South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1873-07-11
The Temptation.

ptCieu dANbI months OF aO-
sence, and had been looking out of window
for lin all the morning. Walter was such
favorite with his brother and sister that,
now he had really arrived, they clopped
their little hands and literally Jumped about
with joy.
Not lees delighted was good Mrs. Fairhe
herself. She had been to the window about
every five minutes during the last half-hour
looking for him, and now she flew to the
door, followed by the little ones !; aud, fold.
log her darling boy in her arms smothered
Him with Aissog.
Walter had got situation in house Of
business IL u distant town, aud for the first
time in his life, to the great sorrow of the
little family circle, he had to leave his
home. OF course he had often written 20
them, and pleased enough they were to get
letter from HIN. But reading his letters
was not like seeing bin aud now thar
he had come himself to spend Christmas
with them, they were anxious to hear from
his own lips all about his new mode of life
as though be had never sent them word
since he lett.
There was Que thing which Walter bad
limited AT several times in bis letters, bur
which he had never explained fully, viz
the cause of some disagreement that ex-
listed between bin aud his fellow clerk,
Richard Fox, Lad year or two older than
himself
OF course Mrs Fsirlie wanted to know
al about it aud il the evening, when the
younger children were gone 90 bed, aud
she and Waiter, were chatting toe ether
round the ic., he toll her the story
4
! ard wanted me to d. things that wore not
right and | wouldn't; so that made sort
Of i'll feeling on his part. The beginning
of it was this. One evening, just before
the tine for closing the Office, Mt Marshall
came out Of his room, and told Richard
that be wanted a certain book ruled 10
way that Richard knew about II appear
ed that the one lie was using had become
full before be was aware of it. and he
would want the new one 10 the morninr. q
think you had better do it at once, be said
III will keep you in the office an hour or so
longer than usual, but you won't mind that
for orce. You had better both STAY he
added ';hen you will be keeping each 9TH
er company, and YOU can tako the ruler in
turns. And if you bring it 10 me, nicely
doue, some time in the evening, | will give
you each shilling
We'll, Richard thanked him and told
him tina; be would be careful over it. But
when Mr. Marshall had gone back to his
room, Richard laughed, and whispered to
me- Here's biz Of fun, Walter that
book Is ruled already. john, the boy that
left when You came, did it Mr.. MarshoIl
told Us one day that when we could fad
W o, I -.
ing, so he did it on1 day when Mr.. Mar
shsli vas out, and we had nothing else to do.
80 | asked Richard why be hadn't told
Mr.. Nnr-ha'l that it was done ooh yes =
be said we may as well have our shilling
a. not
'"oil, you know, mother, I looked at
him wondering whether be could be in earn
est; and said TO him, You wouldn't 90
and take the money without doing the
work, would you p
Certainly saya Richard, IF We can
get it. Why not" Well won't p said.
Tint was right, wasn't it mother 2?
'Qlite righ', my dear said 5lrs Fairlio
4 am 50 glad that you did not let him per
suodc you - do otherwise
Wei mother, continued Walter, when
be found lnat | was determined to tell Mr..
Marshal al! about it rather than talk. the
money that way he called me all sorts II
names said | vas righteous over-mucb.
and o sneak and bypocri.o-aud went ON
dreadtu.y However, ha 'old Mr Marsh j
about Tie book, aud 'hcro was 90 end Of
mt But be would hardly spoak to mo
for more than a week afterwards. II W
ever Doc GOT over that by-1HI-by, aud wa
went on alI right flr some tmo.
'Nal, two OF three weeks after that, Air.
Marsha sent me % collect some money.
and when cauo in, and COVE it fo bin, BE-
put it loose in DIS pocket, as be always
does. But I suppose he dropped baf-s-
sovereign oi 10 on thc carpet un Der bis desk,
Tor Def re be came 20 the Office che next
morning. / picked zap Que just wh.-a Pee
stood. W.l, Rch,rd waurci noe 90 keep
u AMI share 30 wi'h him, and when ! told
him ] wouldn't, be- .sid-you bad better.
yon know. II sou Iet Nr Marshall know
That yo1 picked this ono up, ho nay think
that You ind things 20 other times aud
don't give them % him Better not let|
hin know auy'biog about it j. Sides,
he aided 'hai'-a.sreorsign is nothing 90
him, ani i's good deal d, us. But
Know o. would not be right lo lct him per-
'uada me ihat way, so | t9.I bin yiaioly
that ! wouldn't listen GU anything of tuo
Eind. Aui wasu'tI glad, mother, that
hadn't e'ecn nay 90 bin bout The book
because, 30 bad, zee what an advantage be
would hase lad ovc7 % ih. time
i am very glad, my dear tbst you think
Of 10 iu ths, way, said Mrs. Faitlie It
D. q u.,' juparant thing thai we should
resist temptation az tbc first II we give