Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-10-11

BIT rs. ARTHUR.

their way lt would seem as II many people
preferred gloomy shades, aud hid themselves. OF
choice, entirely away from the bright and beas-
tiful sunshine They even carry shadows on
their faces. When they come into your pres
ence IL seems ss iftbe afr was darkened by pas
siDg cloud.
Mr.. Hickman was not SO stolid but that he
saw in this the existence OF wrong. He loved
his wife and children. desired their good. and
was ready TO make almost any sacrifice for them
that be knew how to make Even as be sat
moodily in biz home, conscious that bis presence
rested like nightmare on the spirits Of bis
wife and children, he would say 10 himself
This is not right; should bring home pleas
ant words and cheerful smiles
One day. az Mr. Hickman sat in bis counting
room, conyeFsing with gentleman, a lad came
in from the store 10 ask him some questions
about business Mr. Hickman replied in a cur,
way, and the lad went out.
"Whst is that boys manner" asked the gentle
man
Frank Edwards, - was the reply
ii thought So He's fine boy How long
has be been with youI"
About three months.
Does he give satsfseiiOnY"
Yes
I'm pleased to hear H. His mother lives in
our neighborhood. and my wife has taken con
siderable interest in her. She Is very poor and
IN feeble health. She maintains herself by sew
ing; but that kind of exhsustiug toll is wasting
her life rapidly. Frank is her ouly child and
the only one 10 whom she can look for help.
am glad you like him
"The boy is faithful, intelligent and active"
said Mt Hickman, speaking to himself "Ii il
is so with his mother he must be put On wages
now"
This conclusion in the mind Of Mr Hickman
was attended with sense of pleasure. His heart
mad opened just little, aud two or three
beams, with their light and warmth, had gone
down into It
What shall / pay him for his servicss!' said
Mr Hickmsn TO himself dwelling on the sub
ject.
There are plenty of lads to be obtained alta
couple of dollars week for the first one or two
years; or even for nothing, in consideration of
learning e cd business in good house But
Franks case is peculiar, and mast os considered
by itself. There is question OF humanity in
vo!ved. His mother is poor aud sick, ard she
has no hope but in him Let me see; shall
make it three dollars week. That will help
them considerably. But, dear me- three dollars
will hardly pay for Franks eating ! must do
better than that. Say four dollars.
Mr. Hickman dropped his head little, and sat
turning the matter over in his mind He hzd
once been poor bog, with a mother in feeble
health. and he remembered how hard it WAS for
ibor had to endure, ana yet bis income was nearly
double the amount he thought of giving Frank
Nj Hickman had always loved Bis mother, aud
this memory of her softened his feeling still
more towards the poor widow tor whom aP-
peal had come to him 40 UNEXPECTEDLY
Frank is an usually bright boy" said Mr..
Hickman He haS an aptncss Tor business; is
prompt and faithful can afford to make his
salary loeral--for a boy il shall be liberal /
vii nav ~ mol nd ho
improving fast as he has done so far, it will
not be long before | can do something more for
him
Mr. Hickman arose and going TO the counting
room door, called the lad, who came in immedi-
ately
"How DO you like our business Frank?" asked
Mr. Hick man, in kind way.
"Veiy well. cir" replied the little fellow.
promptly
And YOU would like TO remainY"
Yes, sir. IL | could give satisfaction"
'.1 ou have done very we'll so far, replied Mr.
Hickman 80 well that | have concluded to put
yCu on wages now. instead of whiting until the
ak months OF trial have expired -
The boy started and qnek losh OF surprise
and pleasure went over his face
Il did not expect it, sir" he said graf 4fu,ly
You are very good I"
'Your mother is uot well | hear id Mr
Hickman
Frank's eve glisttrtd as be answered, ''No,
sir, she has been sick for i good while, and I'm
so glad To be pa, on wages, for Eos J can help
her."
""ill YOU give all your wages to your mother
Frankl'
"Oh. yes indeed. sir every cent. Il i was ten
dollars a week
Il see you are good boy, Frank, said Mr
Hick man, his heart It'll soltening land your
I " Shal be dollars
The boy struck his hands together with sud
den JOY, exclalming:
Oh mother will be so glad-so glad :"
As he went bsck ilto the store, Nr Hickman
sat quietly in his chair. feeling happier than he
had fer a long time Wnen the sun went down
and Frank came in 70 shut the windows of the
counting room Nj Hickman handed him a
! sealed envelope, saving:
+ " Take this TO yOur mother II cOntsin. tbiity-
SIX dollars, your ~age> IT three dollars week
tor twelve weeks, the time yoC have been in my
store. I ell your mother that You have been n
good, industrious bOy, and we'll earned the
1 money
Frank took the little package in silence his
/ feelings were so much overcome by his additional
+ good fortune that tie could not speak his graft
4 tude But his ewes told what VS. IN his heart
! and Mr Hickman understood IL
There are many ways to catch sunbeams il we
would only set traps for them Nay. ,here il no
occasion for that trouble. The air il full OF sun
beams, and have - only open the doors aud win
doNs of hearts. and they will euter in count
| less multtudes But the doors aud windows of
most peoples hearts are shut and barred. as was
the heart Of Mt Hickman's How they 20
be openedy just as the doors and windows of
his heart opened-by generous kindness to
others.
Wheu Mr. Hickman took bis way homeward,
his step Was lighter and his feelings more BUOY
ant than they had been for a long time Though
conscious of this, and of the sense Of pleasure
that new 10 him, his thoughts did not 60
directly 10 the cause Not that he had forgot
ten Frank and bis sick mother nor the glad face
th-t looked into his when he told the boy Of hi.
generous decision in biz favor ali this was pre-
sent 10 him, though he had net vet connected
! the kind act aud pleasant feeling in his con-
sciousness as cause and effect
There was no sound of pattering feet on the
stairs a. Mr.. Hickman came in Time was when
! his first step IN the passage a~oke The echoes
with laughing voices and the rain Of oager foot.
| falls But that time had passed long ago The
IA her came home 80 often in cold, repellant
mood that his children had ceased TO be glad At
his return. All no longer bounded q meet him
! 81 ing Oh the stairs we're little boy aud girl
ol the ages q i've AMI * years As he sd-
vaueed along the passage. thcy neither stirred
nos spoke. nor smiled. though their ewes were
steadily hxei on has face.
Mr. Hickman stood stil when be came near
/ - ~.