St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1860-11-08

gamblers, who threatened to expose
him to the firm if he did not liquidate
their claims. Pushed to desperation,
lie did what many others have done
before him, he distracted money from
the till. Bold with success, he took
another step in crime-a fatal one
forging a note upon the bank where
his employers made their deposits. 1t
was discovered at once, the money
found on him, and himself thrown into
prison.
James meanwhile had progressed
steadily in his studies. T~wcnty-one
found linn a good French scholar, and
an adept in the mysteries of book.
keeping. lie, too, had had his rccrea-
tions, but they were the comparative
" c~ostlcss ones of reading, lectures,
and converse with nature. Every Sat
urday night found him at the vestry
Of the parish church, practising hymns
and anthems for the Sabbath, and
when the exercises were over, he was
cver found at the side of Lizzie Sey-
mour, who, with a timid grace, took
his offered arm.
"Wherc is Mr.. Banks this morn
ing" said Mr.. Seymour kindly to
James, as he came in the day before
Christmas.
"He has not come down yet, sir"
"Not yet, and it is nine o'clock.
Something must be wrong there: Run
to his hotel, James, and see what it
is. Heaven only knows what will
become of us, if he falls sick now,
only a week before New Years, for
with this trial Of Henry's coming on,
and all else | have to see to, l can
never steady my brain enough to
draw balance sheets"
"Hc is quite sick, sir" said James,
half an hour after "not able to sit
up. Here is a note he has sent"
Mr.. Seymour tore it open. Appar-
emily the contents surprised him, for
turning to the clerk he said abruptly,
"what does this mean, James? Mr..
Banks says l can give up the books to
you. What do you know about book
keeping"
~ have studied it for four winters,
Sir, was tue quleL reply.
"Ba: study and practice, boy, are
two things"
81 have considerable practice, sir
i have posted books for two firms
this last fall, and assisted Mr.. Banks
quite often"
GO to his desk then, James, l a
trust YOU"
New Years came, and so we'll had
the book-kceper, pro tem., accomplished
his heavy task that both partners
were not only satisfied, but expressed
their satisfaction by the gift of an
elegant gold repeater. Mr.. Banks
continued i'll, and James fulfilled his
duties. Three months passed Mr..
Banks was dead, and the firm must
supply the vacant desk. Who should
they choose
"Call at my house tonight at eight
o'clock, James," said Mr.. Seymour,
ono evening as he was going home to
tea.
James was punctual. A servant
showed him to the library. Mr.. Scy.
mour and Mr.. Gilbert were both there,
We have sent for you, James, tc
offer you the post of book-keepcr in
our establishment, at a salary of tf.
teen hundred dollars. Will you &C
ceptit?".
"Gratefully, ~sirs," was the answer.
1t was brief, but there was a world
of %cloquencc in his looks and manne
"You have already discharged the
duties of one faithfully, for three
months. In this p~ockctbook you will
find a check for three hundred and
scvcnty-seven dollars and fifty cents.
No thanks, my boy /; you've earned
it. But for you we should have been
in a bad fix this winter" Then bend
ing his head to the young mans, he
whispered, Lizzie is in the parlor.
Go to her, and remember if you can
win her you have my consent. iou
have no money to begin life with, but
you have what | prize far more, an OK
cellcnt education and an unsullied
reputation"
Three months later it became neces-
sary for n of the firm to go to Eu-
rope, and remain there for q year or
two. Which should it be? Neither
understood French practically, and
they were in a sad dilemma. James
came to their aid.
81 understand your business as
we'll as either of you, l believe-why
not send me 2"
"Can you pariey rous with the ma
tives ?" Mr.. Seymour asked ruefully.
Listen, Sir" and he ran on as
though he were a Partisan born and
bred.
"Well done, Jimmie, we'll take you
in as junior partner ; and bark ye, my
boy, as Lizzie will cry her eyes out if
you should have to leave her SO long
why you shall just be married the
night before the steamer sails, and
kill two birds with one s~tone-have
the cclat Of a bridal trip to Europe,
and do up the business Of the firm at
the same time"
What was then planned came to
pass a few weeks later. A golden
September afternoon found James
Seyton, of the firm Of Seymour, Gill
bert & Seyton, crossing the plank
that led to an Ocean steamer, and
leaning on his arm was his fair young
bridc-that bride whom Henry Day
ton had meant to win with his hand
some face and elegant figure.
Poor Henry ! a condemned prisoner,
he was cutting stone in Sing Sing
prison. And yet, when they started
in life, his path looked as fair as his
friends. TO misspent evenings he
owed his ruin. Young man young
man! consider well, before you run
your course.
Boonsboro', Iowa, May, 1860.