Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1871-11-17

began rummaging his pockets, ant!
after great deal of trouble, brought
out a roll of paper, which he careful
ly opened. After satisfying himself
that large copper coin was safe, he
carefully put it back again, saying to
himself, in low voice: Mother, !
will remember your last words-'a
penny saved, is twopence earned. -
1t shall go hard with me before part
with you, old friend"
Pleased with this remark, | gently
touched the lad on the shoulder. He
started, and was about to move away,
when said:
"My good lad, you seem tired, aud
also stranger in this city"
Yes, SIR" he answered, putting
his hand to his hat. He was again
about to move away.
"You need not hurry away. my
boy" / observed. Indeed. if you
are stranger, and willing to work, l
can perhaps help you to find what
you require"
The boy stood mute with astonish.
ment, and, coloring to such an extent
as to show all the freckles of a sum
burnt face, stammered out;
"Yes, sir!"
II wish to know" / added, with
all the kindness of manner | could
assume, whether you are anxious to
find work, for | am in want of a
youth to assist my coachman."
The poor lad twisted and twirled
his bundle about, and after having
duly placed his hands to his head
managed to utter an awkward kind
of answer that he would be very
thankful. ....,s. j.
mentioned not word about what
! had heard in regard to the penny,
hut inviting him into the house, 1
sent for the coachman, to whose care
entrusted the new conner.
Nearly month had elapsed after
this meeting, and no conversation
had occurred, when ! resolved to
make inquiries of the coachman re-
garding the conduct of the lad.
IA better boy never came into the
house, sir, and as for wasting any
thing. bless me! / know not where
lie has been brought up, but really
think he'd consider IL sin if he did
not give the crumbs of bread to tho
poor birds every morning"
II am glad to hear so good an ac-
count" | replied.
"And as for his good nature, sir,
there is not servant among us that
docs not speak well of Joseph. He
reads to us while we sup, and he
writes all our letters for us. Oh, sir,
he has got more learning than all of
US put together and what's more,
he doesn't mind work, and never
talks about our secrets after he writes
our letters"
Determined to see Joseph myself, /
requested the coachman to send him
to the parlor.
II understand, Joseph, that you
can read and write"
"Yes, sir; thanks to my poor, dear
MOTHER
"You have lately lost your mother,
then ?"
"A month that very day you were
kind enough 20 take me into your
house, an unprotected orphan I" aA-
swered Joseph. III n
| "WhereId did you go to school?"
"Sir, my mother had been widow
ever since i can remember. She was
daughter of the village schoolmas.
ter. and, haying to maintain me and
herself by her needle, she took the
opportunity of her leisure moments
to teach me to read and write, and to
cast up accounts"
"And she gave you that penny
which was in that paper that / saw
you unroll so carefully at the door ?"
Joseph stood amazed, but at length
replied with emotion, and a tear
started from his eye:
"Yes, sir; 1t was the very last pen
ny she gave me-"
swell, Joseph, so well satisfied am
| with your conduct that not only 90
payayo q nionfhtA wages wblitGly
for the time you have been here, but
[ must beg of you to fulfill the duties
of collecting clerk to our firm, which
situation has been made vacant by
the death Of very old and faithful
assistant"
Joseph thanked me i'm the most un-
assuming manner, and was asked
to take care of his money, since l had
promised to>provide him with suita-
ule clothes for his new occupation.
1t will be unnecessary to relate
how, step by step, this poor country
lad proceeded to win the confidence
of myself and partner; the accounts
were always correct to a penny. At
length he had saved sufficient sum
of money to be deposited in the
bank, 1t SO happened that one of
our chief customers, who carried on
a successful business. required an ac-
tive partner. This person was of ec>
centric habits, and considerably ad-
vanced In years. Scrupulously just,
he looked to every penny, and in
variably discharged his workmen If
they were not equally scrupulous in
dealing with him.
Aware of this peculiarly of tenn
per, there was no person ] could re-
commend but Joseph; and, after
overcoming the repugnance of my
partner, who was unwilling to be de-