The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-08-01
From the St. Louis Democrat.
A Simple Story,


The simple story of John Heffernan teaches
us that honesty and patience are sure to be
rewarded, more forcibly than that great NOR
al lesson could be impressed on our minds by
a didactical discourse.
John Heffernan was poor boy when he
entered the establishment of Messrs. Gold
sticks and Moneybags; but he brought with
him certificate from his Sunday-schoOl teach
er, saying that he was an honest lad, who
could learn more verses and forget them quick
er than any boy in the class. His employers
were obliged to test his honesty in various
ways, but he stood the test noby.
When Mr.. Moneybags saw him pick up a
pin from the floor he was sweeping, he
thought that John might be guilty Of taking
things, and dropped ten cent shin plaster
in the same place; but John honestly swept
it out without noticing it, and brushed it in
to a corner, where he could pick it up at his
leisure. Then Mr.. Moneybags overpaid him
his weekly stipend by amount of 81, and wait
ed to see what the boy would do. At the
dead hour of the night the Moneybags house
hold was aroused by the furious ringing of
the BELL The old gentleman put on his dress
ing gown and descended to the door, where
he found John Heffernan, with tear in his
eve and dollar bill I'm his right hand. John
declared that he could not rest in his virtu-
Gus couch, after discovering the mistake, un-
til it was rectified.
'Why didn't you keep it?" asked Mr.. Mon
eybags. 81 would not have known that |
overpaid you"
"Keep it ?'' exclaimed John. "Little do
you know of the precepts that were instilled
into my youthful breast by my ssinted grand
mother. But confess the temptation was
strong one. was saving money to buy
Bible for my widowed mother, and accumula-
ted the sum of fifteen cents. With this dol
lar could have completed the purchase, and
I admit that looked at it with longing eyes.
But honesty triumphed over temptation, and
virtue is its own reward
''Keep the dollar for your honesty" said
the benevolent old gentleman, BUY your
Bible and be happy. would ask you to mar
nv nv daughter, and would take you into
partnership in the usual way; bat 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
made dollar clear. The next day he invest
ed that dollar in chuckaluck outfit of the be-
nighted young heather in the next alley.
Young Heffernan was then promoted to a
desk, and a five dollar bill was once place d
temptingly within his reach but John was
secure in his honesty, and wasn't certain that
the bill was a good one. Then he was put in
charge of the bank deposits, and his charac-
ter for honesty was established.
One day when he was going to the bank,
he looked at the ticket as usual. and discov-
cred that he was the bearer of $1,000 in cur
rency. He then knew that the time had
come for honesty and patience to be reward
ed and he stuffed the bills into his pockets,
and took the first train for the West. He is
now one of the most prominent residents of
the Pacific slope, where be has already
bought country seat on the coast and ex-
pec's to buy seat in the Senate. But he
still preserves the chuckaluck outfit that gave
him his start in life, and points with pride to
the bank ticket which proves TO his children
tha virtue is its own reward.