West-Jersey pioneer., 1866-03-17
THE MISER'S STORY.

absolute want. The bouses where | lived
were all in various stages of filth and de-
cay Whether the blear-eyed old man
who kicked and commanded me was my
father, never knew. Whether the old
woman who sometimes fed and oftener
beat me, was my mother, cannot say
| All that know is that had a miserable
drag g-about life of it; going round after
cold misunderstanding smaller boys
down to get the contents Of their broken
baskets, and hunting for rags IN the
gutter. s
suppose | was rather good-looklng
boy; they call me good looking now, for
an old man. know | was smart, CON-
pairing myself with children as | see them.
Ofcourse | was like the rest of my class.
| could fight little, and swear a little,
steal little, and eat good deal-that is,
when got the chance, which was seldom
] was ignorant didn't know one letter
| from another, and didn't want to- What
did care about education-l, who never
saw book from one year s end to another !?
And love-gratitude e-hope-I could OF
course understand neither. Nobody loved
me, therefore | loved nobody. Nobody
had ever made me grateful-had ever
held out hope to me. Some strange im-
pulse was given me one day walked up,
| sprang from my bundle of straw, and in
voluntarily the words came from my lips
-fPm going to do something to day. =
What that something was, l had not the
remotest idea, but | put on my apologies
for clothes, and sailed out in my vagabond
way, whistling, caring for nobody.
| 1t was about noon, and | had not yet
tasted mouthful Of food. was hungry,
and skulked about grocery shops, hoping
l could get an apple or something that
would stay my appetite, till | felt in the
humor for begging. Passing round the
corner of public street, saw genteel
looking man standing at his horses head,
gazing about him, somewhat perplexed.
aBoy," he cried out, "won't you take
care Of my horse for half an hour %
"Yes sir" said |.
| | think it was the first time had ever
put on the "sir"
There's MANI he exclaimed Owe
got considerable fruit, and you must guard
it we'll Here's couple of peaches for
you; just stand here quietly guess no
body'll disturb you"
He went away, and | stood awhile, till
was tired. Then, thinks |, I'll get a
handful of the fruit and run. But for
the first time | felt an instinct of shame
| at the suggestion. ssHa trusted me-he
saw was mean looking fellow, too, but
he trusted me, and won't abuse his
kindness"
Something like this reasoning ran in
my head, and squatted down on the
curbstone, feeling the Importance Of an
honorable trust, as l had never felt such a
thing before. Presently some Of my
fellows came along and hailed me. Itold
them to go on. They peered about the
cart, and saw the sunny faces of the
peaches.
"We'll have some of them," they said
"No, you WON'T" says |. "Pm put in
charge here, and | won't see the first
thing stole"
With that they began a rumpus. They
reached over the cart. | struck them,
and used such efforts that they all came
pell-mell upon me, and we fought till the
blood came, but l vanquished them
just then out came the proprietor.
whats the matter?' says he.
"Oh, nothing, only | had to fight for
your stuff there" says [.
"You did, eh? You've got black eye
for it."
"No NATTER" says l. ~ meant them
boys shouldn't steal a-peach, and they
didn't neither"
"Well, you've got good pluck, my boy;
here's a dollar for you-but don swear" "
My eyes stood out.
ga whole dollar ?" says |.
eyes, do what you please with it, but
I'd advise you to buy pair of shoes"
''Thank you" says /, with beating
heart, "it pays to be good don't it 2"
He smiled curious smile, and asked
me several questions, and ended by taking
me home with him in his wagon.
Home thought was in heaven, al
belt | had seldom heard Of such place.
My heart beat heavily everytime dared
to put my feet upon those rich carpets. -
The mirrors were something new to me.
The next day there came man to see
me. | was washed clean, and had good
suit of clothes Says he
"Youngster, I'm going in where you
live, and probably | shall make bargain
with your people. | want a boy just
such a bold, clever boy as you are, and if
you behave yourself | promise you that
you shall have as pleasant home as you
desire"
Well, that was good | hardly dared
to speak, to breathe, for fear of breaking
the illusion. | never was SO happy clear
/ through as | was that day. They gave
me some light tasks to do wished they
were more important.
From that day | was, treated as one Of
the household The man was widower,
and had no children, consequently be-
came to him as son. He educated me
handsomely, and when | was twenty -one
he died, and left me seventeen thousand
dollars. Well, considered myself rich
man. gloated over my wealth; it be-
came an idol to me. How to increase it
was my first desire, | consulted compe-
tent men, and under their counsel, put
my money out at interest-bought stocks
and mortgages. | grew wealthier; my
business (my benefactor had stocked me
a fancy storey prospered, and | was in a
fair way, | thought, to marry Lucy Man
ming.
/ Sweet Lucy Manning, the most artless,
winning maiden in all the world to me-
loved her deeply. dearly. She was
blue-eyed, auburn-haired her disposition
was that of an angle, and ! had plighted
| my VOWS to her. s
One night was invited to the house of
prosperous merchant, and there met a