Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1870-11-10
TERMS: 50 90 PER YEAR
NO. 81.

MS counting room. GllDcft watch
ed him until he was alone, and
then he moved toward the place
His heart beat wildly, and his face
was pale as death, but he did moi
hesitate. He entered the counting
room, and he sank into a chair.
"Gilbert, What is the matter" ut
tered the merchant, kindly.
The boy collected all his ener
gies, and in low, painful tone.
he answered.
II have come to tell You that ]
can remain here no longer, sir,
! IL"
"What? Going to leave me ut
tered the merchant, in surprise, as
the boy hesitated mo, no, Gil
bert. if you are sick, you shall
have good physician l cant
loose you now,"
"Hear me sir" resumed the boy,
somewhat emboldened by his mas
ter's kind tone, but yet speaking in
great pain. O, l must tell : you aH
and | trust in your generous soul
for pardon. But cannot stay here
Listen, sir, and blame me if you will.
but believe me not yet lost. Ny
father is poor, too poor to keey me
here. / have learned the ways OF
the city, and have longed for some
of those innocent, healthy amuse-
ments which | have seen my com
panions enjoying. For long weeks
together I have been without a pen
ny in my pocket, and at such times
| have felt much shame in view OF
my extreme poverty. My father
has given me tNo dollars-Onc
wheT. he left me here, and one when
he came to visit me. But what was
that Nearly all of it went for small
articles which absolutely needed
Lectures, concerts, and various
other places of healthy entertain
ment were visited by my compan-
ions, but could not go. At length
the fatal knowledge was mine that
Others OF my station had money for
sucli things; money which they
took from their employers without
leave. | pondered upon it long and
deeply; and in pondering l was
lost. Yesterday took-two-dol-
lars"
Here the poor boy burst into
tears, but the merchant said not
word. In a few moments Gilbert
rcsumed--
"You know the worst now. l
took it, and a part of it | used last
night; but o, l wantno more hours
of agony such as | have passed
since that time. Here is a dollar
and a half, sir. Take it, and when
l get home | will send you the rest.
o, let me go, for cannot stay
where temptation haunts me.
Away in the solitude of my fathers
farm | shall not want the money |
cannot have. You may tell me that
l have had experience; but, alas
that experience only tells me that
while l remain here the tempter
must he with me. ouldnot long
for what cannot possess. While
l have wants and desires, the wish
must be present to crafty them
Let me go, sir; but o, tell me not
my shamem
The boy stopped, and bowed his
head. The merchant gazed upon
him in silence, and duriug that time
a variety of shades passed over his
countenance.
Colbert" he said, at length, in
low, kind tone "You must not
leave me. For a few moments !
will forget the difference in our
stations, and speak as plainly as
you have spoken. l have been in
the wrong, l freely confess. l
should have known that tempta
ton was thrown in your way-a
/ temptation which should not be cast
in the way of any person, much less
! in the way of an inexperienced
youth. Since you have been so no
! Ibly frank, l will be equally so. For
give me for the situation in which
l placed you, and the past shall be
forgotten. Until this moment |
never thought seriously of this sub
Iject; never before realized how
direct was the temptation thus plac.
ed before the apprentices of our
houses. But l see it all now. l
know that to the boy who has no
money; the presence ofboth money
and costly amusemcnts must be too
fearful a temptation for ordinary
youths. But you shall not leave
me. From this moment | shall
trust you implicitly, and l shall
love you for your noble disposition
and fine sense of honor. / shall
not fear to trust you henceforth,
for you shall have pecuniary recon-
pense somewhat commensurate with
the labor you perform. have Of
ten blessed the hour that brought
you to my store, for ! have seen in
you a valuable assistant; and if l
have ever held lingering doubt of
your strict integrity, | shall hold it
no more, for it requites more
strength of moral purpose to ac-
knowledge, unmasked' a crime,
than it does to refain from commit
ting one. Never again will ac-
cept the labor of any person with
out paying him for it, and then II
he is dishonest no blaine can attach
to me. You will not leave me, Gil
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