The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1866-10-18
THE PARSIMONIOUs CLERK,

MS clerks, as they were alone IN the spa
cious counting room, which was attached
to large store Of which Mr. Dayton was
proprietor, "give me leave to say that
DO not think you dress sufficiently gen
teel to appear in fashionable store. .
n deep blush sulfused the cheek of the
young man, and in spite of his cndeavors
to rcpress it, a tear glisteued in his full
black eyes,
Did L not know that your salary was
quite sufficient to procure more genteel
habiilmcnts, would increase it,"
"Aly salary is amply large, sir" rcpli-
cd Weston, with mortified air, but with
that proud independence of feeling of
which poverty had not been able to di-
vest him.
"Oblige me, then, by changing your
apparel, and presenting different appear
ance in the future. You are wanted in
the store" Weston turned and left his
employer, who muttered 70 himself, as he
took up his paper, chow l detest those
parsimOnious fellows"
Mr.. Dayton was man of immense
wealth. He was widower, and had but
one child, daughter, who was the pride
OF his declining years. She was as good
as an angel, and as beautiful as good
She was simple in her tastes and appear
ance. Such was Laura Dayton when
Weston May first became an inmate Of
her fathers house, and what wonder was
! it that he soon learned to love her with a
deep and ardent affection. Though their
. tOnnunS ,,44 IL
their hearts felt, yet the language Of their
eyes was too plain to be mistaken. Wes-
ton was the very soul of honor, and al
though he preceiycd with pleasure that
he was not distasteful to her, still he felt
he must conquer the passion which glow
cd in his heart.
''i must not win her heart" he said to
himself. "I AIN penniiess, and her faith
er would never consent to our union. -
Thus he reasoned, and thus he manfully
endeayored to subdUe what he consider
ed an ill-fated passion. Laura had many
suffers and some who were worthy of her,
but she refused all their oyertures with
decision yet gentle frmucss.
Her father wondered at her conduct
but would not strive to alter her inclina-
ton. He was in the decline of life, and
watched to see her happily settled ere he
departed from this world. 1t was not
long before hs surmiscd that young Yves
ton was the cause Of her indifference to
others. The pleasure which she took in
hearing him praised, the blush which
mantled her face when their eyes met,
served to convince the old gentleman that
they took more than common interest in
each other. He forebore to make any re-
marks upon the subject, and was not so
much displeased at the thought as Weston
had imagined he would be.
Weston May had been three years in
his employ. Mr.. Dayton knew nothing
of his family; but his strict integrity,
good morals, and pleasing manner con
spired to make him esteem him highly.
He wished him to dress as well as others,
and had often wondered at the scantiness
of his wardrobe for although Weston
dressed with the most scrupulous regard
to neatness, his clothes were almost thread
bare, which Mr.. Dayton thought proceed
ed from niggardly disposition, and ac-
cordingly addressed him upon The sub
ject as before related. Soon after this
conversation Mr.. Dayton left home on
! business.
As he was riding through a pretty vii
lage he alightcd at the door of a cottage
and requested drink Of water The
mistress, with an case and politeness
which told that she had not always been
the humble cottager, invited him TO enter
lie complied, and a scene of poverty and
ncatncss met his gaze which he had ne
yer before witnessed. The furniture
consisting Of nothing more than what wa:
necessary, was so clean and neat that il
cast an air Of comfort all around. y ven
cradle old man sat by the window with
his staff in his hand. His clothes were
whole, but so patched that they seemed 3
counterpart Of Joseph's coat Of many col
ors.
"This is your father, I presume sale
he, addressing her.
at is, sir"
"Hle seems quite aged"
ale is in his eighty-third year anC
survived all his children but myself"
ii"NS you AWAY 4CoiuCu hSIN'
"No, sir; my husband was once veal
thy, but endorsing ruined him, and VIC
are reduced to this state. He soon after
4 died, and two Of my children followed
him."
"Havc you any children livinS?"
Gone. sir, who is my only support
Ny own health is so feeble that | canno
40 uucb and father blind and deaf
needs good deal of attention. Ny sen
will not tell me how much his salary is
but am sure he sends me all of it,
"Then he is not at home?"
"No, sir; he is clerk in NewTork.'
"lndeed Pray what is his name?"
"Weston May"
"Weston May! Is it possible. Why
he is my clerk. left him in charge o
my store only two weeks ago"