The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-10-28

:
of him. finally setting his book right for
him; that is, making the account of letters
and stamps correspond. George was very
unhappy about it, scarcely knowing whether
he was doing right Or wrong but he had a
shrewd suspicion that Snagsby was not alto.
gether honest But then Suagsby was SO
kind and so great man. Aud how could
he venture to say anything to him about
him? Snagsby WAS not TO be resisted, except
by a strong effort, and that effort George did
make. His mother noticed the alteration in
him, and tried to find out the cause but she
could not. She saw that he had less care
for chapel, less care about his school friends,
less care for herself, than he had before he
went out into the world, and she spoke to him
seriously and prayed for him.
And now Snagsby began to take George
out with him. At first George declined He
could not 20 without letting his mother
know, which seemed to Snagsby highly
absurd thing but it was easy to let his
mother know that a friend at the Office had
asked him home, and to obtain he- leave 10
go. Well, they did not 90 home to Snags-
by's, but up the river to Kew, and back by
rail at ten O'Clock. No harm ia that George
told his mother all abort it, and she was
! pleased that he had found a friend And
Snagsby came home to see George, aud made
| himself very agre cable, and played on the
! flute from the Union tune-book some plain
| tive music that Georges father used to play,
and that set the widows tears a flowing
! Snagsby $50 the widow said) was n very nice
| Young man. Bat George was not happy
! The postage stamp book had been made up
several times. George had borrowed few
| shilings from Snagsby, and to paw it back
| had-well, well, SuagSby made the book all
| right, and George was miserable. The thea
tire was place which George had never been
| to in his life, and when Snags5v described
! its attractions he felt strong desire 10 see a
| play. What harm could there be in it tha.
was what Snagsby wanted to know and as
| George was not prepared with an answer, &
note WAS Postei to Mrs. Templeton, stating
| that-well, well, Snagsby wrote what George
was 10 say, and George copied it. and put
! his name to it, aud his mother thought he
had gone with his friend to hear a lecture on
the human eye. George saw the play vas
. | have not the least .ea VIII It it WAS, and |
don't beliege George had. for he kept think
ing of the lie he had written and of the post
age stamp book locked up in the Office desk.
! He was very miserable; he could not laugh
when the audience laughed, nor weep wnen
! they wept. lie sat there confused, stunned,
I aud wondered what he should Do, and what
would become of him.
! The very next day George was promoted to
| be petty cash keeper, and from his petty cash
/ Suagsby drew largely. The misery which
George had felt grew less as time wore on.
! lie grew older aud less sensitive. IL mt
often to the play, and laughed and eni, yed
| himself with Snagsb,. Where did the money
come from? Wen, the petty cash experd,
| ture was rather heavy; but nobody said any
thing about it. His wages were increased to
! fifteen shillings 4 week. lie began to assume
Il ne position. He thought himself almost
i man, AMI under Salgsby's instructions be-
gan to smoke, and made himself very i'll in
the effort to aci1irc that useless practice
lie was not careful! now as to where he spent
/ his evening". Ii he was in bv | . clock no
questions were a,kei: aud so he ,iii as he
pleased, o. as Sntgsby pleased, ami never
/ seemed to notice his mothers anxiety or to
reflect on MS own danger.
Bat oae d.y he al Snagsby had q quar-
re!. That young gentleman made an extray-
agant demIai on the petty cash. and because
his wishes were not ccsnpliei with, few into
a passion. and said many hard and bitter
things. This made George unhappy and
! frightened, and when he went home he had
almost made up his mind to tell his mother
what he had done. Bat his mother haJ been
! a;taake br su Iicn Illness, and couj no, be
| disturbed. Watching bcs!ie her. George
| thought over the folly and wicnedness OF his
! conduct. He remembered the oil lesson Of
! trUthfu.mcss and honesty which she had i'm
pressed upon BIN, aud, l>ncs!ins beside her
/ bed, he wep: AMI prayed for pardon. On the
next morning Mrs. Temple;on had in some
degree recovered, but George had made up
his mind TO 60 and tell the whole truth to
/ Mr. Lltimer. On reaching the Office he
found that Mr.. Latimer was there, and had
/ Just inquired for him and with trembling
! frame and beating heart he went up to his
masters private room.
Mr.. Latimer was carefully reading a letter
! VIXEN George went in, but he nlotioned to
! him to sit down, and said nothing to him for
several minutes. On looking up, he nodded
tami!iarly, and asked how was George, and
how was Georges mother! Gedrge could
scarcely reply that his mother was i'll in
! body, and he was sick at heart that if Mr..
Lat.mer woald allow HIM to do So, he wanted
to say something of importance but Mr..
Latimer interrupted him by sayIns
.'My dear George, | mean to make You a
present, FIVE and.twenty pounds eh! what do
Won say to that p
Indeed. indeed, SIR said George, Il do
not deserve this indeed. indeed =
..Indeed, indeed" said the old gentleman,
deserving or undeserving. the live-and-twen-
ty pounds are yours. This, l think, will
make things strai ght -
He handed over one pound nine. and a
written paper containing An exact list OF
every penny that George had taken. The
whole sum amounted to twenty-three pounds
eleven shiilings George nearly tainted; ne
fell Oh his knees before Mr.. Latimer, and
begged forgiveness.
Frankly and freely forgive You. Do not
fear that your folly and your Grim shall! be
heavily punished | overlook both. SGagsbY
had led you into most of the mischief, ani
acting. as you might have expected. he would
:,ave done, he has betrayed you to screen
himself. What has become OF him don I
know | shall not inquire. He has gone OF
with more than double the amount which yot
have taken; but l wish the matter to be
kept secret, and | am resolved to give yOr
another opportunity of being what you ough
to be- No ore shall know it. n Jt even you
mother, what has taken place. You arr
welcome to what you have taxed you slai
remain in my employment; but beware o
evil company; beware of forssklng the Ole
t paths; beware of forgetting your God. There
GO"
And SO. refusing TO hear any more abou
5 it, Mr. La,iner dismissed George from h.
: room. George never forgot thai intervie"
He turned over a new leaf; he be gan to ea'
E a new life; he had. think aud hope, ne'
heart And though the uphill work wa
4 harder than the downward course at first, b,
: persevered and was happy. What becam
of Snagsby do rot know Som, tine since
/ however, | understand he WAS arrested O
; suspicion Of forgery, but Of this am no
:, quite sure.
n DEEPENING OF THE CANAL As soon a
:. the water is drawn off which will be done O