The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1875-09-10
Miscellaneous.
JUSTICE AT LAST.


If every one in this world held as high an
opinion of his own merit as did Mr.. Thomas
Archer, and were rewarded hereafter in ac-
cOrdance, there would be no room in heaven.
Taking his own private view of the matter,
he was generous and conscientious to a per-
fectly painful degree. But, unhappily, a
good many people differed widely with him
on this important point-accusing him of
meanness and penury in general, and of GER
tain dishonest practice toward his former en-
ployer, William Deverell, in particular, sim
ply because when that gentleman suddenly
became bankrupt for no visible cause, Mr..
Archer, then acting as his confidential clerk,
was found to have the business all in his
own hands. But to minds unprejudiced,
| there was in this fact no proof whatever of
anything underhanded. Matters were just a
trife complicated, and that was all.
Besides, if there had been any trifing
grounds for suspicion, they should have been
swallowed up in admiraton,.of his subsequent
noble conduct. Instead of turning Mr.. Dev.
erell-now old and feeble-into the street,
to beg or starve, as he might have done, he
made him his porter at six dollars week
This sum, enormous as it was, failed to sat
isfy the extravagant notions of the obstinate
old man. lie complained Of hard work and
poverty, and made himself so dsagreeablC
altogether, that it is wonder that Mr. Ar.
cher's patience had not long since given out
The conversation going on at present be.
tween the employer and his porter will show
how the gentle heart Of the former was daily
wounded by the ingrattude of the latter.
49," said Mr. Archer looking over hi:
desk, "you are late again, Deyerell, are
you?"
eyes, sir" answered the old man, humbly
"My daughter is very i'll, and l stayed a lit,
tie over my time to make her comfortable
for the day.
"Well," retortcd Mr. Archer grimly, what
has that to do with me7 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 does that care
say?" pointing to bit of dusty pasteboari
hanging over the desk. The card said-anC
seemed to be nightly ashamed of itself, toe
that fines would be collected from the sal
aries of employees for various invisible of
ienses-a very pretty and ingenious scheme
of cxtortion. at says" continued Mr.. Ar
cher, "that You are to be fined for being late
don't it? Well, you are fined-twenty-iivC
cents"
"Oh, sir" said DeverelI anXiously, evil
you not excuse me this time? If am fine,
again this week shall have nothing left t.
buy medicine for my child"
"Now Pvc got enough of this whining,
retorted the other angrIy; "If you don't lik
the place get another"
81 would gladly, if it were posrible.-Bu
who would take me, old and worn out as
ann"
"Well," answered Mr.. Archer with sigl
as if his patience had at last given out unde
such an aggravation, "Pll give you chanc
to find out Step up to the desk and g
what's due you-fnes deducted-and clea
out"
"Whatw cried Deverell in tremblin
voice, "You cannot mean to discharge me
No, no Think, sir, we should starye.'
"Starve then" was the amable repl,
Jenkins, just hand me over four-iity, wi
you? There are your wages; now take YOU
self Off.
With these words, jerking the money t
ward him, Mr.. Archer turned his back upo
him.
The old man stood looking at him mil
ute with his hands extended in an involul
tary gesture of supplication; then with
sigh that sounded like wall of grief, i
turned and went out As the door bangC
/ after him as viciously as if it shared Il
I opinion Of its owner, young man left one
the desks in the room, and, approaching NJ
Archer, said
"Father, what is the matter with Mr., De
erell"
\ "Matter? discharged the ungrateful o.
dog-thats ALL"
"But," said the other uneasily, how wi
a he live? He is too old to get another place
"Don't know and don't care' snapped NJ
Archer 81 won't take him back, if that
1 Ia Il -.