The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1875-08-18
THE PALLADIUM.
WEDNESDAY,. AUG. 10. 1875.
From the Cincinnati Times.l
RUFUS ROE'S SUCCESS.
By s. 8. BAssLER.

said one of the boys.
mo, not this evening. My mother
wishes me to come in, replied Rufus.
It was beautiful evening In the
latter part Of December. just the
sort Of evening for boys to be revel-
ling in the pleasure and excitement
of Shedding.
The fair moon and countless twink
ling stars shed clear silvery radiance
over the snow-covered earth.
Joyous sleigh bells and merry
laughter were heard in all directions.
Although Rufus Roe was in the
hight OF enjoyment, laughing and
shouting and gliding down the hill
with almost lightning speed, he in
stantly babe his young friends good
night, and, without noticing the re-
marks that some Of them were unkind
and thoughtless enough to make, put
away his sled.
He entered the house with spark
ling eyes and rosy cheecks-the very
picture Of young health and strength.
Mother, I've had jolly time" he
exclaimed.
very WE'LL" replied his mother,
smiling; there is Mr.. Good. who has
something to say to you"
Good evening, sir" said Rufus,
respectfully, taking the gentleman's
extended hand.
Il have your mothers permission
to take you with me to Philadelphia"
said Mr.. Good
Into your bookstore, sir 2"
Eyes: would you like it p
Il would indeed, sir"
sThen we will consider the matter
settled. Your duties will be to run
errands, deliver packages, aud make
yourself generally useful about the
store, and [ wish to say to you that
with cheerfulness, civility and pune
tuality in the performance of your
duties you can scarcely fail to rise in
the world, even from the most hum
BILE starting point"
Now Rufus was naturally a very
civil, cheerful and obedient boy, and,
although he never expected these
traits would be special helps in his
road to fortune, it yet turned out that
these very things were what male his
fortune, as we shall see.
It was arranged that he should
leave his home on New Years day,
and Mr.. Good was to meet him at the
depot in Philadelphia.
Nov, my dear boy" said his moth
er on the eve of his departure, re
member that you will be the architect
of your own fortune Be affable, gen.
erous and kind. Let industry and
self-reliance be your motto, and faith
your STAR Always bear In mind that
your employers interests are your in
terests. As for the rest I believe /
can trust my boy; can l not?" she
asked, embracing and kissing him in
the fullness of a mothers love.
Rufus reached the city and was met
as agreed upon by Mr.. Good, who
took him to his own residence and in
formed him that that would be his
home while With him. The lad soon
showed that it was his constant aim
to be strictly faithful, even in the
least concerns. He never lost mo-
ment. and always had cheerful, civil
word for every one.
He had been in the employ of MIR.
Good about six months, winning gold
en- opinions from him for his honesty
and freedom from vice and folly, when
he found he had an enemy.
One of the young men employed by
Mr.. Good charged him with stealing
watch from his vest, which had been
temporarily hanging behind door.
Rufus earnestly asserted his inno-
cence, but was sent to prison to await
trial Mr.. Good, who felt that the
boy was worthy and honest, and could
not be guilty of theft, visited him in
his cell and talked over the matter
He told him if he would give him any
information that might lead to the re-
covery of the watch he would have
him liberated.
Rufus still declared himself inno-
cent. At last. however, quite fright
ened and overcome by the promise of
liberation, he said he had taken it,
pledged it and spent the money.
II can scarcely believe that" said
Mr.. Good.
Won't you please send me home
now" pleaded Rufus:
mo; can not. You have not Civ
en- me an answer that will enable me
to recover the watch" replied Mr..
Good.
Il know nothing about it; 1 did not
take it. IL lied to you in the hope
that you would take me out of this
place." cried Rufus, weeping bitterly.
II knew that you were innocent,
my lad" said Mr.. Good.
THANK you, thank you, sir! Oh /!
my poor mother
The case being presented the next
morning, the lads innocence was evil
dent, and, by the advice of the Judge
and the District Attorney, the jury
acquitted him, and he went out with
his employer free and unsupported.
1t absolutely appeared that his accus-
er had never lost his watch. When
Mr.. Good heard this he Immediately
discharged the fellow.
Rufus now wisely determined to
- - L. II
actions rather than In words.
1t was his duty to be at the store at
an early hour in the morning, and for
several years he passed certain store
regularly every morning just as the
State-housc bell struck six. Regu-
larly at that time an eccentric, metho-
distical old man was always taking
down the shutters of the store. Rufus
invariably bowed and said Good
morning. sir, in pleasant, cheerful
tone. This came to be as regular as
the striking of the bell itself. Who
can tell how much good that simple,
cheerful greeting and pleasant smile
did the lonely, odd old man. He GER
tainly formed high opinion of the
lad who was so punctual, so pleasant
and respectful.
Another year passed by. during
which Mr.. Good enlarged his business,
and Rufus became book keeper. One
morning the shutters OF the eccentric
old man store remained closed, and
n piece of Grape was attached to the
door-knob.
The old man was dead.
Imagine Rufus surprise on being
summoned to hear the reading of his
will. The store and entire stock was
henneathed to Rufus. though no