Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1866-02-22

rather quickly ave nothing of the
kind. And as you seem to be an hon
est fellow, let me tell you one thing,
candidly-- That soatch IS not morh carry
ing Aome.!"
Some customers entered at the mo-
ment, and advanced to the twain, but
the shopman found time to add
at ia just as true as you live I"
John left the shop, and moved
across the street. He did not believe
what the jeweler told him, but as there
was another shop some distance be-
low, it would be no harm to apply the
test. "He feels jealous of me-" thought
John, "and hopes to persuade me ont
of the business. Of course, it will
hurt him some, but trade is free
He entered the second shop.
"Ill take him little differently"
was the mental resolution" though
it can't be that I've been swindled out
of my money in that way I"
The ieweller was busily at work
when the countryman entered, but ne
rose on seeing that the latter had bust
ness with him.
"A friend of mine wanted me to
ask YOU about this watch!" he said,
producing the condemned article.
lis it his :"
al don't know whether he has
bought it or not he talked of it a
week ago or so
The story stuck in Johns throat
little, but he was not disposed to let it
appear that he was concerned party.
!" If he has family of children, it
might be worth ten cents, as toy !;
though such one as those."-point-
ing to some toys which lay in case
would be better, and | sell them for
eight cents.
:" Are you honest about it ?"
There was look of blank dismay |
on the features of the questioner,
which might have betrayed the inter-
est he felt.
Certainly l ami You don't think
this is real watch, do you Z"
"Idon't know anything about watch
es," the crest fallen Spectator replied.
al never had one in my life y
"Well, he must be a greeny not to
know the difference. There's no works
inside, of any account, nor any place
for works. The case is of the poorest
kind of brass-just compare them
and he took genuine gold watch
from the window and handed it to
John.
Even his Impractical eye saw at
glance that he had been deceived as
to the watch. His heart sank at the |
disclosure, but he felt grateful to the
honest men who had prevented his
making a fool of himself.
snow will convince you," said the |
ieweller, If you are not afraid Of hav-
ing this thing spoiled in the looks"
John babe him proceed, and he took
a vial, filed with colorless liquid.
Some of this he applied to the watch
which he had taken from the desk, and
after allowing it to remain a short
time, wiped it off.
"You see it leaves no stain /" he
said. "Now will make very slight
application to this bogus concern"
He did so, and the application was
followed by an instant discoloration.
He wiped it away with the same
movement, but the blot could not be
effaced.
al will gid the place over, if you
WISH" he said.
John did not wish. He dropped the
bauble into his pocket, and started up
-.x.... Dat her, hap -
everything His golden dreams had
all vanished, the unnatural lightness
and buoyancy of his step had fed.
The dead swindie in his pocket weigh
ed him down like a milestone. No
sooner was he clear Of the village
than he drew i. forth, placed it upon a
fat rock and crushed it with stone
till not a semblance of the original
shape was left. Then he drove it into
the ground, and stamped down the
dirt above it
"There is my twenty-five dollars !"
he muttered THANK the good luck
which made me poor man, 1T was no
more. Now I'll go back, and go to
work again. may as well count In
the eight or ten dollars ! might have
earned while I've been fooling about
with this matter"
The distance seemed much longer
on his return than it had done in the
morning, but he reached home before
night. He was obliged to continue
the deception towards his wife, and she
noticed his downcast manner in a mo-
ment He explained it by pleading a
headache, and retired early. Next
morning he arose and sought work.
No more dreams of golden hue filled
his mind, but he had still strong mus
cles to toll and bring him certain re-
wards. He had learned lesson, one
which was to benefit him through
life. 1t took him long time to re.
gain what he had lost, in time and
money. Strictly speaking he could
never regain it, for both were gone for.
ever !; but the experience he had pas.
sed through, no doubt, proved of more
real service to him than money would
have done.
And yet, reader, was John Boyden
more anxious to make sudden, splcn-
did fortune than many whom you can
call to mind? Was he more credulous
more easily persuaded by the wiies
If swindlers than others, who hunt
out every chance to make fortune, =
and bite at bait so transparent that
the hook 10 in full view! Honest, man
ly perseverance, is the surest road IL
success, the world over, and he who
would succeed in life and carry with
him the esteem and respect OF his fel
low-men, can travel no otherroad.