Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1870-11-10

generous impulses in his soul. Bu
J alas how can a man or woman bC
over generous with an empty pock
etalways.
From this time, James Bake
was Gilbcrts firm friend, as the
world goes. The latter told all bis
secrets to Jim, and in return hC
heard all of his friends.
"Say, Gil, how is it you never
have any money! Baker asked, as
they were together one evening in
front Of the store after locking up
"Why," returned Gilbert, with
some hesitation, "to tell the plain
truth, my father is too poor He
has done enough for me now
more than he can well afford. He
has never asked me to work on his
farm, but lie has sent me to school
and now he is paying my board
while | am learning to be a mer-
chant. But my father is good if he
is poor"
"Of course he is," replied Baker
warmly. That's where you find
your good warm hearts, among the
poor. But don't you make the
store pay you for taking care of
IitW
mo, Mr.. Phelps pays nothing
for the first year"
"Why, are you in earnest, Gil
Haven't you got any money for
Our hard work.
mo, not penny. Two dollars
is all the money l have had since l
have been here, and that my father
gave me-"
"Well, you are a moral improba-
bility, a regular anomsly. Why, !
make the store pay me something.
Mind you, l do not call it stealing,
for it isn't. My master receives
the benefit of all my work, and l
am entitled to something in return.
He is rich while / am poor. My
work turns money into his till, and
shall dig and delye and lug my
life away for nothing? No. When
1 want a little money, [ take it.
Did I take enough to squander and
gamble away, as some do, | should
call it stealing but don't. Yet |
must have something. How do
you suppose our masters think we
live without money? They don't
think so; if they do, they must be
natural born fools. That's all I've
got to say about it"
"But how do you do it?' asked
Gilbert, TREMENDOUSLY.
"How? Why, sometimes l help
myself to q few handkerchiefs,
which l sell and sometimes ] take
gentle peep at the money draw
err"
When Gilbert went to his bed
that night, there was a demon with
him. The tempter had come. For
a long time there had been a shad-
owy, misty form lowering over
him. But not until now had it TAX
en- palpable shape. He allowed
himself to reason on this subject,
but notyet was his mind up. On
the following morning he met Ba-
ker again, and he learned that all
the apprentices on the street did the
same thing.
A week passed by, and during
that time Gilbert gave the tcmpter
place in his bosom. He pond
cred upon the amount of physical
labor he performed. He saw all
the others with money, and he Won
dered if any one could get along
without that circulating commodi-
ty. Finally the evil hour came.
The constant companionship Of Ba-
ker had had its influence, and the
shaft had struck its mark. A bright
eyed, lovely girl had asked Gilbert
| to take her to an evenings enter
tainment. The boy loved that girl
loved her with the whole ardor
OF his young soul-and he could
mot refuse her. At noon he was
left alone in the store. Several
people came in, mostly tailors, and
bought goods, paying cash. Gil
bert did not stop to consider, the
spell was upon him, and he kept
back a two dollar bill That after
noon he suffered much. He dared
not look tie CLERKS in the face
though he was sure that some of
them did the same thing. In the
evening he accompanied his fair
companion to the entertainment,
and though he tried to be happy,
vet he could not.
That night the boy slept, and as
he slept, he dreamed that his father
and mother came to him all pale
and sad, and told him that he had
disgraced them forever.
80, my boy, my own loved boy,
thou hast lost thy truth and honor
foreverp' So groaned the father.
The sleeper started up, and for a
moment he felt relieved, when he
found that he only dreamed; but
quickly came that truth upon him
the terrible certainty of his theft,
and he bowed in the agony of a
contrite and broken heart. He
started up and paced the floor. 1t
was one long hour before he stop
ned. and then he had resolved upon
what course he would pursue. He
remembered the oft repeated words
of his father; "a sin coeeaIed is a
second sin committed" 1t was
harp for him to make up his mind
~