Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-06-10
Mis scELLRMEo Eous.
UNEXPECTED TEST.

"s9I AMES, found you and Mr.. Cooper to-
gether this morning, and as entered
the Office | know that my name was unop
Cooper's lips. Was it not sop
The young book-keeper trembled, and was
silent
Thomas Landrove and Albert Cooper were
partners, and sole proprietors of one of the
heaviest wholesale manufacturing establish-
nients i'll the West, and their business was in.
creasing day by day. I1androve was Now
\ orkor by birth, aud Cooper came from New
Hampshire. James Worcester was youth of
nineteen from western Massachusetts, and bav-
ing gone out into the new country, with let
ter of recommendation to Landrove. from an
old collegc>matc and chum of the latter. lie
was at once employed. and thus far, during
the space of six months. he had proved him>
self 'worthy and well qualified"
The partners-warmhearted but quick and
impulsve-had fallen into misunderstanding.
They had, on the previous evening, almost
come to blows end were now as unhappy as
it were possible for two we'll meaning men to
be who have both been very foolish.
-s'Was it not so?" repeated Landrove
''ft was, sir"
"And what did Mr. Cooper say of me
You need not be afraid to tell me-
james Worohestcr becnmo calm and self
H'9SS7SCu, GhuuSu d lTIlle paier Gntn uSuaI. -
lie knew that Mr.. Lanlrovc had hired him
that to him he owed his success, and thet
to him he must look for the retanins of his
situation. And yet he had resolved to be a
man.
''Mr. Landrovc, you must excuse mc.'-
"Ah did he place you under the ban of
secrecy?
.sNo sir
''Then what did he say to you of me-"
"I cannot tell you SIR"
"Canuot you mean you will not"
cas- you please, sir'
While Landrove was silent with amazement
at this department on the part of the creature
OF his bounty, the youth proceeded:
'Mr. 14androvc, as God is ny Judge, am
your humble friend and most obedicnt SER
want, and if [ have love more strong for one
of my employers than for the other. that love
is for you. But. sir, even to please YOU can
mt do mean or unmanly thing. Whatever
Mr. Cooper may have said to me was said in
confidence. know thar he would not like
that should repeat his words hold them
as [ would hold money that had been placed
in my keeping"
MIR. Landrovc swore big onth. and do
mnnded again to know what Cooper had said
OF him. But Worcester was firm. Then the
manufacturer threatened to discharge him.
81 came to you with an honor untarnished.
sir" said James, 'tand if must leave you,
| wish to take the priceless possession
away. When once I have betrayed a trust. 7
can no more have confidence even in myself"
'.Then you fatty refuse ~
II rofuso to betray tho private speech of
Mr.. Cooper as would refuse to tell him. were
he to ask me what you have now said to me -
every we'll; you msy close up your &C.
counts, and pass your books over to Mr.. Nick
erson +; for" and here Mr.. Laudroye with
fierce oath swore that the reticent youth
should leave on to, morrow.
81 will go, sir, o why cannot see YOU
and your partner reconciled before I 90 p
Y You love him I can swear before Heaven.
that no man lives whom be loves better than
he loves you"
Landrove would listen no more
That very night the two impulsive men met
and their il-will was soon blown to the winds
as quickly as it had been engcndered Over
a bottle of wine Landrove told his interview
with young Worcester
'Ot one thing / can assure you." said
Cooper, 'he loves you truly and devotcdly.-
] know it from words which he spoke this
morning, and from the warm tears that crept
out upon his !ashes while he gayo them ut,
terance. His refusal to repeat my words was
from principle
aye" cried Landrovc, "and from prin-
cipie very seldom found in its purity in this
poor world of ours, by my life. Albert. he
will be worth his weight in gold to u.s. We
can trust him."
Mr. Nickerson took James, worccs.er,s
books, as LandroVe bad threatened but il.
was only that the younger book>keeper might
be transferred to the innerofice or sanctum,
where he was installed as confidential agent
and correspondent; and whence, in time, he
stepped forth into share OF the business.
This little sketch bears a deep and valu-
able lesson for those who have eyes to see
and hearts to understand