Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-03-22
to bimself, so he would not send to bim.-

nOhCy ) W ~ Q LII Ouoo SIVoS ways "AS
there is so much for amusement and profit
without even a penny to purchase a moment
of enjoyment or a drop of extra comfort
No boy could be more faithful than Gilber,
was in the store. The clerks and statesmen
all loved him, and Mr.. Phelps often con
graduated himself on having obtained an
excellent apprentice. He worked early and
late, and he worked hard-performed more
physical labor than any one else in the store,
if we except the stout Irish porter.
One evening after the store was closed
Gilbert stood on the iron steps with the key
in bis hand-for he was now entrusted with
that important implement, when he was
Joined by a lad named Baker, who held the
same position ir an adjoining store that Gil
bert did in Mr.. Phelps.
Say Gil, going to the concert tonight"
asked Baker.
mo; I can't"
Cant Why not g
"Why, to tell the plain truth, jim, I
havn't got the money"
"Pooh Come along. I'll pay the shot,"
"But l do not wish to run in debt, Jim,
for I may never pay you."1
"Pay me !? Who talked about paying
If I offer to pay, that's enough Come
along. It'll be a glorious concern"
"But l must 60 and get som supper"
But Gilbert could not 60 without letting his
aunt know so Baker walked around that
way with him. Then they went to the
restaurant here Baker paid for the supper.
He had several bank notes, and poor Gil.
bert gazed upon them with longing looks
Oh, if he could only have a little money !!
Say one dollar a week or one dollar in two
weeks, how much happier he would feel!
As soon as they had eaten supper, they went
to the concert room, and Gilbert was
charmed with the sweet music he heard
He fancied it had a noble influence upon
him and that it awoke a more generous i'm
pulse in bis soul. But alas how can a man
or youth be over generous, With az empty
pocket always?
From this time, Jim Baker was Gilbert's
firm friend as the world goes. The latter
told all his secrets to Jim and in return he
heard all of his friends.
''Say, Gil, how is it you never have any
money 2" Baker asked, as they were to.
gether one evening in front Of the store, af-
ter having locked up.
"Why," returned Gilbert with some hest
t%ation, 'sto tell you the plain truth, my faith
err is too poor. He has done enough for
me now-more than he can we'll Afford
He has never asked me to work on the farm,
but he has sent me to school, and now he is
paying my poara WINE L learn TO De a mer-
chant. But my father is good if he is
poor"
"Of course he u.s." warmly replied Baker.
t'That's where you find your good warm
hearts among the poor. But don't you
make the s ore pay you for taking care of
it :"
mo, Mr.. Phelps pays nothing for the
first year"
"Why are you in earnest, Gil? Haven't
you got any money for your hard work
mo not a penny. Two dollars is all the
money I have had since I have been here,
and those my father gave me-"
"Well, you're a moral improbability, a
regular anomaly. Why, I make the store
pay ne something. Mind you I don't call
it stealing, for it isn't. My master receives
the benefit of all my work, and I am enti-
tied to something in return. He is rich
while I am poor. Ny hard work turns
money into bis till. and I shall dig and delve
and lug my life away for nothing? No.
When | want a little money, Itake it. Did
I take enough to gamble and squander away,
as some do, [ should call it stealing; but I
don't. Yet I must have something. How, do
you suppose our master think we live with
out money? They don't think so if they
do, they must be natural born fools. That's
all I've got to say about it."
"But how do you do it 2 asked Gilbert
TREMENDOUSLY.
"HowY Why sometimes I help myself
to a few handkerchiefs, which I sell; and
sometimes I take a gentle peep at the mon
ey drawer
When Gilbert Goodwin went to his bed
that night there was a demon with him.
The tempter had come. For a long time
there had been a shadowy misty form no.
veriog over him but not until it had taken
palpable shape did he allow himself to rea-
son on the subject, but not yet was his mind
made up. On the following morning he
met young Baker again, he learned that all
the apprentices on the street did the same
thing.
A week passed on, and during that time
Gilbert gave the tempter a home in his b.
som. He daily %pondered upon the amount
Of physical labor he performed. He saw all
the others with money. and he wondered
if any one could possibly get along without
that circulating commodity. FINALLY the
evil hour came. The constant companion
ship Of young Baker had its influence, and
the shaft had struck its mark. A bright
eyed, lovely girl bad asked Gilbert to carry
her to an evenings entertainment. The
boy loved that girl-loved her with the
whole ardor Of bis youthful soul-and he
could not refuse her.
At noon he was left alone in the store
Several people came in, mostly %tailors, and
bought goods, paying cash. Gilbert did
not stop to consider; the spell was upon
him, and he kept a two dollar bill.
That afternoon he suffered much. He
dared not look the clerks in the face, though
he was sure that some of them did the same
thing. In the evening he accompanied his
fair companion to the entertainment. and
though he tried to be happy, yet he could
not.
That night the boy slept; and while he
slept be dreamed that his father and moth
er 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 perform
ed silently and sadly. The CLERKS asked
him II he was sick, and he told them no
Toward the middle Of the afternoon, Mr..
Phelps can in and entered his counting.
room. Gilbert watched him until he was
alone, and then he moved toward the place.