Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1863-08-11
NV FIRST TEMPTATION.

NV FIRST TEMPTATION.
At on early age l lest my father, and as
he loft US with but little of this world 5
| goods, it soon became necessary that
should find some emf lJyment. l was then
thirteen years Of age, and not very stout or
strong, but yet with a will to do anything
I that could be found for me TO do. At
length my mother made an arrangement
! with a carpenter by the name of Morris,
/ and | was taken into his shop as an a. prem
I tice. With him l remained two years, but
! at the eud Of that time l became 50 worn
I down by the hard work imposed uron me,
/ that my mother resolved should remain
there no longer. My sister Lucy. who
was two years older than mys, II, had NJ
! detected my failing strengthened it was
mainly through her Efforts that ! was re-
moved from the place, for should never
have CONF famed.
| was ifteen-tall. slim, and pale, and
knew TINT | could not stand any sort e
work which taxed my physical strength to
any great extent. But fortune favored me.
a Mr. Joseph EvPred, who kept dry
goods stare near 10y, was in want Of a sales
man, ard through nv sisters Influence
Obtained the place. Mr. Evered had a
daughter Julia, ust about mv own age e no
was very intimate with Lacy, ard it was
by her intercessions with her father that
Lucy gained her point.
Twas duly installed into my place, AID l
was soon happy and cCntented, for my en-
ployer was kind, and On intimacy sprung
up between myself and Julia which at"rd-
ed me purer bliss than had ever before
experienced. Thus matters passed on for
Il year, and at the end aof that time my
health was restored, and had so far gain
ed upon the cyufdenCe of Mr.. Evered that
he now trusted me with some Of his most
particular business. Only one thing trrUb-
leo me, | was not receiving such wages
| fancied my services entitled me 10. 10
fact, was in debt. / bad purchased a suis
OF clothes Of a tailor in the ueigthoThood,
and was owing for them. The tailor wan
ted his money and had promised MIN he
should have it at certain timec hut that
time came and passed, and | could not pay
him. lie threatened, and promised anew
Oh, bow many times | wished that | had
never bought those clothes. | could have
got along without them and l resolved that
never again would | buy anything which
could not pay for upon the SPOT. But that
did not help this case.
One evening l sat alone in the store Il
was Saturday evening, and the day had
been a busy one. We had sCl1 q great
quantity Of goods, and the money-drawer
was well filled. Slowly demon arose
before me, and began to advise me. He
pointed to the money drawer, and whisper
I'd:
There are the means for paying your
debit
knew that Mr.. Evered had no knowl-
edge Of the amount of money there, for he
knew not how much / had sold. could
take fifty dollars, and he might never miss
it, had sold a great quantity Of stuff
which he had no account of. had pr0m'
Used the tailor that he should have the
money that very night, and | had planned
to get Mr.. Evered to advance me the neccs
sary sum. | had not been spending money
foolishly, but from my poor pittance
: supported my mother, and that dte it al
up.
For q Icng while I sat and looked up0r
that drawer, and all the while the temptel
was persuading me. knew that young
clerks often did such things, and tina
sometimes necessity compelled them to i
e at least, so then thought. How coulC
!. l me)t my creditor again without the mon
ey? could not, and at length ! resolved
+ that l would not. arose ana went to thu
drawer. opened it, and saw the banl
notes which had been fairly :ammed ii
there. / counted cut twenty dollars. Ny
hand trembled, and my heart beat quick
ly. l thrust the notes into my pocket
and then FASTENED back to my seat, anC
ere long afterwards my employer enter
ed.
We'll, Charles he said, 4 guess wei
shut up now
arose and went out and put up the shut
tiers, and when l came back found Ever.
ed engaged in counting the money. AS
! ipprOached him he eyed me with sharp
searching look, and trembled ike an as
pen.
What ais your he asked.
Nothing, sir l answered, trying to com
pose myself.
But there must be something the mat
ter he resumed, for you look as pale as {
ghost.
Il am tired said.
a Well, well, you have worked hard to-
uay' and you may go. I'll attend to thu
lest.'
win desperate endeavor to compost
myself thanked him for his kindness anC
n then seized my hat and left the store. Tn,
fresh air revived me somewhat, and hur
!. RED on to the tailOr's. l paid my Lane
tor moment my heart was lighter
but 1t was only for the moment
When reached the street again, tn,
! thought Of what l had done came upon m,
) with whelming force, and was misera.
BILE. When reached home protested t,
be sick, and retired at once. But my
' m other, sick and weak herself. came up t
my bed and wanted to fix me some medi.
cine. She gave me simple preparation
drew up the. clothes snugiy about me, auC
having kissed me she said, -
BE careful Charles, fol- 'tKoaldbs pain