The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1868-01-10

what look ahead for bow twelv
/. years old! And what will peopl
say when tell them that 10 Wilto
: stole twenty dollars from my desk
/ haven't said word about it YET, no
even to my wife; but of course th
story must come out p
When 10 took his seat as the mer
chant directed at the beginning, b
was a good sized boy, and filled th
old arm chair quite respectfully; bu
during the spirited lecture he appar
emily grew smaller and smaller, unit
as the merchant closed his las
sentence he was not bigger than th,
store cat.
Now said 10 essaying to speak
Merch.-'Stop! stop! you remem
Der 1 told you that when you spok,
you should speak the truth. Are yo,
going to speak the truth, or tell lies
10 Witty dare you tell me lie now
Ii you can speak the truth you ma,
speak-don't, don't lie to me!
Jo.--1 want to tell the truth. ]
don't want TO tell lie.'
Ae-eh. h.--'wvu, tticu, scII TIE IruJn
Jo.-1 did steal the money, as you
Isay, and, and
| Merch.--'I know you stole the
money. You told the truth, and, you
Ispent some of il on the sleigh ride,
some of it at the saddler's for skate
straps, didn't you p
Jo.-'Yes, sil, did,
Merch.-'And what did you do with
the rest of it?'
Jo.-'I have got sixteen dollars OF
it now. It's at home, hid away
! Merch.--'Jo tell me the truth, now.
does your father or mother know
anything of your having this money!
| Jo.-'No, SIR
Merch.-'Who does know about
lit2'
| Jo.-'Nobody but YOU
Merch.-'Jo, what were you going
to do with the money!
Jo.-1 wanted to GO to school this
winter. My clothes are poor and ia
ther don't have work all the time,
and can't take care of all of us and
was going to buy some cloth my
self, and have me some clothes made,
and get me pair of boots and some
hooks. If my father is poor, am
Just as good the other boys, but they
blackguard me and call me names
Merch.-sYou say you have got
sixteen dollars of the money? Will
you bring it to me?'
Jo.--sYes. SIR . ..,--. ..
10 left the store promising to be
back in ten minutes. -
The merchant knew right well the
condition of JOS family. 1t was
large and poor, spite of the industry
of the father, who was as honest as
he was frugal, and in every way re-
spectacle. His mother was woman
of more than ordinary brightness, and
her love for her lord was manifest in
the fact that she had borne him a
housefull of children, of whom 10 was
the oldest. 10 had plainly inherited
largely OF her mental and physical
characteristics.
In due time 10 returned, bringing
with him the money, which he hand
ed over, and was apparently right
glad to get it out of his hands.
The merchant counted the bills,
and as he finished doing so said
so, here are sixteen dollars. You
stole twenty. Four dollars are yet
coming to me. Can you pay the four
dollars p
Jo.-sNo, sir, / can't
Merch.-'Well, then, what is to be
Idone2 1 don't like to lose four dol
lars. 1 can't afford it. Perhaps
your father will pay me, if tell him
Iabout it
Jo.-'Oh, don't tell him, don't tell
lhim it will kill my mother
And the boy burst into food of
tears and threw his arms around the
merchant.
| Merch.-sWell, do you think you
will ever be able to pay me p
| Jo.-'I will try
| Merch. well, then, 1 will charge
the four dollars on my day-book, as
SO much money lent to you, and you
must pay me as soon as you can, and
every cent of it. Come with me to
the desk. and see me make the entry
! 10 followed, and the merchant tax
ling his account book, wrote as fol-
llows. Jo looked on -
Dec. 16, 1856
Joseph Wilton,
TO
Money lent 32s. = S4,00.'
sNow, Jo,' said the merchant, take
that seat again r
sJo' obeyed.
Merch.-'Did you ever steal money
before
! Jo.-I never did. / never stole
anything before, 'cept apples some
times
Merch.-sDid you tell me the truth
when you said you meant to buy
clothes with the money 2'
Jo.-sYes, sir, Idid'
! Merch. We'll, 10, you need
! clothes. What you said about be-
ing as good as the other boys of the
village is true, or was true, before
you stole that twenty dollars. Your
father is q worthy man, and none the