
whether this condescersion on the part
of their father was to be accepted as a
token of love. A moment he stood