Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-11-20
The Broken Saw.

A boy went to live with q man who was
accounted a hard master lie never kept
his boys they ran away or gave notice they
meant to quit so he was half the time with
out, and in search Of boy. The work was
not very ard-opening and sweeping out the
shop, chopping wood, going errands, aud help.
ing round AT last Sam Fisher went to live
with him. Sans a good boy" said his
mother. Il should like to see a boy nova.
days that had spark Of goodness in him
growlel the new master.
1t is always bad to begin with a man who
has no confidence in you because, do your
best, you are likely to have little credit for it,
However, Sam thought he would try; the
wages we're good, aud his mother wanted him
to 60 Sam had been there but three days,
before, in saving cross grained stick Of wood
he broke the saw. lie was little Brighten.
ed. He knew he was careful, and he knew
he was a pretty good sawyer, too, for boy
OF his age nevertheless, the saw broke il
his hands
And Mr.. Jones will thrash you for it, :
said another boy who was in the wood-hous,
with him
"Why, of course did't mean it, and acct
dents will happen to the best Of folks" sai'
Sam, looking with very sorrowful air on tn
broken saw.
4" Mr.. Jones never makes allowances" sale
the other boy. THAT Bill might have stay
ed, only that he jumped into hens nest
and broke her eggs. lie darcn't tell Of it
but Mr.. Jones kept suspecting and suspectinl
and laid everything out Of the way to Bill
wether Bill was to blame or not till Bill
couldn't stand il and wouldn't"
" Did he tell Mr.. Jones' about the eggs {?
asked Sam.
mo-" said the boy; che was 'fraid Mr.
Jones has got such a temper"
"I think he'd better own up at once" sal,
Sam.
" / suspect you'll find it better to preacl
than to practice, said the boy. " I'd rur
away before I'd tell him" And he sool
turned on his heel and left poor Sam aon,
with bis broken saw.
The poor boy did not feel very conIfortabl
or happy. He shut up the wood-house, walk
el out iuto the little garden, and then wen
up to his little chamber under the caves. Hc
wished he could tell Mrs. Jones, but she wasn't
sociable, and be would rather not. 90, my
God" said Sam, falling upon his knees, "help
me to do the thing that is right"
do not know what time it was, but when
Mr.. Jones came into the house the boy heard
him. He got up, crcpt down stairs, and me;
Mr.. Jones in the kitchen.
"Sir," said Sam, broke your saw, and
| thought I'd come and tell you fore you saw
it in the morning"
:" | should think morning would be soon
enough to tell of your careessness. Why dc
you come down to-night?"
Because said Sam, " was afraid if
put it off might be tempted to tell lie
about it. I'm sorry broke it, but tried tC
be careful"
Mr.. Jones looked at the boy from head t.
foot, then stretching out his hand, " There
Sam" he said heartily, " give me your hand
Shake hands; III trust you, Sam. That's right
that's right. Go to bed, boy, Never fear
I'm glad the saw broke it shows the mettle'
in you. Go to bed"
Mr. Jones was fairly won. Never wcr
better friends after that than Sam and he
Sam thinks justice has not been done Nj
Jones. If the boys had treated him honestl
and above. board" he would have been
good master to live with. 1t was their cor
duct which soured and made him suspicion,
do not know how this is | only know tina
Sam Fisher finds in Mr.. Jones kind an
faithful master.