Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1873-03-11


ayes, sir. My mother has taught
me more than ! should have learn
ed at school,"
"Can you cipher then :"
"Yes, sir. / have been pretty
thorough as far as cube root"
"Can you drive two horses 2!
eyes, sir. I drove the stage a
good many times last winter from
here to Grantborough."
"Thcn l think you are just the
man / want. In few days shall
send some sauce to the city and as
YET have nc one to take charge of
that department. For the last ten
years have lost considerably by
dishonest men. The man who car
ries my produce to market has con-
siderable money TO collect; some
times it will average a hundred
dollars n day for a week at a time.
When / buy up fruit and berries to
send to the city, the receipts are
considerable. How should you
like the place ?"
"Could be with my mother
nights, sir ?"
"Yes."
"Then I should like it very much,
sir" And if l serve you, l shall
serve you faithfully"
81 have no fears on that account"
said Mr.. Thompson with a peculiar
look. 81 am fully satisfied of your
honesty, l saw you pick up my
purse"
There was a slight shudder pass
ing through the youths soul, for lie
could not help thinking what would
have been the result had he kept
the money.
"You are not the first one have
tried" resumed the gentleman.
"First looked up Samuel Steph-
ems. He is poor and / thought him
capable. / dropped my purse with
my name written plainly upon it..
He found it and kept it. Next l
tried Lot Poole, and he did the
same. Some said had no business
- r'~"o termination in the door
youths way, but ! could give en-
ployInent to those who most needed
it, and as there is ample tempta-
tion in the work / must have done,
thought | had right to try them.
But you have proved yourself trust
worthy, and am glad of it. And
now, if upon trial you suit me, l
will pay you forty dollars month
and board you. What say you to
that :"
But poor Abel knew not what to
say. This sum was enormous to
him. He had wondered if he
should get as much as fifteen.
"Forty !" he whispered fearful
that he had misunderstood him.
eyes, forty dollars month. Win
not that do ?"
"Oh, yes, sir. 1t is more than /
expected, much more"
"Then you will be better salts
fed, / like to have those who work
for me satisfied, and then if l do
wrong, / am not to blame. SO sup
pose you come up and look around.
We commence the first month to-
day"
The poor widow felt it her duty
to say something before the kind
man left, so she turned toward him
and opened her mouth, and then
began to cry. Mr.. Thompson un-
derstood it, took her by the hand,
bade her to be of good cheer and
then FASTENED away.
Until the sound of his horses
tramp had died away in the dis
tance, both mother and son sat in
perfect silence. At last the widow
arose and sank upon her sons
bosom.
"Oh, Abel God has blessed us
wonderously.'
Suppose / had kept the money"
whispered the youth.
"Not that-not that, my son. Oh,
it was not the money, though the |
money, like mi ror reflected
yourself. Itwas the stern integrity |
of your soul. You couldn't have
kept it. The simple carrying back
of ten dollars was little to be COM
pared with the principles to be in
volved. He saw your honor-your
truth-and for what you arc he has
hired you.
Abel went to the great house and
soon found something to do.
When he returned home at night
Mrs. Thompson sent covered