Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1860-10-12
FRIDAY, OCTOBER l2, 1860.

Nothing more was said on the subject.
but 1, did not pass from tho mind OF Mr..
Hickman. lie had taken the lad few
month, before, on trial. and i, was under.
stood that II he gave satisfaction, he was to
bc pu, on wages after nS months.
"Tho boy is faithful, intelligent and &C.
tive" said Mr.. Hickman. speaking tohlm.
sclf. "lfrt |. 90 with his mother, he mus,
be put on wages Immediately"
This conclusion In the mind OF Mr.. Ilick.
mau was attended with a sense Of pleasure.
III. heart had opened just little, and two
or three sunbrams, with their light and
warmth. had gone down into it.
"what shall pay him ior hIs ssrvi'es'"
said Mr. Hickman to himself, siill dwelling
on the subject.
There are plenty Of lads to he obtained
alta couple Of dollars a week, for the first
ono or two year, or even for nothing, In
consideration OF the opportunity for learn
ing good business in a good house. Bot
Frank. case !. peculiar. and mus, be con.
siierci by itself There isa question Of hu-
maniiy involved III, mother il poor and
sick. and .he has M hope hut in him. Let
me see. shall make il three dollars a
week? Tha, will help thcm considerably.
Bu,. dear me three dollars week will
hardly pay ior Fr'nk'' eating must do
something better than that. Say four dol.
lars
Mr. Hickman dropped h' ho'd a little,
and .at turning the matter over in his mind.
IIo hal once been in fr'ble health and he
remembered how hard It was fer him u get
alons-how many privation' and hard.
.hir, his mother had 70 endure and yot
their incomr W.. ne,rly double the amount
be thought Il giving Frank. Mr.. Hickman
had alsay. loved his mother. and thi.
memory 4 hcr slltcnei hi. fealine. still
more toward the poor widow tor whom an
appeal had come TO him - unexpectedly.
Frank is nn unusually brigh, boy"
sail Mr. Hickman lie has an ap,ne.s
ior bu.inc., i pro npI anl faithful, and |
can aa,ri 70 make hi. salary librral-for q
b,y i, shall bo liberal. III pay him six
dollars now, anil 10 hc s,c' On improving -
ia.t a, he has done =, tar. IL will NJ. b.
long bcior, can DO better ior him"
Mr.. Hickman arose AMI going ,o the door
called the lad wbo came in Immediately.
"lIow do you ike our business, Frank -
asked Mr.. Hickman in kind way.
Very we'll SIR, replied the boy prompt.
ly.
"And would you like to remain"
"Ye., sir II I give satisfaction"
"You have done we'll - FAR" replied Mr..
Hickman. $50 we'll that have eoncIu doi
to pat you on wage. now. instead Of wait.
ing until the .lI month. oi trial h,vo eI.
pired."
The boy started, and quick du'h ofsur-
Prise anl pleasure wen, over his f'cs.
II d,I not expect it, ',r, no said crate.
fully. "You are very go1l."
D.. Your mother d, 10, we'll, hear" said
Mr.. Hickman.
Frank. eyes gli'trnei a, ho answered
mo. ar. she. been sick fora good while
and Im :, glad to DO put on wages, ior
now can help her"
"w,lI you s,. all your wages to your
mo,hcr?'
"Oh ye' indeed, sir every cent, ifit was
ten dollar, a week"
IL Sc you are good bog, Frank, said
Mr.. Hickman, hi, heart still 'oitening.
'and your wage. shall bs.iI dollars"
The boy struck hI' hand, together with
sudden joy, eHcl,imins.
"Oh. mother will b, so glad
A. be went back to tho store. Mr.. fIick.
man sat quietly in his chair, feeling hap
pier than he had been lora long time
When the sun went down, and Frank came
in to shut the windows Of the counting,
) room. Mr.. Hickman handed him a sealed
envelope, .ayins.
Take this to your mother II contain,
thrty..iS dollars, a' wages. a, thrc, dol.
lars week for twelve weeks, the time you
have been in my store. Tell your mother
you have been good industrious boy, and
J have earned the money"
Frank took the little package IN silence
his feeling. were 50 much overcome by thi'
additional good fortune. that he could not
speak his THANKS. But his eyes told what
wa. in his heart. and Mr. Hickman under,
stood them.
. There are many ways to catch sunbeams
if we would only set traps fpr them. Nay
, there is no occasion TO 20 to that trouble
The AIR is foil Of sunbean.. and We have
only to open the doors and windows OF our
: hearts, and they will enter in countless
mul,imdcs. But the doors and windows o
I most peoples hearts are shut and barred Al
was the hear, Of ir,. Hickman. How ar,
they to b" opened? just as'tho doors an
window. Of his heart were openei-xby kind
ness to Others.
When Mr.. Hickman took hls way home
ward, his step was lighter and his feelings
more buoyant than they had been for long
time. Though conscious Of this. and Of tht
sense Of pleasure tha, was new to him. biz
) thought did not 90 directly to the cause
Not that he had forgotten Frank and hi,
.ick mother. or the glad face that looked in,
to hi. when he told the boy Of hi. generOu'
decision 10 his favor ; oil this wa. present
10 him though he had not yet connected the