Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-04-21

| 'IoiSHtS 6OhtiC--thF ulitaOitJ patlShb-
Mr9ugh Christ, in whom is all we need
That one angry blow from his comrade
changed all of Roberts pursuits and
plans. His books were laid aside nc
eyes TO read them his school was aban'
doned. He went to the asy lum for the
blind, to learn the arts which the blind
best practice; mat-braiding, basket weav-
ing, mattress making, simple and humble
arts but the best for them, limited and
embarrassed by their deprivation.
Mason wen; to see Robert in the blind
, asylum. He was in the work room, at
the end farthest from the door. What
a sight-those poor, blind faces-those
! grouping fgures-t outstretched,
blundering hands In the very midst of
life, yet shut in, imprisoned.
Robert was braiding henp-trying to
braid it-just learning. The art at
which seeing child may play was diff
fcult for him. There he stood in his
place, his braid fastened before him, feel
ing for the strands, laying them careful
ly across each other, slow and uncertain.
He could not see Mason's pale, wretohed
face as he approached him. But it
troubled him to hear so much sorrow iD
his voice, and the poor blind boy laughed
and tried to speak gayly to dispel it,
: Mason watched him handling the dusty
hemp, unknotting its tangles, strengthen
ing its coils, wearying in the dull, dis
tasteful work, till his soul sickened in
him.
Il cannot bear TO see you at such work.
You shall not do this always he exclaim-
ed, grasping Roberts hand in his, and
then hurrying away before his hot tears
fell upon them.
Mason was an excellent scholar gifted
in defamation, and bis own taste and
his fathers wishes had led him to aim at
a profession. His plans as we'll as Rob
ert's were now changed; all by that
blow. He could no longer study his
Interest in his books was gone, and he
urged his father to allow him TO become
a merchant. His father hesitated, but
when he heard Mason's reason for his
change Of plan, he yielded Mason
went into a hardware store as lowest
clerk, 1t was surprising to those who
knew his tastes and former habits to see
how hard and faithfully he toiled in that
capacity. Well that he SO toied He
was not only doing his duty, obtaining
his own self approval and the approval
Ct God, but favor 10 the eyes of his en-
ployers, and, step by step, he was promo
ted to difficult and responsible offices, till
be had become their first clerk. Then
they offered him a partnership. He de-
cliued it. What. decline a place 10 the
best firm in the city What could it
mean? What else had he been working
for all these years What would the
young man do if be could
He told bis purpose. He was going
into business in a new firm. Howe &
! Evarts.'
Howe? Who is Howe ?
The basket and mattress dealer. My
old friend
And he at the head of the firm ? Why
he has no capital, aud is ignorant of the
business
He has large capital in what owe
him, and my knowledge of the business
must suffice u.s.
'He is blind
That is the very reason / have offer
ed him the partnership. You know how
he became blind
Generous fellow, Evarts Noble
fellow! exclaimed the old senior, and,
ashamed of his voice, said no more till
he had scribbled at something. His
voice was firm again when he gave the
scrbbling to Evarts.
Here, Evarts, I owe you this, and l
never mean to be long in any mans
debt
Mason read it. A for five
thousand dollars. He looked at the SEN
ior.
'What does this mean, sir /? My salary
has been paid
Il never pay salaries. 1 thought you
had been here long enough to know that
Excuse me, sir; you owe me moth
ing
Don't know my own debts owe
you that for what you have done for the
firm, for the credit you have done me as
senior here. It's no small credit to have
had a man Of so much honor grow up in
our store. I'm proud Of you, Eyarts.'
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