The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-02-21

first insult she had ever known, and il
burned her cheek and panied her heart
Stfaightway, indignant and grieving,
she hurried to banking establishment,
found her way in, and presented the note
to noble looking man with gray hair,
faltering out, Is this bill bad one, sir." +"
The cashier and his son happened to
be the only persons present. Both no.
ticed her extreme youth. beauty and agi
tation. The cashier looked at it closely
and handed it back, as with polite bow
and somewhat prolonged look he said =
!" Its a good bill, young lady"
| knew it was" cried Alice, with a
quivering lip" and he dared
She could 90 no further, but entirely
overcome, she bent her head, and the hot
tears had their way.
Il beg pardon, have you had trouble
with it ? asked the cashier.
"Oh, sir, you will please excuse me
for giving way to my feelings-but you
spoke so kindly, and [ felt SO sure it was
good And think. sir, such men as
one of those clerks in Huntlcy 4 War.
ner's should be removed lie told me it
was counterfeit. and added something
that am glad my father did not hear.
knew the pablisher would not send me
bad money"
Who is your father, young lady ?"
asked the cashier becoming much inter-
ested.
I" Mr.. Benjamin Locke, sir"
" Benjamin-Ben Locke-was he ever
a clerk in the Navy Department at Wash
ington Z"
Yes, sir; we removed from there" ("
replied Alice. Since then" she hesi
tated-" he has not been well-and-
are somewhat reduced. Oh, why do..a
tell you these things, sir 2" /.
Ben Locke-reduced I" murmered
the cashier; "the man who was the max
ing of me Give me his nug.ber and
street, my child Your fathcE:&as once
the best, perhaps the only friend | had
have not forgotten him. 4 Liberty
street. will call this evening Mean
time let me have the bill-let me see
I'll give you nnother. Come to look, [
havn't five here's ten; we'll make it
all right"
That evening the inmates of a shabby,
genteel house received the cashier of the
M Bank. Mr.. Locke. a man of gray
hair, though numbering but fifty years,
rose from his arm chair, and much affect
ed, greeted the familiar face. The son of
the cashier accompanied him, and while
the elders talked together, Alice and the
young man grew quite chatty.
" Yes, sir, | have been unfortunate, .
said Mr.. Locke, in low tone. 81 have
but just recovered as you see, from a
rheumatic fever, caused by undue exer-
tion-and had it not been for that sweet
girl of mine, | know not what should
have done. She, by giving lessons in
music and French, and by writing for
periodicals, has kept me, SO far, above
want"
/" You shall no longer know want, my
old friend said the cashier /" 1t was a
kind Providence that sent your daughter
10 me. There's place in the bank just
made yacant by the death of a valuable
clerk, and it is at your disposal. 1t is in
my gift, and valued at twelve hundred
dollars year"
Pen cannot describe the JOY with which
this kind offer was accepted. The day
of deliverance had come.
On the following morning the cashier
entered the handsome store of Huntley
& Warner, and asked for the head clerk.
He cane obsequiously.
Sir" said the cashier sternly, "is
that bad note ;"
"I---I think not, sir," replied the clerk.
The cashier went to the door. From
his handsome carriage stepped young
girl in company with his daughter.
did you not tell this young lady, my.
ward, that this note was counterfeit p
And furthermore, did you not SO far for
get selfrespect, and the interest of your
employers, as to offer her an insult ?"
The man stood confounded- dared
not deny-he could say nothing for HIM
self.
If your employers keep you, sir, they
will no longer have my custom" said the
cashier, sternly. You deserve to be
horse whipped"
The firm parted with their unworthy
clerk that very day, and be left the store
disgraced, but rightly punished.
Alice Locke became the daughter-in-
law of the good cashier. All of which
grew out Of calling genuine bill couu-
terfelt.
KanSRE i'm E&Gl