Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-11-01
for tie GBilortn
The Broken Saw.

A boy went to live with man who was
accounted hard master He never kept
his boys; they ran away, or gave notice
they meant to quit; so he was half his
time without, or in search of boy. The
work was not very hard-opening and
sweeping out the shop, chopping wood,
going on errands, and helping round. At
last Sam Fisher went to live with him.
"Sam's good boy" said bis mother 81
should like to see boy nowadays that
had spark of goodness in him." growled
the new master.
1t is always bad to begin with man who
has no confidence in you, because, do your
best, you are likely to have little credit for
it. However, Sam thought he would try;
the wages were good, and his mother want
ed him to CO. Sam had been there but
three days before, in saving croos-grained
stick of wood, he broke the saw. He was
little frightened. He knew he was care
full, and he knew he was pretty good saw
er, too, for boy Of his age; nevertheless,
the saw broke in his hands
"And Mr. Jones will thrash you for it, }"
said another boy who was in the wood-house
with him. "Why, of course, didn't
mean to, accidents will happen to the best
of folks" said Sam, looking with sorry
air on the broken saw, "Mr. Jones never
makes allowances" said the other boy :;
~ never saw anything like him. That
Bill might have stayed, only he jumped
into hens nest and broke her eggs. He
daren't tell of it; but Mr.. Jones kept sus-
pecting and suspecting, and laid everything
out of the way to Bill, whether Bill was to
blame or no, till Bill couldn't stand it, and
wouldn't. "Did he tell Mr. Jones about
the eggs?" asked Sam. "No," said the
boy; "he was afraid to-Mr. Jones' got
such a temper" 81 think he'd better own
square up," said Sam. 1 reckon you'll
find it better to preach than to practice
said the boy. "I'd run away before Id
tell him; and he soon turned on his heel
and left poor Sam with his broken saw.
1t was after supper, and he was not like
ly to see Mr.. Jones that night. The shop
was shut, and his master had gone to some
town meeting. The next morning he would
get up early, 60 into the wood house and
see what was done, for Sam would never
hide the saw.
The poor boy did not feel very comforta-
BILE or happy. He shut up the wood-house,
walked out in the garden, and theI went
up to his little chamber under the caves.
BE wished be could tell Mrs. Jones; but
she wasn't sociable, and he had rather not
"Oh, my God," said Sam, falling on his
knees, "help me to do the thing that is
right" Sam had always said his prayers;
but he had not put his whole heart into bis
prayer as he did that night; that night he
prayed.
I do not know what time it was, but
when Mr.. Jones came into the house the
boy heard him. He got up, crept down
stairs, and met Mr.. Jones in the kitchen.
"Sir," said Sam, 81 broke your saw, and
I thought I'd come and tell you fore you
saw it in the morning" "What did you
get up to tell me for?" asked Mr.. Jones;
81 should think morning would be time
enough to tell of your carelessness. "Be-
cause" said Sam, 81 was afraid if | put
it off l might be tempted to lie about it.
I'm sorry 1 broke it; but I tried to be
careful.
Mr. Jones looked at the boy from head
to foot, then stretching out his hand,
"There Sam, said be, heartily, "giVe me
your hand. Shake hands; I'll trust you,
Sam. That's right. Go to bed, boy;
never fear. I'm glad the saw broke; it
shows the mettle's in you Go to bed"
Mr.. Jones was fairly won. Never we're
better friends after that than Sam and he.
Sam thinks justice has not been done Mr..
Jones. If the boys had treated him honest
ly and "above board" be would have been
good man to live with. 1t was their con.
duct which soured him and made him sus-
picious. l do not know how that is; |
only know that Sam Fisher finds 10 Mr..
Jones kind master and faithful friend !"
Childs Paper.
MI