Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1875-12-07

Philip Nettleton was sore distressed, He
| was an orphan, aud sick sister had been de-
i pending upon him for support for over a year.
That sister now lay ptostratc, aud she must
have succour and comfort. he sought all up
aud down the business part of New. York,
where he was acquainted, for employment as
clerk or orssalesnan; but thsrs was no opening
Then he sought in Nav Jersey city where he
lived; but without auecess. Weary aud sick
at heat be was on his way homeward, when
be met the butcher of whom he had that
morning bought some meat, and to whom he
bad told the story Of his great need.
'.WOll. Philip, what luck to-day Z" The
young man shook his head sadly.
''Nnthing turned up, eh ~
| s'Nothipg." And Philip would have passed
| on, but the frank, well>meaning old butcher
| detained him.
"Looke'e, Philip, don't want to insult ye,
nor hurt your feelings; but if ye amt above
putting on clean white trock, and driving
out my market wsgon, aud delivering goods
to customers,1I can give you job, aud pay
ye as much as they'd paw We these times 10
sell silks and satins. My mSn Furbush is
down sick, aud can't be out for mouth or
two. What say you p
"Philip Ne;tloton gazod up into Mr..
Dwinal's honest face, and then looked down
upon the pavement.
II know it is rather come down for a
young man who's been expecting to be New
York merchant but it's better than nothing
my boy aud, what's more, know it'll be
good for your health. My soul, it'll make
your cheeks red aud plump" A little while
longer; struggle and gulp; and Philip
said
'Mr. Dwiual | will come to. morrow morn
ing and commence to drive your cart Thank
God, have found employment at length I"
And to himself he said, silently in his heart
Poor Nellie shall not suffer while | have
strength and opportunity to labor"
What wondorment there was when peo-
pie saw Philip Nettleton, the highly educated
aud ornate, clad in butchers frock. driving
Mr.. Dwinars cart, and delivering parcels of
meat and vegetables through the town.
1t did not happen on the first day, nor yet
on the second, but on the third day he had to
delivera parcel at the house where Ada Ather>
ling lived ; and as he passed through tho gates
way, with heavy laden basket upon eithor
arm, he saw the woman whom he had learned
to love looking upon him from one of the
parlor windows. Ho did not bow his head in
shame, hut he gave respectful nod of re-
cognition, and passed on. When he was once
more upon his seat aud had taken up the reins,
knowing that tho gaze Of the maiden was still
fixed upon him; he said to himself:
"Farowell, Ada You can never stoop TO
this. But | have navcr had right to hope;
so what have lost? what, save the privilege
ofyOur sometime companionship. which might
only have lured ME more deeply into the pit
of disappointment and sorrow v'
On the evening Of that Same day Amos
Robbins sat in the little counting. room of the
store of friend Two ladies stood very near
to the partition thereof, the upper part of
which was of glazed sash, and open ; and this
was what. they had hoard spoken by two men
in the little box of an Office The irst spoke
in continuation Of remarks already made:
"Mr. DwinA himself told me how it was.
You know Nettleton has sick sister entirely
dependent upon him; and when he came out
from beneath the wreck of Brown & Boswell's
house, he. had not five dollar bill. He
searched day after day for employment
Gas did" broke in the silvery voice of
Amos Robbins.
"Yes," rejoiued the other; "but unlike
you, he was determined to do any work be
could fud SO that it was honest; and When
Dwiual offered him butchers frock, With
tsu dollars week, he took IT,"
"E2ad it must have come. tough" said
Robbins.
( '"Evidoutly not so tough to him as idleue.s
and debt, suggested the first speaker
II can't say that am fond Of dleDess.'
pursued Robbins; ''but good Lord ! won
der if Miss Atherlng has get eyes upon him
in that uniform IF she has, she must have
been somewhat taken down, Nettleton has
been quito intimate with the golden lady, and
have thought that he had really entertained
hopes of making an impression. Rut-yo
gods what an impression tbs butcher>boy
must make, eh? BY tho Mass 1 consider
myself in that quarter enhanced hundred
fold by Phil. Nettleton's falling down from
her social circle"
Thetwo ladies left the ssoro. Oue of them
Was Ada Atherling.
A few days after this cards we're issued for
select party at Miss Athering's. Philip Net
tleton received Que, On the margin of which
was written:
''Sbrlnk not He who has the moral cour-
age to do a brothers duty at the risk of So
cal position, need not fear that he can there
by be lowered in the esteem of
"ADA ATHERLIN0."
Philip Nettleton pressed that missive to his
lips, and it was wet with tsars. It was not
much but the simple words, from such
source, gave him moro hope than he had ever
dreamed Of
The evening came, aud people wondered
as much to see Philip NettIston there as they
had wondered when they had first seen him
on the butchers cart, Amos Robbins won
dered if Miss Altering would deign to no.
tice him aud when, not long afterwards, be
saw the lovely heiress take Philips arm and
walk out into the conservatory, be remarked
to friend:
"zounds 7! She don't know that be drives
butchers cart !"
Miss Ath.rliug." said Philip when they
were alone, 81 had, in my mind, relinquished
al hope of returning TO this ElHsinm y