Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1869-03-11
Luke Wharton's Lesson,
\ SKETCH FoT EVERY BoDY.

S'll lll0lStll LOT money anu | hpllcNc re
would sell his best iriend.n
"Of whom do You speak, my son ?''
asked his mother, looking up from her
work and raising her spcctaclcs.
"I'm speaking of Mr.. simmons re-
piled Luke.
But what have you against him?''
the old lady resumed,
II have nothing against him; | was
only speaking about him just a. ]
thought"
But don't YOU know that we should
not always tell just what we think, my
son ? il is not safe
II believe it is always safe to tell the
truth, ne matter where it hits. y returned
Luke.
81 hen it would be proper for me to go
out and tell the things | hear you and
your wife say, and all that | see you
do, no matter what may be their char
actcru
"Ah--but that would be infringing on
the sacrcducS- Of the domestic circle.N
said the young man.
$50 il would, continued his mother,
"and this shows you that there must be
exceptions to your rule. The domestic
circle is no more sacred than is a mans
character. When YOU must speak, then
speak the truth. and fear not the conse
| know YOU are very careless, some
times, in the way you speak Of others,
and am sorry ii is so. Now answ er me
this: Would you want Mr.. Simmons to
know what Y on said of him ?N
Il shouldn't care reptile ! Luke, and
he spoke hcstatingly.
Eyes, YOU would care continued the
old lady. You know that he is a man
of much influence in this place, and that
he never wrongcd you i'll any way or
shape. Your estimation of his charac
ter il only formed from what others
have said. Now answer me truly:
Would you W sh that some third party
would whisper into his ear the scandal
you have spoken of him ~
"Well--I don't know as | should but
there's no danger"
"Ah, my son, you don't know how
much danger there may be. | am
afraid you are as free in speaking to
others as you are in speaking to us
Have YOU not spoken Mr.. Simmons
thus?n
Luke was obliged to admit that he
had but still claimed that there was no
danger and that he had a right so to
speak.
"You have no right TO speak against
your neighbour said Mrs. Wharton,
will find as you advance in the world,
that you will have difficulties enough to
contend with without making enemies
needlessly. If you would prosper and
move along through life with honor and
respect, let your first care be to see that
you speak no evil of your neighbour.
Speak i'll of no man when duty does
not absolutely compel you to do so.-
You will find it by far the safest
| cOurSc.N
Luke Wharton was young man just
married, and was clerk in retail store.
He meant to be honorable and truthful
but he had contracted that habit which
so many have foolshly contracted, of
speaking very foolishly of his neighbors.
In the present case, Mr.. Simmons, a
worthy and respected citizen, had made
Il movement for retrenchment in the
expenses of the town. Luke's employ
err had been in the habit of furnishing
certain Al ticles to the town, and under
the new system his bill was likely to
fall below the amount he had received
in former years. So he thought Mr..
Simmons had meddled too much in town
affairs, and Luke took up the strain an
riped freely upon it. He knew moth
ing of the causes which had led Mr..
Simmons course, he only knew that
that gentlcmans character was before
the public. and he went into it. But
this was not the only case. A man who
can speak recklessly of one individual
will speak in the same manner of others;
and man who can thus thOughtlessly
speak at one time, is likely so to speak
at any time. Luke Wharton had been
for some time anxious to go into bust
ness Oh his own account, and the OPP
portunity at length presented itself; or
: at all events he saw fair chance to
: make arrangements to that end. His
old employer, who had done bushes;
enough, was ready to sell out. He told
Luke if he could find partner who
wo I'D pay cash down for half of the
store and its good will, the other hall
, might remain for several years on a
, mortgage. So Luke cast about him, and
was not long in finding the man he
!. sought. Thomas LION, young man
of a neighbOring town, was ready to en-
ter into s ch a partnership, and he con.
sidered that the thOl ough knowledge oi
the bust ness, and the intimate acquain-
,, lance with the customers which Luke
would bring to him, would offset the in
terest he might have to pay for the
money he would be obliged to hire.
=, 1t was all arranged and Luke Whar-
Z ton was happy. Thomas Lyon would
raise the $1,000 necessary to be paiC
down and he would soon be in position
where he could not only enjoy the hon
or and satisfaction of doing business fol
himself, but where he knew he could
/, lay up money. And he was m ere salts
fed because another party had beer
talking of purchasing the store.
:. Il wouldn't trust him so far as colllo
! throw fat hog by the tail, up hill !" as
, serted Luke. He spoke of Mr.. Samue
7. Lovejoy, a man who lived in distant
! part of the town, and who was the indi
: vidual that had some talk of purchasing
= the store.
! .IWhnt do Won moan by that oN ask (