Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1869-01-30
LUKE wHARToN's LESSON.
A SKETCH ron EVERYBODY.

"What do you mean p asked Rossana
his wife.
81 mean just what I say. lie would
sell himself for money; /; and ] bolicve he
would soil his best friend, too.'
"Ofwhom do you speak my son % ask
cd his mother, looking up from her work,
and raising her spectacles.
81 am speaking of Mr.. Simmons" re-
piled Luke.
"But whathave you against him ?'' tho
old lady resumed.
"Pve got nothing against him. I was
only speaking of him just AS thought
"Bui do you not know that we should
not always tell just what we think, my
son? 1t is not safe"
81 believe it is always safe TO tell the
truth, no matter where it hits" returned
Luke.
"Then it would be proper for me to go
out and tell all the things ! hear you
and your wife say, and all that see on
do, no matter what may be their thirac-
terw
"Ah-but that would be infringing up
on the sacredness of the domestic circle"
said the young man.
$50 il would" continued his neither;
"and thus shows you that there must be
exceptions to your rule. The domestic
circle is no more sacred than is q mans
character. When you must speak, then
speak the truth, and fear not the conse-
quenco; but be careful when you speak
and how you speak. know you are
very careless, at times, III your manner
Of speaking of others, aud l am sorry it
is SO. Now answer me this WOuld you
want MIR. Simmons TO know what you
said about him"
81 shouldn't care" replied Luke; and
he spoke hesitatingly.
eyes you would care" continued the
old lady. "You know that he is man
of much influence in this place, and that
lie has never wronged you in any way or
shape. And your estimation of his cha
racter IL only formed from what others
have said. Now answer me truly and
honestly: Would you wish that some
third party should 60 and whisper into
bis ear the scandal you have spoken Of
him ?"
"Well-I don't know as | should; but
there is no danger"
"Ah, my son you don't know how much
danger there may be- l am afraid you
are as free in speaking to others as you
arc in speaking to- us. Have you not
spoken of Mr.. Siinonds thus ?''
Luke was obliged to admit that he
had but still claimed that there was no
danger, aud that he had right SO to
speak.
"You have no right to speak against
your neighbour" said Mrs. Wharton,
"And more than this, it is not safe. You
will find as you advance in the world,
that you will have difficulties enough to
contend with, without making enemies
nsedlessly. If you would prosper and
move along through life with honor and
respect, let one of your first cares be 10
see that you speak no evil of your neigh
Dor. Speak i'll of no man when duty
does not absolutely call upon you to do
SO. You will find it 10y far the safest
course"
Luke Wharton was a young man just
married, and was clork in a retail tore.
He meant TO be honorable aud truthful
but he had contracted that habit which
80 many have foolishly contracted, OF
speaking very tcolishly and thoughtless-
y of his neighbors. In the present case
Mr.. Simonds, worthy and respected
citizen, had made movement for re-
trenchment in the expenses of the town.
Luke's employer had been in the habit
Diminishing certain articles to the town,
aud under the new system his bill was
likely to fall short of the amount he had
received in former years. So he thought
Mr.. Simonds had meddled too much in
town affairs, and Luke took up the strain
and piped freely upon it. lie knew moth
ing of the causes which had led to Dir.
SiInonds' course, he only knew that that
gentlenan's character was before the
public and he went into it. But this was
not the only ease. a man who can speak
recklessly of one individual will speak in
the same manner of others, and man
who can thoughtlessly speak at one time
is likely to speak at any time.
Luke Horton had been tor some time
anxious to 60 into some business OIL hi:
own account, and the opportunity al
length presented itself; or, at least he
saw good chance to make arrangement
to that end. His old employer who had
done business enough, was willing to
sell out. He told Luke If he could find
a partner who would pay cash down fol
half of the store, and its good will, the
other half might remain for several
years on mortgage. So Luke cast
about him, and was not long in finding
the man ho sought. Thomas Lyon, I:
young man of a neighboring town, wal
ready to enter into such q partnership
aud no considered that the thorougl
knowledge of the business, and the init
mate acquaintance with the customer
which Luke would bring to him, woul'
offset the interest he might have to pa!
| for the money he would be obliged tt
hire.
| It was all arranged, and Luke Whar
ton was happy. Thomas Lyon would
raise the four thousand dollars necessary
to be paid down, and ho would soon b'
in position whero he could not only en-
icy the honor and satisfaction of doing
business for himself, but where he knsw
be could lay up money. And he wal
the more satisfied because another party