National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1870-10-21

ther came To HIM all pale and sad and
told him he had disgraced them forever.
On the following morning he entered
the store, as usual, and his duties were
performed silently and sadly. The
clerks asked him if he was sick. but he
told them no. Towards the middle of
the forenoon Mr.. Phelps came in, and en-
tered his counting room. Gilbert watch
ed him until he WAS alone, and then he
moved towards the place. His heart
beat wildly, and his face was pale as
death, but he did not hesitate. He en-
tered the counting room, and sank into
a chair
" Gilbert, what is the matter uttered
the merchant, kindly.
The boy collected all his energies. and
IN low, painful tone, he answered, -
Il have come to tell you that ! can
remain here no longer, sir. II"
What Going to leave me utter
ed the merchant, i'll surprise, as the boy
hesitated. "No, no, Gilbert. If you
are sick, you shall have a good physician.
| can't lose you now"
Hear me, sir" resumed the boy,
somewhat emboldened by his masters
kind tone, but yet speaking in great
pam. o, | must tell you all, and | trust
III your generous soul for pardon. But
l cannot stay here. Listen, sir, and
blame me if you will, but believe me not
yet lost. My father is poor, too poor to
keep me here. | have learned the wavs
Of the city, and | have longed for some
of those innocent, healthy amusements
which | have seen my companions enjoy
ing. For long weeks together | have
been without penny III my pocket, and
at such times | have felt much shame in
view of my extreme poverty Ny father
has given me two dollars-one when he
left me here, and one when he came to
visit me. But what was that Nearly
all of 1t went for small articles which |
absolutely needed. Lectures, concerts,
and various other places of healthy en-
tertalnment Were visited by my compa-
mons, but ! could not 90. At length the
fatal knowledge WAS mine that others of
my station had money for such things
money which they took from their EN-
ployers without leave. pondered upon
It long and deeply; and III pondering
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 resumed
You know the worst now. | took it.
and part of it | used last night but O.
l want no more hours of agony such as
have passed since that time Here is a
dollar and half, sir Take it, and when
get home | will send You the rest. O.
let me go. for ! cannot stay where temp
4 -, h., /
of my fathers farm | shall not want the
money | cannot have. You may tell me
that | have had experience but, alas
that experience only tells me that while
L remain here the tempter must be with
me. | would not long for what cannot
possess. While | have wants and de
sires, the wish must be present to crafty
them. Let me go, sir but o, tell not
my shame
The boy stopped, and bowed his head
: The merchant gazed upon him in 81
, lence, and during that time a variety of
shades passed over his countenance.
= Gilbert, he said, at length, in a low,
kind tone, You must not leave me.
= For few moments will forget the diff
/ ference III our stations, and speak as
} plainly us you have spoken. Ihave been
} III the wrong, | freely confess, | should
have known that temptation was thrown
2 IN your way-a temptation which should
not he east III the way of any person,
= much less III the way of an inexperienced
| youth. Since You have been SO noblv
frank, ! will be equally So Forgive me
+ for the situation in which placed you,
and the past shall be forgotten. Until
, : l /.
of this subject | never before realized
- how direct was the temptation thus
| placed before the apprentices of ouI
houses. But see it all now. know
! that to the boy who has no money, the
1 presence of both money and costly
amusement must be too fearful temp
, tation for ordinary youths. But you
Il shall not leave me. From this moment
, | shall trust You implicitly, and | shall
y love you for your noble disposition and
y fine sense of honor, | shall not fear tc
d trust you henceforth, for you shall have
. pecuniary recompense somewhat com
, mensurate with the labor you perform
e have often blessed the hour that brought
IA you to my store, for have seen il yor
h Il valuable assistant and If | have ayel
e held lingering doubt of your strict in
t. tegrity, | shall hold it no more, for it re
o quires more strength of moral purpos,
e to acknowledge, unasked, Il crime than
it does to refrain from committing one
II Never again will | accept the labor o
It any person without paying him for it
and then if he is dishonest no blame cal
l. attach to me. You will not leave me
Gilbert ?'
= The boy gazed up into his employer
face, but for while tears and sob
1t choked his uttcrance Mr. Phelps Dire,
him to his side, and laying his hand up
d on the youths head, he resumed,-
|. If ] blame you for this momentar
Ie departure from strict honesty, the love
n bear you for your noble confession vast
W ly more than wipes it all away. Hence
v forth you shall have enough for you
1t wants, and when the year is up we wi
e make an arrangement which can bu
n please you. What say you--will yo
l. sSny p
Ii--if-I only knew that you wou
1t never abhor me for this
Sc Stop, Gilbert | have spoken to yo
N the truth, and you need have no fear.
q will pay you three dollars week fo
ii your own instruction and amusement
le and when you want clothes or other mat
1T tors of like necessity if you will spca
II to me you shall have them. All of th
II past is forgotten, save your many virtue,
L. and henccforh | know you only fc
<. what you shall prove"
d Gilbert tried III vain to tell his graf
8 tudc, but the merchant saw it all nm
RI with tears in his own eyes he blessed tn
Is boy, and then bade him go about hi
wnplf