Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1870-07-07
At length they reached the hotel and


Atlength they reached the hotel and
entered.
Breakfast for this young man"
said Mr.. Peterson.
The landlord hesitated.
"Do you know him, sir?" he said.
''it is Mr.. Erskine, my clerk. We
take the IL o'clock train for New
York, and therefore 1 will trouble you
to De expeditions. Let the breakfast
be as good as you can get"
"Yes, SIR said the landlord.
Ten minutes later, seeing Mr.. Peter
son alone. he came up to him softly.
"Did l understand that this young
man was going with you as clerk?"
"Yes."
excuse my asking. when did you
engage him?"
This morning"
81 beg pardon, sir, but you are not
aware that he is Just out of the State
prison."
"What was he sent there for?" ask
ed the merchant quietly.
"You see, sir, he was in the employ
of Miller & Jones, dry goods dealers.
He did pretty we'll at first, but he e.
nally got wild and extravagant, and at
last stole 500 from them. 1t was
found out, and after trial he was sem
fenced to year in prison. He came
back few days ago, and has been try
ing to get employment as hestler
with me, but would have nothing to
do with him, and told him So"
"Then you wouldn't advise me to
take him into my employment"
"Certainly not, sir
"Why not?"
"Why not!" exclaimed the landlord
in amazement. "Did l not tell you
he robbed his employers, and has been
in prison?"
"Then it seems be has been punish
ed for his faults. Do you want him to
starve?'
"Why, no."
"But if he can't get anything else to
do, he must starve or 60 back to steal
ing. When he applied to you for en-
ployment, did you ask him if he had re
pented of his fault?'
':No, told him to clear out"
"Then if he had been driven to
crime again, it would have been the
fault of you, and such as you. have
engaged him as my clerk, knowing his
past. He confessed all to me. | will
thank you to treat him with as much
attention as myself"
The hint was not lost upon the land
lord, in whose eyes Ralph Erskine, as
the employe of New York merchant,
was person of more Importance than
when he came to beg the position of
hostler.
Five years rolled away. Ralph Frs.
kline rose by degrees, through his busi-
ness capacity, to be head clerk, and f.
nally junior partner in the great firm
of which Mr.. Peterson was the head.
Then for the first time he made pill
grimage to the town where his mother
lived. He was elegantly dressed, and
bore with him credentials from his
firm. With a quiet step he entered
the store where he had been clerk.
"Is Mr.. Miller in?" he inquired.
Mr.. Miller came forward.
al am Mr.. Erskine, of the firm of
Peterson Il Erskine, New York.
"a large firm, sir; | am honored in
meeting with you," said Miller.
"This is not our first acquaintance,
Mr.. Miller"
"Indeed" said the trader.
"Did you not once have young
man in your employ named Erskine?"
eyes; but he turned out badly"
care you sure of that?"
"Why, was he related to you?"
81 am the man."
"You him!''
al am the man you sent TO prison.
Now l am a partner in New York
firm to which you are largely indebted;
are you ready to make payment"
"No," faltered Mr.. Miller, "times
have BEEN"
"Be not apprehensive l will be
more merciful than you were. l will
grant you an extension of six months" D"
Ralph Erskine stopped one night at
the Metropolitan Hotel, where he was
received very differently from formerly.