The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1864-12-30
Edwards Temptation,
By HoRATlo ALGER, JR.


Itwas six o'clock in the afternoon.
At this time the great wholesale
warehouse of Messrs. Hubbard e
Son was wons to close, unless the
pressure of business compelled the
partners to keep open until later.
The duty Of closing devolved up
en- Edward Jones, q boy OF fourteen,
who had lately been engaged to per-
form few slight duties for which he
received the sum of fifty dollars
annually He was the ''boy," but if
he behaved himself 50 as to win the
appreciation Of his employers his
chance of promotion was good.
Yet there were some things that
rendered this small salary a hard tri-
al to Observation-Disclosures with which
MS employers were unacquainted.-
His mother was a widow. The sud
den death Of Mr.. Jones had thrown
the entire family upon their own re
sources, and these were indeed but
slender.
There was an older sister who as
sisted her mother to sew. and this.
with Edward 5 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 nee
essaries of lie.
But Mary Jones-Elward's sister
grew SICK She had taken severe
cold which terminated in fever
This cut of the resources arising
from her own labor, and also pre-
vented her mother from accomplish
ing as much rs she would otherwise
have been able to do.
On the morning Of the day on which
our story commences, Mary had cx-
pressed a longing for an orange. In
her fever it would have been most
grateful to her.
1t is hard, indeed, when we are
obliged to deny to those we love that
which would be a refreshmcnt and a
benefit to them.
Mrs. Jones felt this, and so did
Edward.
81 only wish l could buy You one,
Mary said Edward, just rs he set
out Tor the store. Next year I shall
receive large salary, and then we
shan t have to pinch so much"
"Nover mind Edward" said Mary,
smiling family. Il ought not to have
asked for it, knowing how hard you
and mother find it to get along with
ont me-"
Don't trouble yourself about that,
Mary" said Mrs. Jones soothingly,
though her heart sank within her at
the thought Of her empty larder.-
"Only get well, and we shall get on
well enough afterwards"
1t was with the memory of this
scene that Edward went to the store
in the morning.
All around were the boxes of rich
goods representing thousands of dol
lars in money.
"Oh," thought he, "if l only had
the value of one OF these boxes, how
much good it would do to poor Ma
ry; and Edward sighed.
The long day wore away at last,
and Edward was about to close the
warehouse.
But as he passed the desk of his
employer his attention was drawn to
bit Of paper lying on the floor be-
Eeath.
He picked it up, and to his great
joy found it to be a ten dollar bill.
The first thought that flashed upon
him was: Chow much good this will
do Mary. | can buy her the oranges
she wants, and she shall have some
every day. And perhaps she would
like a chicken"
But IA moment later his countenance
fell. at isn't mine" he sighed. at
must be Mr. Hubbard's. This is his
desk, and he must have dropped it,"
"Still," urged the tempter, she
will never know it; and, after all
what are ten dollars to him, He is
worth a hundred thousand"
Still Edward was not satisfied
Whether Mr.. Hubbard could spare
at or not was not the question. L
was rightfully his, and must be giyel
back to him. I#.ttF '.g
"Ill go to his house and give It tc
him this very night" said Edward
"Otherwise might be tempted tc
keep it," .I
He determined to go to Mr.. Hub
bard's before he went home. The
sight of his sick sister might perhaps
weaken his resolution, and this mus
never be. He must preserve his in
tegrity at-all hazards.
! He knew where Mr.. Hubbard lived
Ia was a large, fine looking house, or
a fashionable street, He had pas
sed it several. times and wondered
whether a man must not feel happy
who was able TO live in such style.
| WIthnnf III