The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-06-21
AFTER MANY DAYS.

Hamilton Brent, halfaloud, as he sat
looking into the bright anthracite, blazing
with such q pleasant light before him.
" I'm quite sure that l understand what
that man meant, when after he stopped
me and asked for work, and looking at
his rags, | gave him something to do in
the lumber yard, more for humanity s
sake than for the work, he took my
warmly glOved hand in his cold one, and
repeated the scripture proverb that my
mother has so often taught me. I'm sure
| was not casting bread in the sense
have always thought Of it. Had given
q poor child a quarter, or a poor man
some meat, it would have been parallel
case TO this one. Both might have. re-
membered me for 4 while, but with nIyO-
berless changes, the mercy of my charity
might never have returned to bless me.
Inc nan n1a;S net come TO work, or If he
does, only stay until he gets little money
and then go to his friends, if he has any,
and that may end any relation We may
at present or for any time sustain to each
other"
Thus in the heart Of the employer the
matter was laid to rest; but in pair of
other ones the promise Of wOsk So4i9g-o
many good things yet in store, keep hope
from growing feeble and sick, and then
dying in despair. From the house Of
Giles Davis-a home rendered cheerless
now by want and suffering, went up many
blessings for him who in the darkest hour
had beiriended them; and doubt whether
the intelligence of great fortune would
have made that young wife's heart lighter
than did the announcement Of her hIhs-
ta,,&, IHio-ynvrrOw, Ellen, l will nave
work-O, if Tomorrow were but here"
Dreams, pleasanter than those that for
weeks had visited their pillow, came to
them that night, and before half of his
fellow. .laborers were thinking of their dai.
ly task, Giles presented himself at the
office door Of Hamilton Brent, to receive
his share of the duties that fell to the lot
Of the lumber dealer.
Brent met him at the door. His pune
tuality, or rather his extra punctuality,
for Davis was ahead OF time, very pleas
antly impressed his employer, himself a
man Of hard work, always first, and in
variably last, around the yard and in the
Office. All, my man, IN glad you came.
didn't know but you would forget the
number, or something of that sort. What
is your name ?"
"Giles Davis"
In a moment it stood on the day book
and ledger, in the great round letters for
which Hamilton had been praised when a
schOol.boy. Now go with me-" At
this juncture, Porter, the formal head Of
the hands, came in, and to his less tender
mercies the new conner was given over
After the two had gone into the yard,
Giles set at the task assigned him, and
Porter had returred to the office, Mr.
Brent said to hlm, DO not allow Davis
t. work too hard | guess the poor fellow
has seen hard times"
81 shouldn't wonder" was the reply,
"but he works as though he meant 10 dc
his duty"
IL hope he will; like a man thor.
ougl,ly in earnest in whatever he Wn9tY.
takes, and there is an expression in Davis
eye that like. believe ! can rely OH
man who owns such pair of eyes as
he does" and as hint to Porter to busy
himself, Brent turned to his books.
During the day his mind did not revert
to the CHARITY hand" as his foreman
called Davis, but when at night he went
to look about the yard, he found him hard
at work, piling some oak timber which he
had promised to have measured and d.
livered early the next morning. How
is this" said the careful merchant tC
himself; should he be waiting to stea
or burn, | must see the last Of him before
| leave" and SO he came up to his new
hand, with distrust in the heart whert
confidence had reigned in the morning.
Thus quickly do the hour and the im
pulse make sad havoc sometimes Of ouI
natures highest and holiest qualities.
"Why have you not quit, Davis? The
ether men have been gone long time"
"Mr. Porter wished me to pile thi:
timber, and s,aid to do it, sir"
81 believe | hired you to work from
seven until six, didn't Z"
"Yes, sir"
Then you have no business here after
that hour, unless bid you. Porter ha:
no right to impose upon you more thar
ten hours labor"
He offered ME shilling for doing thi.
Job, and-and" mans voice grew
very hoarse, times have been very hare
with me-sickness and no work have KEEP
me pretty low, and am glad to earn al
honest penny whenever | can. SIR"
~ kot all ioh lN.,f l nj To chV
up myself, and can't wait until you &C
through. You must go home now"
but then"-and the man stopped
His voice could not trust itself to words
"But then WHAT" said Brent, begin
ming to grow cold and impatient.
was going to say, sir, that then
should have nothing to eat until to-mor
row; was to go to POrter's house OF
my way home, and get the shilling, and
would not GO and ask for it before my
work was DONE"
"Do you do this for money to buy
something to eat"
THAT is all, sir"
Here is your days earnings" hand
ing him as he spoke, dollar bill. "Le
the lumber go. | will see to that in thu
morning."
"All this for me? am working, sir
not begging;" there was flash of indie
pendent dignity in his eyes that Bren
liked to see.
81 hired you," was the cool business
answer, "to pay you as l do other mel
whom have to work. l would give al
more, if l could afford it; would Ger
tainly be heather to give man, whit
has family to support in city lik'
Boston, anything less than six dollars {
week. | like you'll believe | can trus
you. This is to be your place, and
your master, until you get better plac'
and better master somewhere else. Blu
l must lock up, and you must go home.
Who shall describe. that home mad,
glad by few of the comforts to which i
had been SO long a stranger? All tn
way to Beacon street, Hamilton Bren
thought of it, and after he sat down to hi
own dinner, pictured the supper-table il
Davic' rom the very centre niece of tn