Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-12-01
Sclttt Stories.
EDWARDS TEMPTATION.
by HoRATIO ALGER, JR.

1t was six o clock in the afternoon. At
this time the great wholesale warehouse of
Messrs. Hubbard 4 Son was wont to close,
unless the pressure of business compelled
the partners to keep open until later
The duty Of closing usually devolved upon
Edward Jones, Il boy of fourteen, who had
lately been engaged to perform Il few slight
duties for which he received the sum OF fifty
dollars annually. He was the boy" but
if he behaved himself so as to win the APP
probation Of his employers his chance of
promotion was good.
Yet there were some things that rendered
this small salary hard trial to him--cir-
unacquainted. His mother was widow
The sudden death of Mr. Jones had thrown
the entire family upon their own resources,
and these were indeed but slender.
There was an older sister who assisted
| her mother to sew, and this, with Edward :
salary. constituted the entire income 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 ncccssarcs OF
| life.
But Mary Jones-Edward sister--grew
sick. She had taken a severe cold which
terminated in fever. This not only cut
off the income arising from her own labor,
but also prevented her mother from accom-
plshing as much as she would otherwise
have been able to do.
On the morning of the day on which our
story commences, Mary had expressed n
longing for an orange In her feverit would
have been most grateful to her.
1t is hard, indeed, when we are obliged
1 Al II
be "A rctreshmcnt and benefit to them.
Mrs. Jones felt this, and SO did Edward
Il only wish | could buy you one, Mary,
said Edward, just as he set out for the
store. Next year shall receive larger
salary, and then we shan't have to pinch 81
much "
Never mind Edward, said Mary, smi
ling family. Il ought not to have asked
for it, knowing how hard you and mother
find it to yet along without me.
'Don't trouble yourself about that Ma
ry, said Mrs. Jones soothingly, thougl
her heart sank within her at the though
of her empty lardcr ''Only get WELL an,
We shall get ON well enough afterwards"
1t was with the memory of this scene,
that Edward went to the store in the NOR
ming.
All around him were the boxes of ricl
goods representing thousands Of dollars il
money.
"Oh," thought he, "if | only had tn
value of one Of these boxes, how much gooC
it would do to poor Mary and Edwarc
sighed,
The long day wore away at last, and Ed
ward was about TO close the warehouse.
But as he passed the desk of his employ
er his attention was drawn to bit of pape
lying on the floor beneath.
lie picked it up, and TO his great .o
found 1t to be ten dollar bill
The first thought that flashed upon hin
was: "liow much good this will do Mary
can buy her the oranges she wants, an
she shall have some every day. And pen
t hapS she would like chicken.
But II moment later his countenancc fcl
1T ion nine, he sighed. 1T must h
!. Mr. Hubbard :. This is his desk, and h
must have dropped it.
"Still, urged the tcmpter, he will ne,
or know it and, after all, what are t.
dollars to him? lie is worth n hundrc
thousand ,.. .E.
Still Edward was not satisfied Whethc
, Mr. Hubbard could spare it or not was ne
the question, 1t was rightfully his, an
must be given back to him.
"I Il go to his house and give it to hin
, /, this very night" said Edward "Othc,
, wise | might be tempted to keep it, "
lie determined TO go to Mr. Hubbard
before he went home, I he sight of his sic
sister might perhaps weaken his resolution
and this must never be. He must prcscry
, his integrity at all hazards
= NJ