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

Of the counting-room, and twice al
ready he had been tardy A third
time would lose him his place. He
looked at his watch--it lacked five
minutes to eight. Drawing on his
boots, and thrusting his arms in his
overcoat, he ran prccipitately through
the streets and arrived at the store
just ten minutes past eight. He look.
ed around in distress, and then laughed
freely. Neither Mr.. Seymour nor his
.partner were there, while the head
clerk and book-kccpcr were in the
back room, too busy TO notice his
abrupt entrance. He was q hard
looking case though His hair was
matted, his unwashed face flushed
with the hectic Of liquor, his eyes
sunkcn and dull, and his dress disor-
dcrcd
james perceived at a glance that
something was wrong, and fearful for
the consequences should either of the
partners come in and sec him in such
a plight, he hurried to him, and put
ting into his hands moneyed letter
which the book-keeper had just given
him to carry to the office, told him to
hurry off with it, and he whispered
very softly. " Harry, step into bar.
ber's shop as you come back"
Dayton pressed his friends hand
warmly, and sped rapidly on his mis-
sion, but although his hair lay in CLOS
sy curls when he came back, and his
collar and bosom were fautlessly
white, for he had taken an omnibus
and gone home and changed his linen,
his cOuntcnance yet wore marks of
the last evenings spree, and he
blushcd as he looked up once from the
goods he was labelling and saw tho
keen eyes of Mr.. Seymour fixed anx-
iously upon him.
AS they went home at noon, James
talked to him very earnestly on the
course he was pursuing, and urged
him to break off at once from his dis
solute associates, and Join him in his
evening studies. Mr. Seymour has
been very kind to us both, Harry
taking Us almost out OF the poor
house, and not only giving us res.
pcctahlc livelihood, but admitting us
to the friendship of his family. 1t be-
hooves us to be grateful, and show
him that we appreciate his kindness.
Besides, Harry. the course you are
pursuing will be sure to end in your
ruin. How much did last nights
spree cost you!
80, mere trillc- worth mcn-
tioning, Jimmie
But reckon it up, Harry. For the
sleigh >
well, we paid dollar apiece, but
it was a splendid affair, blood horses.
sable driver, and wOil-skin wrappers"
James took out his pencil and
card, and set down the sum.
And now your expenses on the road;
how many times did yon drink ?"
Why, let me see, once before we
started, once, no twice down the river,
and twice at IIolt's.
" And how many cigars ~
You mean | shall make a clean
breast, Jimmie. Well, then, one to
begin with, two to keep up, and one
TO tinjsh-four only"
" on took supper at Holts Z"
OF coursc a grand good one, too,
we had boiled turkey with oyster
sauce, and all sorts Of nicknacks, only
fifty cents, too
James rcckoned up the items.
Your fun cost you, then, two dollars
and twenty cents, Harry
- 50 much-why, didu't dream Of
it, but then a fellow must spree it
once in while you know All work
and no play makes Jack dull boy"
But our recreations, Henry should
be in accordance with our income.
Yours is five hundred year now,
just think of it five hundred a year,
and yet you spend two dollars and
twenty cents for one evenings amuse-
ment, and only last week you paid
three dollars for ball ticket, dollar
for carriage to convey you and your
lady to the Hall, and another one fox
your supper, and if | mistake not,
fifty cents for boquet. Henry, your
money won't hold out at this rate.
You'll soon have to borrow, and once
in debt, you'll find yourself deep in
trouble
"Pcrhaps you think ought to have
paid you the ten dollars ! owe you,
instead of spending So much Oh fun,
first
Il am free to confess, do, Henry
but let not that debt trouble you. |
shall never press You for it. But 1T is
not the money you spent last night
+ that worries me the most. You came
) within an acc Of losing your place
this morning. Had either Mr.. Gilbert
: or Mr.. Seymour seen You as you
looked when you entered the counting
room, you would have been discharged
at once. And Henry, it would have
been hard matter for you to have
found another ouc without recon-
mendation from our firm. Henry, |
talk to you as would to q brother,
and warn you to-day, that unless
you reform your habits at once, you
will be a lost man. So begin now to
do better. Go with me to the lnst-
tute tonight, and hear the lecture.
Come, wont you? it shau't cost you
cent
, can't, Henry, | am engaged to a
| DdIlS, anu IIG liA tiAS q "
: conscious his friend had spoken truths
, to him, but without sufficient manli-
ness to treasure them up. There were
tears in Jamcs's eyes as he went OH
alone, and he murmured, scaled,
sealed to ruin
Time passed Oh, and the two clerks
went on their respective ways. For
time Henry was more cautious, and
Mr.. Seymour who watched him close
ly, had hopes of him : but his love Of
, liauor was stimulated by his late
, hours and evil companions, and it
soon became a habit for him to drink
( at morning, noon, aud night. His
pleasures, too, drained his purse. He
: borrowed Of one, then borrowed OF