The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-06-21
THE WORLD IS GOVERNED TOO MUCH.

| very grave oHence IN the eyes OF thi
law; yet he would risk it all-he would
be as silent as the grave with it, aut
none would ever suspect him.
Men of high standing were engaged
In this business-they why should no,
he, poor clerk who toiled for his dai.
~ breadg 1t was no more dishonest
in him than in them. Messrs. Scrimps
& Scrubbs, who, 10 doubt, had thei,
palatial mansions on Fifth Avenue.
their horses, their carriages, dealt in
it; surely he was no better than thew
were. If they did it, surely lie could.
In this manner Tom reasoned, and
was not very long in deciding in the
affirmative. Then boiling out at the
door, he skipped gaily across the street
to Simon Bibbs' family grocery.
He and Simon were on the most ia
miliar terms. Both belonging to the
bachelor genus, a kind of intimacy had
sprung up between the two, an intima-
cy that, in time, iipened into firm
friendship. They were what might be
styled confidential friends, too; for
neither ever had a secret but that it
was duly impaired to the other. At
every leisure moment they had, they
were sure to be together; and what
one did was invariably sanctioned by
the other. They were second edition
of Damon and Pythias.
Tom, letter in hand, rushed uncere
moniously into the room where Bibbs
was sitting.
"Good news!" he yelled, fairly to the
extens sion of his lungs, vigorously slap
ping Bibbs upon the back to that wor-
thy's intense astonishment. "Good
news! Our fortunes are made, old
boy! Read-read!-but first let me
shut the door,"
And, forthwith, he closed the door
and bolted it.
elias he gone crazy!" muttered ST.
mon, rs he watched with surprise his
young friends proceedings.
"Read," family articulated Tom
thrusting the paper into Bibbs' hand.
He did read read it all, slowly, care
fully, pausing every now and then,
though, to. stare blapkly at Tom
When he finished it, he gave long,
protracted whistle.
'What think We of it, Bibbs ~ asked
Spraglin, with knowing, looking
smile.
Observation-Disclosures? You
always were a lucky chap, Spraglin.'
Tom smiled at this compliment, if
compliment it was, and said:
. "Bibbs, you shall share my luck this
time. We are old and tried friends,
you know, and we will be partners in
this matter"
This announcement brought Simon
to his feet; and grasping Tom by the
hand, he exclaimed, in a warm tone of
voice:
~ knew it! 1 knew your nature too
we'll to believe for an instant that you
would, in the hour of your prosperity,
desert an old friend. 1 always had
better opinion of you than that, and
now it is fully verified"
"Never, Bibbs! never!" said Tom,
also rising. "Your friendship is worth
more to me than money and although
am now a little more favored than
yourself, 1 will not forget you. We
will go up in the world together"
"That's so! That's sop murmured
Bibbs, in an admiring tone. ''Your
generosity, Tom, cannot be equaled.n
And thus the two friends continued.
for some time, expatiating upon their
friendship.
Before they separated they agreed
to send forthwith for one hundred dol
lars worth Of tue ssstuff;" this being a
they said, to start them in
business.
In the very next mail that went out
from the village there was letter ad-
dressed TO Messrs. Scrimps g. Scrubs,
Broadway, New York.
The next morning any one passing
the shop of Simon Bibbs, might have
seen n placard hanging from that gen
Lleman's window, announcing that the
owner, for certain reasons, known best
to himself, wished to dispose imme-
liately of lis entire stock, &c. And
On the same morning in question, old
Benson Grummels, Toms employer,
was startled by receiving notice from
lis clerk to look out for new one, for
It was his intention to quit in a few
lays.
''Not going to leave me, Tom! Bless
ny soul, 1 couldn't do without your
Tom affirmed his intention.
"But if you viii stay" persisted the
merchant, II will increase your wages.
will give you ten dollars more per
month.
Under no consideration, Tom told
lin could he remain and then walked
'lf with an air of superior Indifference,
eaying the said Grummels nernlexed