The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-09-08
JUSTICE AT LAST.

warded hereafter 10 accordance, there
would be no room in heaven. TAX
ing his own private view of the mat
ter, he was generous and consclen-
tious to perfectly painful degree.
But, unhappily, a good many people
differed widely with him on this I'M
portant point-accusing him of mean
ness and penury in general, and OF
certain dishonest practices.toward his
former employer, William Deverell,
in particular, simply because when
that gentleman suddenly became
bankrupt for no visible cause, Mr..
Archer, then acting as his confden-
tial clerk. was found to have the bus
mess all in his own hands. But TO
minds unprejudiced, there was IN
this fact no proof whatever of any
thing underhanded Matters were
| Just trife complicated, and thai was
all.
Besides, if there had been any
triaing grounds for suspicion, they
should have been swallowed up bodi-
ly in admiration of his subsequent
noble conduct. Instead Of turning
Mr.. Deverell-Dow old aud feeble
irto the streets to beg or starve, as
be might have done, he made him
his porter at six dollars a week.
This sum, enormous as it was, failed
to satisfy the extravagant notions oi
the obstinate old man. He COM
planned of hard work and poverty,
and made himself So disagreea5le a.
together, that it was wonder that
MIR. Archer's patience had not long
since given out.
The conversation going on at pres
ent between the employer and his
porter will show how the gentle heart
of the former was daily wounded by
the ingratitude of the latter:
"So,n said Mr.. Archer, looking
over bis desk. you are lac again,
Deyerell, are your"
Yes, SIR" answered the old man,
humbly. my daughter is very i'll,
And stayed with her little over
my tine TO make her comfortable for
the day.
Well retorted Mr.. Archer, grim
lly, what has that TO do with me! /
pay you for ten hours work, and ten
hours work / am going to have out
of you, or some one will get into
trouble. Now, then, what i es that
card say?" pointing tO.s bit Of dusty
pastehoard, hanging over the desk
The card said-and seemed TO be
nightly ashamed Of itself, too-that
/ fines would be collected from the sal
aries of emplyees for various invisi-
BILE offenses-a very pretty and inge-
NOUS scheme of extortion. 1T says"
continued Mr.. Archer, that you are
to be fined for being late, don't
II Well, you are fned-twenty-fve
cents.~ =
"Oh, SIR said Deverell, anxIously,
will you not excuse me this time:
If am fined again this week | shall
have nothing left to buy medicine for
my child"
Now, I've got enough of this
whining" retorted the other angrily;
"if you don't ike the place, get
another"
Il would gladly, if it were possible
But who would take me, old and
worn out as ann"
We'll" answered Mr.. Archer with
a sigh. as if his patience had at last
given out under such aggravation,
III give you a chance to find out.
Step up to the desk and ge. what's
due you-fnes deducted-and clear
out"
What cried Deverell, in a
trembling voice. "You cannot mean
that you discharge me! No, no. Think,
sir, we should starve."
"Starve then, was the amiable reply,
jenkins, just hand me over four-tifty,
will your There are your wages; now,
take yourself Off"
With these words, jerking the mon
ey towards him, Mr. Archer turned
his back upon him.
The old man stood looking at him
q moment with his hands extended
in an involuntary gesture ofsupplica-
ton; then with sigh that sounded
like wall Of grief, he turned and
went out As the door banged after
him as viciously as if it shared the /
opinions of its owner, young man
left one of the desks in the room, |
and, approaching Mr.. Archer, said;
Father, what is the matter with Mr.. |
Deverell?n
Matter? / discharged the migrate
ful old dog-that's ALL"
But" said the other, uneasily, /
chow will he live? He is too old to
get another place.
Don't know and don't care"
snapped Mr. Archer Il won't take /
him back, if that's what you're driv-t
ing at"
"At least you will not object if | in
te-est myself in his BEHALF"
"No,n was the grudging reply /
"Bs4 l shall think you a fool for
troubling yourself about him all the
same.n
Where does be live?n asked the /
son, disregarding the latter part of
his fsther's answer.
"Don'tknow."
The young man drew back with
an air of disappointment, and, after a
moment of hesitation, returned
thoughtfully to his desk
Meanwhile William Deverell plod-
ded detected through the crowded
streets towards his poor habitation-
Bending over q couch upon which
lay q young girl in 6tful slumber,
he gazed sadly into the pallid face.
Age and misfortune are very
Napoleons for conqueri1g fOrtitude,
and tear that be could not repress
started from his eye and fell upon
the cheek of the sleeper. Awakened
with a frightened start, the girl
arose upon her elbow, and exclaimed;
The worst that could have hap
oorad 80 re- E1raIvr Iaro Let