The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1872-08-16
TRUTHFUL SAM.

A boy went to live with man who
was accounted hard master. He
never kept his boys; they ran away
or gave notice that they meant TO
quit, so he was half the time without
and in search Of boy. The work
was not hard-opening and sweeping
out the shop, saving wood, going err,
rands and helping around. At last
Sam Fisher went to live with him.
Sans a good boy" his mother
said.
81 should like to see boy now.a-
days that had a spark of goodness in
him." said the master.
1t is always bad to begin with a
man who has no confidence in you;-
because, do your best, you are likely
to get little credit for it. However,
Sam thought he would try. The wa
ges were good and his mother want
ed him to go.
Sam had been there but three days,
when. in saving a cross grained stick
Of wood, he broke the saw. He was
little frightened. He knew he was
careful, and he knew he was q pretty
good sawyer, too, for q boy of his
age. Nevertheless the saw broke in
his hands.
"And Mr.. Jones will thrash you for
it" said another boy who was in the
woodhouse with him.
"Why, didn't mean to do it, and
accidents will happen to the best of
folks" said Sam, looking with a sor-
rowful air at the broken saw.
"Mr. Jones never makes allowan.
ccs," said the other, boy. II never
saw anybody like him. That Bill
Smith might have stayed, only be
jumped into hens nest and broke
her eggs. lie darcnt tell it; but Mr..
Jones kept suspecting, and laid ev.
erything out Of the way that happen
ed to Bill, whether Bill was TO blame
or not, till Bill couldn't stand it, and
wouldn't.
"Did he tell Mr.. Jones about the
eggs?" asked Sam.
NO" said the boy, "he was afraid
Mr.. Jones has got such an awful TEN.
per-"
II think he had better owned up n,
once" said Sam.
II suspect you'll find it better to
preach than TO practice" said the boy
I'D run away before I'd tell him -
and so he turned on his heel and LET,
poor Sam all alone with the broken
| saw.
The poor boy did not feel very
comfortable or happy. lie shut up
the wood house, walked out into the
garden, and then went up TO his little
chamber under the caves. lie wish
ed he could tell Mrs Jones, but she
was not sociable, and he had rather
not.
"Oh, my God," said Sam, falling or
his knees, "help me TO do the thing
that is right"
don't know what time it was, bu,
when Mr.. Jones came into the house
Sam heard him. He got up, crep,
down stairs, and met Mr.. Jones in the
kitchen.
"Sir,, said Sam, Il broke your saw
and thought I'd come and tell yor
before you saw it in the morning"
II should think in the morning
would be soon enough to tell of your
carelessness. Why do you come
down tonight" ?"
Because was afraid if I put il
off, that | might be tempted to tell ,
lie about it. ! am sorry l broke it
but tried to be careful"
Mr.. Jones looked at the boy from
head to foot; then, stretching out hi,
hand, he said:
There, Sam, give me your hand
Shake hands; I'll trust you, Sam
That's right, that's right. Go to bee
boy. Never fear, I'm glad the saw
broke, it shows the mettle is in you.-
Go to bed"
Mr.. Jones was fairly won. Never
were there better friends after tha
than Sam and he. Sam thinks tha
justice has not been done to Mr.
Jones. If the boys had treated hin
honestly and "above board" h'
would have been a good man to liv'
with. 1t was their conduct that mad,
him suspicious. do not know how
this is; only knew that Sam Fishe
finds Mr.. Jones a kind and faithful
master.