Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-11-11
4" He Trusted Me-.

In a window IN a street OF a great city,
there was a placard that read, Is Boy Wan
ted, and great many boys had been in to
see about it but it was early morning and
the merchant who had caused it to be written
had not come into town. So the boys waited,
all hoping to get the situation, and each one
that the good fortune would be
his.
Apart from the rest was boy whose face
was sad and thoughtful 1t was good face,
clear and open, yet that boy had just served a
term in the city prison. He had stolen a
loaf Of bread from baker who employed
him occasionally to run on errands--a hard,
grasping, avarieious man, who had repeatedly
charged him with thefs when he was inno-
cent and who had no mercy on him when he
was guilty
His motber-his poor, toiing, patient
mother-the only friend he had ever known,
had died while he was in Jail; and now that
he was free again, with the disgrace ehnging
to him, he felt ike an outcast whom every
body Stunned
While the boys were waiting the bells
sounded an alarm of fire, and they all seam
pered off after the engine--all but the boy
from the jail
Presently gentleman drove up in car
riage, and stopped before the shop-door. His
horse was restiye, and, as he was getting out,
he would have fallen, but the boy started for
ward and caught the animal by the head,
holding him firmly in one position.
THANK you, my boy said the gentleman.
" That's for your trouble" and he offered him
a sixpence, which the boy refused.
" 1t wasn't no trouble he said, and was
turning away.
Stop" said the gentleman; have you
been in there ?" pointing to the placard ii
the window
No, sir; the gentleman as wants a boy
hasn't come down.
"Well, | am the gentleman. Suppose you
come in with me | would like to talk t'
you. Do you want a place to make yourself
generally useful2"
Yes, SIR" said the boy, but "--ant
then his courage failed He could not say
that he had been in Jail.
"Come into the office, said the merchant
and he passed through the long, busy row o
clerks, into the small apartment where sever
al men were writing. They looked up mo
ment bowed to their employer, and resuminl
their writing, were deaf to all other sight
and sounds.
Sit down here" said the merchant kindly
" and tell me your name and age
"John Dawson, sir, and I'm fourteen"
81" Very good Now, John, where did yol
live last ?"
There was a struggle in Johns breast, bu
at last he answered, as calmly as he could
In jail"
The merchant started as if pistol ha
exploded before him. For moment he wa
TOO surprised to speak. This fair, fran
looking boy did not look like a thief or rogue
There was no low forehead no round, croppe
head, no tear in the blue oyes--yet he was
jAil-boy.
oWhat were you convicted Off" he ash
ed.
John Dawson told him the whole sorrowit
story of his sick mother, and his long strug
giles with want, and temptation, and sin, an
: how at last he stole the loaf Of bread, whe
they were too poor to buy food and fuel
Oh, sir" he went on, that baker wi
such hard man. He never trusted me--h
accused me of stealing when never touche
pin and | believe he was glad when | di
fail; but if you will only trust me, wi
! never deceive you, sir, nor lay my hands
anything that isn't mine"
Mr.. Blake the merchant, thought for fe
/ minutes. Here was chance to save sol
! from ruin he might not succeed but It III
boy had a trial, and turned out well, ho
great a work would have been done u
thought of his own little son at home, SUI
rounded by love and virtue, and that decide
him.
al will trust you" he said firmly. Yo
} will have plenty of chances to steal, even
YOU are watched, but shall not watch yor
: Ii you deceive me you ruin your own sol
and offend God You say your mother wa
) Ciod.fearing woman; for her sake do righ
and YOU will find yrtuous life brings \
: own reward. Dare to do right, dare to
: firm in the cause of virtue, and your ow
5 conscience will approve, and your Father
I heaven will smile upon you. You can begi
7 your work at once by taking this package
/ The Parcels office, and let me see how smaI
: you can be-"
, "IIe trusted me, he said to himself. I"
shall pray every night to be kept out
temptation, for II miss this time, I'll neve
: come out right again.
/ For two years John Dawson faithful
served Mr.. Blake, and never once did he d.
viate from the straight path of duty. The
he went to better situation, and in due tim
set up in business for himself aud prospere