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

| SlluuliOu III LuC blOIC VI VII Al
drew Phelps. Mr.. Phelps was on
Of the heaviest merchants in th
city; a dealer in cloths ofall kinds
descriptions, qualities and quaint
ties, He had no par,ner, he wa
one of those exact, nervous men
who want no second say in the way
IL was near noon when Mr.. Good
win entered the merchants count
ing room, leading his boy by tn
hand.
Gilbert Goodwin was fourteen
years of age, rather small, but witt
an energy of body and mind suhi
cient to make up for it. His brow
was low and open; his eye Of
mild, yet deep, dark blue, and hii
features all made up Of truth anC
goodness. His father was a farm
er. honest and poor, who had giyeI
his son good education, and who
now wished his further education
to be of a practical kind. A frienC
had once advised him to make
merchant of the boy-it was thC
village school-master-and the ad
vice came not as hattery, but as the
result Of a careful consideration o
the boys qualities. BY the assist
ance Of other friends, this opportu
nifty had been found.
Il have brought my son, Mr.
Phelps, as we had arranged, and
am sure you will find him punctua
and faithful"
"Ah, Master Gilbert; ahem yes
| ike his looks. Hope he vii
prove all you wish
AS the merchant thus spoke in
matter of fact way, he smiled kind
ly upon the boy, and then turning
to the parent, he resumcd,-
"Have you found d boarding
place for him yet2" (.
Eyes, sir, he will board with hi
uncle"
"Ah, that is fortunate. Thii
great city is a bad place for boys
without friends" " ~
"Of course, sir" added Mr. G
"And yet l hope you will overlooh
his affairs a little"
Certainly, what I can. But yor
are aware that | shall see very lit
tie of him when he is out of the
store"
Mr.. Goodwin said "of course
and there was a silence of some
moments. The parent gazed dowr
upon the floor little while, ant
finally he said:
"There has nothing been sale
vet, Mr.. Phelps, about the pay"
"Pay! !" repeated the merchant.
Yes, sir; what pay are you will
ing to allow my son, for his ser
vices.
"Ah," said Mr.. Philips, with
bland smile. 81 see you are unac,
ouainted with our customs. We
never pay anything the first year,
"No pay!'' muttered Mr.. Good
win, somewhat surprised. "But
am to pay Gilberts board myself
and l thought of course you would
allow him something for pocke'
money"
"No, we never pay anything tho
first year. If you were going tc
send your son to an academy ol
college, you would not expect the
teachers to pay him for his study
ing"
"No, sir"
"Just so it is here, we look upor
our apprentice here as a mercan
tile scholar, and for the first veal
he can be of little real benefit to us
though all the while he is reaping
valuable knowledge to himself
Why, there are at this moment fifty
Youngsters whose wealthy parents
would be glad to get them into the
birth won have secured for YOU
boy" -.
"Then you pay nothingP' sale
the parent rather sadly.
"Not the first year. That is orl
rule. We will teach him all we can
and at the end of that time we vii
retain him if he is faithful anc
pay him something"
If that was the custom, ofcourst
Mr.. Goodwin would make no OBJ
iections, though he was much dis
appointed. But he had laborec
hard to secure the place for his SOL
and he would not give it up now
He had strained his slender means
to the utmost in doing what he hac
already taken upon himself, and he
could do no more.
"Never mind, my son." the pa
rent said, when he and his chile
were alone. ''You have clothes
enough to last you through th'
year, and you can get along with
out much more. Hele is one dol
lar. 1t is all that | have over anC
above what l must use to get home
that will keep you in spending
money for sometime. But min(
and be honest. Come home to m,
when you please; come in rags ant
filth, if it may be, but come will
your truth and honor safe and un
tarnished."
The boy wiped a tear from hi
eve as he gave the promise, ant
the father felt assured. 1t was ar
ranged that Gilbert should hav
two vacations, of week each, dur
inc the wear; one in the spring an
tb o+hor ot THANKSGIVING, an