The Van Buren press., 1873-12-23
MISCELLANY.
THE SECRET BEHEFAcT0R.
BY MRS. LOWERING.

spoke OF particular, yesterday asked
Mr. Lambert, wealthy owner ef estate,
addressing an intelligent, fair looking
young man, who sat at desk, AS the
abo,e.named gentleman entered his Of
ice.
Charles Burchard colored with embar
rassment For moment his hand moved
nervously across his brow, then raising
his handsome eyes to his employers 5
face, he answered in 4 frank. steady tone,
:" have neglected to follow your in
struciions, in this case.
Sir
" am sorry
"Sorry' cried Mr. lambert, angrily,
sorry indeed and this is the way you
attend to my affairs. Young man, il you
think will pass over this carelessncss-'
4" | beg your pardon, said Charles,
with a face like marble, but speaking in a
calm tone, :" am guilty Of no careless
ness. | have cndeavored to do my
duty
Your duty was to follow my instruc.
tons. Number twenty threc has been Il
losing business long enough. The family
have had warming. You could not have
misunderstood me. | told you that if
the rent was not paid before twelve
O'Clock yesterday
Il visited the family" rejoined
Charles, land 1t seemed 10 me that had
YOU seen what saw. you would not have
uad me apply the extremity Of the law
20 lhcir miserable case. They are very
poor-they are sick-they are suffering
loa would not have had the heart to
Charles Burchard exclaimed Mr.
Lambert, angrty, "you nave been in my
employ two years. ! have found you
ipthiul. honest, capable-and | would
not willingly part with you; but since
You prefer y0ur way OF doing business
10 mtHe, ana presume TO dictate, it is not
proper that We should work together ANY
longer.
Il have thought myself " said Charles
THAT since cannot conscicnciously pur
sac the extremes YOU deem necessary, it
viii he best for me to out your service
| | am ready, he added, liking his mild
eye upon Mr., Lambert face, II am
ready to go.
"Wel, sir, We will have a settlement
At once. How much am | indebted to
your What is your due?'
Nothing,
Nothing. How-how is this p
You Will see. Cast your eye over
ta page, y
" ies-l perccive-ysu have taken up
youi "aEos IItCil AZ ooo" ~ u".' -"'''
bn m
clerk s fidelity and capacity was becom
| ing so(tenei. " This is Il new thing, how
ever. But ! presume you have invested
your money advantageously y
IL have tried to make u Christian use
of it, answered Charles, coldly.
Have you bees dealing in stocks 2
mo SIR. "
"Ah, Won lost confidence in me and
thought proper to put your money into
otler hands,"
Il have neither made Investments nor
loans" said Charles with a peculiar
smile. What small sums | could COM
mand have used. q"
YOU
Yes, sir
Bless me Charles thought you a
steady young man; and how you can
nave consumed your entire salary, am
unable to conceive.
! "And | presume l should be unable
to cx lain it to your satisfaction, sir. 1t
is a subject which it can avail nothing to
converse upon. you get u man in my
place Immediately, should be wiling to
save You the trouble Of inslructing him
IN the state OF your business
Ccrtainly--if you pleasc--and you
shall be paid"
II did not make the offer, expecting
remuneration. trust that | have kept
my accounts in such manner that 1t wall
not require half an hour to make an in
teilgrut man understand the entire busl
ness.
Charles, exclaimed Mr.. Lambert,
II dislike to part with you so, We have
always agreed until this time. "
Six months ago. replied Burchard,
"lhi, family ia No. 23 could not pay
their quarter rent. had orders TO turn
taem INTO the street | did not ito it.
But-bnt the rent was paid.
You permitted me to give them few
days 2race; you, permitted this, on my
PROMISE TO see that the rent was paid.
\ n are right sr-it was paid tho next
quarters rent was also paid At present
Incy cannot pay knowing the comdi
lion of the family, | cannot follow your
INSTRUCTIONS
"We.l, said Mr. Lambert hardening
him,ef, " have rules with regard to my
tenants. which cannot he broken ! have
,ulcs with regard to persons ia my en-
ploy, which nothing can induce me to
break. Justice /, my motto. 1t is a
good une ! shall stand by it.
Mercy Is better one, sometimes, y
i replied Charles, sO!tlv. Justice is ad.
mlrable in a!l-but mercy in the power
lu is godhke
! Thus Mr. Lambert parted with his
faithful clerk. Another took the place
Of Charles Burcharl, and the latter was
without situation.
About tho first business Mr. Carol,
the new clerk. attended to, concerned the
poor family in No %.
"They vacate the premises Immediate
IT," hc said to Mr. Lambert " Bnt
there j. some mystery about that family,
they made alluslons to yourself, which
| was unable to understand "
ITO mel
"ics sir; they spoke fyour Kindness
to them