The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-12-21
EDWARDS TEMPTATION.
RY HoRAfgo AI6ER. yH


| this time the great wholesale wearhouse
/ of Messrs. Hubberd Il Son. was wont 10
/ close, unless the pressure of business
! compelled the partners to keep open IN
| til later. ~
| The duty of closing usually devolved
upon Edward Jones, = boy of fourteen.
who had lately been engaged TO perform
| a few slight duties for which he received
i the sum of fifty dollars annually. He
was the hoy" but if he behaved him
! self so as 10 win the appreciation Of his
employers his chance of promotion was
good. S
Yet there were some things that rend.
cred this small salary hard trial to him
J circumstances with which his employ
ers were auaequsinted. His mother was
/ a widow The sudden death of Mr..
Jones had thrown the entire family upon
their own resources, and these were
i indeed but slender
! There was ar older sister who assisted
her mother to sew. and this, with Ed
wsrdss salary. constituted the entire in
/ come of the family Yet by means of
untiring industry they had continued thus
/ far to live, using strict economy, Of
/ course. Yet they had wanted none Of
/ the absolute necessaries of life.
/ But Mary Jones-Edward's sister
/ grew sick She had taken a severe cold
which terminated in fever This not
+ only cut of the income arising from her
own labor. but also prevented her mother
/ from accomplishing as much as she would
otherwise have been able TO do
/ On the morning Of the day on which
our story commences, Mary had express
ei y longing for an orange. In her
fever it would have been most greatful to
her
! 1t is hard, indec,i when we are obliged
to deny to those who love that which
would be refreshment and benefit to
them
Mrs Jones felt This, and so did Ed
ward 4
II only wish l could buy you one.
Mary" said Edward, just as nc act ont
for the store. Next year shall receive
4 larger salary, and then we shan't have
to pinch so much
Never mind Edward" said Mary,
smiling family. n ought not to have
asked for it knowing how hard you and
mother find it to get along without me"
Don't trouble yourself about that,
Mary said Mrs. Jones soothingly,
though her heart sank within her al the
thoughts of her empty larder. *Only
get weli, and we shall get on well enough
afterwards" tss 30
1t was with the memory OF this scene
that Edward went to the store in tho
morning
| All around him were boxes Of rich
! goods representing thousands Of dollars
in money.
! "Oh," thought he, "if l only had the
value Of one of these boxes, how much
| good it would do poor Mary" and Ed.
| ward sighed.
! & The long day wore away at last. and
! Edward was about TO close the warehouse.
! But as he passed the desk of his en-
ployer his attention was drawn to bl
of paper lying on the floor beneath
I, He picked it up, and to his great JOY
found it to be ten dollar bill.
The first thought that flashed upon
him was: How much good this will do
Mary. / can buy ber the oranges She
wants, and she shall have some every
day. And perhaps she would like
But moment later his countenance
fell.
1T isn't mine, he sighed ''It must
be Mr. Hubbard's This is his desk, aud
be must have dropped it,
Il "Still, urged the temper, '.he viii nev-
er know it; and after all, what are ton
dollars to hinf He is worth hundred
thousand" 4t 3. s~h
Still Edward was not satisfied wheth.
er Mr. Hubbard coald spare it or not vas
! not the question. 1t was rightfnlly his,
and must be given back TO him .
II GO to his house and give IL to hin
this very night said Edward. '.Otner
wise might be tempted 10 keep it."
He determined to go to Mr.. Hubbard
before went home, The sight OF his
sick sister might perhaps weaken his
resolution, and this must never be He
must preserve his integrity at all hazards
He knew where Mr.. Hubbard lived
1t was a large ine locking house, on
fashionable street. He had passed it
several times and wondered whethcf
man must not feel happy who vas ob
Without any unnecessary DELAY, there
fore he went TO the house, and, as cending
the steps, rang The bell.
"A man servant came to the door
NV ell p he said
"Is Mr.. Hubbard at home !''
"Yes, but he has only just come in, and
don't think he can see you," was the
rather supercihous reply. efze1
Il am in his employ said Edward
quietly, land have just come from the
store. think he will see me if you men.
ton this TO him"
VERY well, you can com in y
Edward Was lett -tandin, in the tall
while Mr.. Hubbard was sought By the
servant s..I efa g- II
We'll he said inq .iringly. Has
anything happened % F.ils7 bs6s
No, sir, said Edward, .sbut pickle
up this bin near your desk, and supposed
you must have droppfd Il thought ]
had better bring IL here directly"
m. You have done WE'LL u said Mr. HUI
bard, and will reuembes H. Honesty
is very valuable quality fiaasboy just
commencing business career, Here
after Istrsll have perfect confidence in
your honesty" = -.
Edward sas sfatff + BY this assarancc
yet as the door essse1 tsshind Hin, an
J he walked OUT iat4S % street. the thoaght
o. his SIS tsr sick - hops again tnsrudesf
upon him, and he thouyht regren .iy
hoe ySS>D a x