The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-05-16
THE BIRTHDAY GIFT.

Horace Osborne was q clerk on a
moderate salary in the house of Mere
9th & Co. He went to his business
moodily one morning, his wife having
quarrelled with him because he would
not give her a new piano for, a birthday
gift. He had only a hundred dollars,
and quarters rent would soon be due
A piano was advertised in his morning
paper for sale at q great sacrifice THAT
DAT, but not later, and Horace, whose
salary was to be raised the next month,
was wishing he could borrow the mon-
ey to buy the instrument with that day.
Osborne" said old Mr.. Meredith,
coming suddenly, into the room, where
his clerk sat alone, "do you know Par
kers Jones ?" 7si b M
| ,"Yes, sir.'s'r-1 ~ .:1 ts~,rrs
swell, look here--1 discharged him
rather suddenly, and they say his family
is really in suffering condition. Take
this three hundred dollars, and use it TO
the best advantage in paving his out
standing debts, and hand over to his
wife what is left, tor her own personal
use. L trust it to you, because you
know him, and living in the same neigh
borhood, can use it better than any one
else. He's mean scamp, but his wife
was Mrs. Meredith's dearest friend once,
and should not like HER to suffer. You
underestimate ~tllsg -3H = 10.
ayes, sir" said Osborne; 81 under
stand, s,dey,- @ 49,.
@ He sat at his desk, thinking moodily,
after Mr.. Meredith had disappeared
once more into his private room. So
the world ran money was poured, az. it
were, into the lap Of thriftless. unprin-
cipled scoundrel, as he knew his former
fellow clerk, Parker Jones, to be, while
he was cramped, tied down to misera-
BILE pittance Of so much per month, and
his wife sighed vainly for the luxuries
TO which she had been accustomed. Min
ma might have her longed-for piano, if
this money were his, instead Of
Osborne checked himself abruptly. IF
it were his land was it not his, for the
time being, to all intents and purposes ?
whispered the tempter. The piano was
to be bought at the reduced price to, day
only; his salary was to be raised next
month. What difference, after all, could
it make, if Parker Jones' debts were
paid to-day, or fortnight hence2 He
could easily make matters all right, and
no one be any the wiser, if he only had
little time. And Minna-Minna would
be so pleased! -. 49, ..,
"Oh, Horace, is it really for me ?"
Mrs. Esborne's cheeks glowed, and
her eyes sparkled brilliantly ,as she stood
in the economically furnished little par
lor looking at the handsome rosewood
piano, which seemed to give an air3. of
grace and refinement to the whole.room,
with its polished mouldings and glitter.
ing ivory keys. @ n5as
Yes, it is really for you,a Minna, 1.-THE
birthday gift, you know
"And you really meant to give it to
|, me all the time you were looking and
talking SO solemn about: economy! Oh,
Horace, what splendid actor you would
have NADER Fdi e
Mr. Osborne WINGED little.
"Then you like it, Minna?'
"LIKE it? / am perfectly delighted -
And she sat down and ratified out a
merry cascade of music from the keys
"Was it very expensive, Horace ?"
she asked, suddenly turning round to
where her husband sat looking into the
fire, with his forehead supported gloom
lily on his hand. f3at ss $50
81 am not bound to answer any ques-
tionsp he answered with forced smile
Aud she resumed her music, while he
sat meditating.
Yes,.it HAD cost him dear; self-re-
spect, truth, honesty, his own dearly
treasured homer. After all, was the
handsome toy of rosewood and ivory
worth the price he had paid9I
sit will all come right he told him,
self bitterly; .'but in the meantime, it
isn't particularly pleasant for a man to
dispise himself" 's'lV ~ e16
He had just entered the counting
house, next morning, when clerk came
to him. ,sr-r,. s.-,.,z.,... f,-raaa.s
"Mr. Osborne, Mr.. Meredith wished
me to say to you the first thing when
you came iE this morning, that he has
concluded not to use that three hundred
dollars as he intended at first. He would
like you to refund it to him at, once, un.
til he can see Mrs. Parker Jones for
himself
"Yes-all right" said Horace Es-
borne, but he felt his cheeks turning of
dull, ashen pallor, as he sat down and
mechanically began turning over the
leaves of his ledger Had he been stun
ned by some sudden unexpected blow,
he could hardly have felt more bewilder-
ed and dizzy. A moment or two he
should stife for want of air, he took up
his hat and rushed out into the bracing
winter atmosphere. -.
What should lie do?
There remained but one alternative
that open confession WHICH is said to be
"good for the sour'-and going into a
little coffee house near by, he sat down
and wrote brief letter to Mr.. Mere
dith-a letter acknowledging all, and
throwing himself upon the mercy of his
employer.
"You are to wait for an answer" he
said hoarsely, to the messenger whom
be engaged. 5d q r>
He did not have to wait long. Mr..
Meredith's reply was short and cold.
He deeply regretted his new ins sight
into the character Of one whom he had
up to this time SO implicitly trusted. He
would, as there seemed no other choice,
await Mr.. Esborne's convenience as to
the repayment of the embezz.ed funds"
how Horace bit his lirs as he read the
word at once so obnoxious and so truth
fnl !-"and in the mean time begged Mr..
Osborne to consider himself discharged
from the service of Meredith l. Co."