The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-06-03
A Simple Story Of a SeIf.Made Man
(From tho 81. LouIs DenccatO

a Simple Duty VI u SeIlsAauG AAans
(Fron the 81. Louis DemccrAt)
The simple story of John Hefernar
teaches us that honesty and patience are
sure to be rewarded, moro iorcibly than
that great moral lesson could be impress
cd on our minds by didsctic discourse.
John HeHernan was q poor boy when
he entered the establishment Of Messrs.
Goldsticks q Moneybags but he brought
TO them q Certificate from, his Sunday.
school teacher, saying ihAt be IVES an
honest lRd1EWho could learn, more verses
and forget them quicker than any boy In
the class. His employers were obliged to
test bis honesty in various ways, but he
stood the test nobly. When Mr. Money
bags saw him pick up q pin from the
floor he was sweeping, he thought that
John might be guilty Of taking things,
and dropped ten cent shinplaster 10 the
same place; but John honestly swept 1t
out without noticing Il, and brushed It
into a corner, where he could pick 1t up
at his leisure. Then Mr.. Moneybags over.
paid him. his weekly stipend by the
amount Of 81, and waited 10 SEQ what the
boy would do. At the dead hour Of
night the Moneybags household was
aroused by the furious ringing OF the bell.
The old gentleman put on his dressing
COMMAND descended 10 the door, where
be found John Heffernan. with tear, in
his eye and q dollar bill In his hand
John declared that he could not rest In
his Virtuous couch after discovering the
mistake, until 1t was rectihed. - :
Nnik tgnnFN Nv
Moneybags. II would not have known
that Tbsd oyerpaid you"
"Keepitl"r exclaimed, John. Little
do you know the precepts that were in
stilled into my youthful breast by my
sainted grandmother. But confess that
the temptation was strong one. | was
saving money 10 buy Bible for my wild.
owed mother, and had accumulated the
sum Of fifteen cents. With this dollar /
could have completed the purchase, and l
admit that l looked at it with longing
eyes. But honesty triumphed over temp.
tatiOn, and virtue Is Its own reward"
"Keep tho dollar for your honesty"
said the benevolent old gentleman. Buy
your Bible and be happy. ] would ask
you to marry my daughter and would
take you into partnership in the usual
way; but it happens that my daughters
are all sons, and you must excuse me for
the present
John went home, his heart swelling
with the consciousness Of having done
his duty, and mae a dollar clear. The
next day he invested that dollar in
chuckluck outfit for the benefit Of tho be.
nighted young heather In the next alley.
Young Heffernan was then promoted
to desk and FIVE dollar bill was once
placed temptingly within his reach but
John was seoutein his honesty and wasn't
certain that tho bill was q good one
Then he was put In charge Of the bank
deposits, and his character for honesty
was established.
One day, when he was going 10 the
bank, he looked ct the ticket as usual, and
discovered that he was the bearer of S.
900 10 currency. he then knew that the
time had come for honesty and patience
to be rewarded, and he stuffed the bills
into his pockets, and took tho train for
the west Heais now one of the most
prominent residents Of the Pacific slope,
where he has already bought q country
seat on the coast, and expects to buy .
seat in the Senate. But he still preserves
the chuckluck outfit that gave him his
start in life, and points with pride to the
bank ticket, which proves 70 his children
that virtue Is It's own reward.