The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1861-10-15
THE MERCHANTS CLERK,
CHAPTER [.

CHAPTER |.
Charles Hall wrs an excellent clerk, an,
a favorte one too, with the finn of Smith
snd Brother, Sharp street, Baltimore. Hi
employers wcro both hsd hearted men
though honest and upright in oil their deal
ing. They were wealthy, and possessed a
larger share Of this worlds goods than usually
falls to the lot OF most OF Us.
One Of the houses or shan,y-this term
would suit it best, WAS rented to an old and
iufrm couple, who, though they had once
seen better days, Yet time WAS daily adding
/ tn their wants aud intirnities. To this house
Charles Hall would walk out every Sunday,
and in the course Of time, some busy body
discovered the astounding fact that n Young
aud pretty girl accompanied him in his prom
enadps. 1t was even SO; he had felt he beau
ly of the bcwilching maiden aud love found
an entrace into his heart and Of course, he be-
came the accepted lover of the handsome
daughter Of the old couple, Mr., and Mrs. SW an.
Such, dear reader, was the position of all par.
ties, when one fine morning, tho elder Smith
called Charles to the counting room, and thus
accostcI him:
Turn to Swans account
Charles turned mechanically over the
leaves.
How does it stand =
Seven months rent due, sir
you know them, | believe?
have that honor
Are they able to payl'
Il think not, sir
Not even partF
None, sir.
'Then proceed at once and bundle them
out. | cannot afford to keep paupers in my
houses
They are old aud afflicted, said Charles,
'and have no means Of paying, aud
He was about to mention the daughter, Tut
prudence checked him.
What is that to me Sell their furni.
tutc.'
They will starvc, sir.
That is no ati,rs Of yoUrs-you are here
to obey my orior,-go turn them out at
once.
Just as YOU say, sir, said Charles, but as
he lett the room he muttcred, 'shane-od
brute
When his clrrk had retired, Smith felt a
pang OF conscience shoot through him, but lie
couscled hu>. Il with the idea, IT Is all their
own fault aud 50 he laid FOR u whe TIC dc.
mon wit Ia lin.
About an hour atrcrwari, Charles came in
he was wrejctcdiy pale, and II tear could
be di,ceined in the conner OF his eye
You have Of course attended to tie
: SWaus, Was tn. fist j ,cuIHtiou that met
hum.
Yes sir Bu. tia, wa. not the reason !
cSinc, Hr.
We'll, then, what is itT
Il am sorry 10 ask it, Sir anl here he
ucmblei As II about to ace II cauuou; but
" ish The balance due me
What DO You want with itl
Fgn,iiy Myortmes, sr.'
'Nous,u,e. don't believe it.-but it j,
10 business uf mine. What is / e amount! [
Seventy d1i.ur, aud ninety cents, sir.
There's l. a chock-lt IS none Of my bu>i- ,
ness how you spend your money, but con
tesS this Sudden demand surprises me
Charles .aiu not word, tut sighed as he .
left the room. In au Lour he returned, aud /
proceeding up to Smith, said.
Il have come 10 pay Swan, bill.
Il thought you told ms they could not /
pay ,
L imagined SO s.r; but they must have rc-
ceived an mteLpectcd remittance,
'Ihen sir, how dare you take away their .
honesty by saying that they could
Lot pay; shsme on ou.
Poor Charles Gid not reply for some minutes,
then AZ II suddenly sezcd with an Impulse, h,
said:
i am sorry, sir; but | avn going to leave
you
Had r cannon ball thundered about his
ears, Smith could not have been more aston.
Ished.
determined ou it, | supposed
Nothing eau change me.
Then 60 to--IlaIitax, roared Smith I
for hc was angry with hiu self.