The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1868-04-21
ny ASsos Il. cLrroRp.

Mr.. John Somers was n merchant
doing business In a thriving countr,
village He had two clerks 10 his en-
p,oy, but with some difference in minor
points Of character Peter White wa,
.wenty-one years Of age. the child of &
now widowed mother. aud in his choice
Of profession he had only been gov
orned by the desire to yield to hismoth
81 and self the sarest means Of honest
support
Walter Sturgis was OF the same age
and equally honest, but be paid more
attention 10 the outward appearance oi
things, than did his companion, Foi
instance, ii CALLED him TO put on his
frock and oyeralls, aud help pack up
pork, potatoes and SO on while Peter
cared not what be did, so long as it was
honest
One day Mr. Somers called the two
Young meu into the counting room and
closed the door after them. His coun-
,snance looked troubled, and it was
some moments before he spoke.
Boys, be said at length Il have been
dong very foolish thing. / have
lent Aiy name to those | thought my
friends, aud they have ruined ne,
ave them accommodation notes, and
.hey promised me solemnly that those
otes should not pass their hands save
0 such parties as might accept OF
curse | took their notes in exchange
lhey have now failed and cleared out
nd have left my paper IN the market
o the amount OF seven or eight thous-
nd dollars. | may rise again, but l
lust give up my business Everything
the store is attached, aud | am left
tterly poNerless to do business now.
have looked over your accounts, and
hud that / owe YOU about a hundred
,iollars each. Now / have just a hun
Jred dollars in money, aud the small
peice Of land on the side of the hill Just
Jack Of the town house. There are
lour acres Of the land, and / have been
offered a huEdred dollars for il by those
who have lands adjoining. / feared
the blow which has come upon nae, and
| conveyed this land to my brother !;
SO now be can convey it to whom he
Ikea Now wish you would make
your choice, If | could pay you both
money / would, but as / cannot one of
you must take this land What say
you? You, Walter You have been with
me longest, and you shall say first.
Walter Sturgis hesitated few mo-
ments, and then said:
i am snre / don't want the land un-
less | could sell IT right of
Ah, bat that won't do, returned Mr..
Somers. II you take the land you
must keep it. Were you to sell it, my
creditors would say at once that YOU
did it for me, and that poeketed the
money.
Then / am willing TO divide the hun
dred dollars With Peter, for If had the
land should DO nothing with it.
lou need not divide the money. for
] can easily raise the hundred dollars
on the land My brother will do that
But ! imagined You would prefer the
land, for ! knew the soil was good,
though qnits rocky However what
say you, Peter
Why, | sill take the land. returned
Peter, or viii divide equally with Wal
ter each Of us take half the money
and half the land
But what should I want with land e
said Walter / could not work II. 4
should hardly like 10 descend from a
to digging and del,ing ia ulue
Iroek anaLcowhlde boots
Then b is easily settled. rcjoined
Peter, FOR I should prefer the land.
Walter was pleased with this, and
before night Ae bad the hundred dollar
5ill ia his pocket. and Peter bad the
sarrentoe deed Of the four acres ofland
N the hillside. Both Of the Young men
oelenged 10 the village and had always
sed there II was only five miles from
be city, and ~ course inans city fash
eus were prevalent there Il was un-
ler tho inhuenee II this fashion that
y alter Sinrgls refused toAaee anything
% ds w.t. tAe laud.
Times Nere dull. and business slack. 4
.Fel though i aas early spring Pc
81 Whites ars, object, after having
,ot ile deed q this land. was 10 bnnt
- soms kind = sork II he bad been
fneehAnlc he g4lglt have found some
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