The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-10-02
JOHN CADY'S HONESTY.

John Caiy was sixteen years old, tall
for his nge, very thin, with red hair and
pale blue eyes, and altogether had a
weak and sickly appearance. From the
time he could remember, he had lived
with his ,lnclc, who was a druggist.
Left M orphan at a very early period in
life, his kind hearted relative had taken
him to raise, aud when he was old
enough he was set to sweeping the shop
aud running errands. He increased in
altitude 40 fast that his uncle, who wis
short man, was good deal bothered
in making his wornout pantaloons I'll
the long legs OF the growing youth, but
he had an ingenious housekeeper, whu
discovered the art OF making q passablc
pair OF pants ont OF two old ones. T.
be sure, tho legs did not always har
monize in color, but the difference wa,
so triding that it was expected JobI
Cady would never DO the wiser OF il.
John, ut tho ago Of sixteen, slept in TIT
shop. Perhaps that was the reason the
poor fellow 'seyeballs were yellow instea,l
Of white, and his complexion anything
but that OF health.
Every Thursday afternoon his uncle
permitted him to have holiday; the
rest OF tho week he was expected h,
work with the patience and regularity OF
a mule in a tteadmill, and never com.
plain, even il no went to bed hungry,
His uncle managed his house upon n
plan 80 frugal that nothing was waste''
that could possibly be eaten and digcsteG
by man or beast.
Poor John Cady had many heartaches.
He used to watch the boys play, bn:
never found time to join in their sports
Gralu lily he became quiet, melan
choly youth, md grew mp with littl'
idea OF how he was to make his mark il
the world. In tho winter months hi
uncle sent him to night school, aud by
this means he acquired all the education
he ever possessed. But he was honest,
strictly 80, and notwithstanding thu
rough lessons he WIS taught in life, he
ever was conscientious in all he did.
Like all boys, ho Ind his dreams His
uncle could not deprive him the pleasure
OF building air castles, and many such
structures John reared while he per
formed the drudgery Of the shop. II
various ways, however, he had earned q
little money, which hc had boarded up,
until the snm amounted to about fifteen
dollars. This wealth he had acqu red
in his afternoon holidays, assisting q
milkmau who lived hard by, and who
had taken pity upon tho unfortunate
youth. By his advice John Cady bad
demanded salary from his uncle. who
had promised to give him two dollars Il
week md his board when he should bt
seventeen years old. John never forgot
his friend the milkman for putting him
on tue road TO fortune; and MS it wanted
eight months Of the time when he
should receive pay for his services, h
looked forward with the eagerness OF Il
child to the coming Of tho happy day.
1t was n clear, cold afternoon in Sep
tember TINT John Cady stood at the
corner OF the street waiting for tho cars
TO take him out to G-town. He had
IN old maid aunt who lived there. aud
he occasionally made her visit. When
the car camc along, Johu ensconced
himself in corner seat, md gave him
self up t, castle building. Pretty soon
the car stopped 10 admit an old gentle
man, who took scat directly alongside
our hero. He was n man OF some sixty
wears, dressedin dark brown clothes, the
pattern OF which went out OF fashion
about the time John Cady was ushered
into life. A heavy gold chain, with an
immense cornslian seal, hung on his
watch fob, and n white fur hat sur
mounted his white hairs. No sooner
had he taken his seat than ho took ont
we'll stuffed pocketbook, and brgau
counting the notes it contained.
Just at this moment John Cady raised
bis eyes, aul coming ba,k to the realmt
OF tho world, gazol at the OLD man WIN
undisguisel nStonish,nout. Tho pocket
book was crammed full, aul tho notes
were hundreds, five hundreds, and ever
thousands. Certainly there must have
been $4,000 in that wallet, aud tho oil
gentleman tllumbOd them over so care
lessly that John CNdy wns suro that III
had thousands moro at tho back OF them
He apparently made no more accoun
OF his wealth than John did the seventy
five cents slowed away in tho corner .
his vest pocket. The longer our hort
cazed upon tho old gentleman, tho NOR
uncomfortable no 3egau to feel in th'
proximity Of n person who could spor
with thousands in such n manner.
Apart from tho sense he had of th'
utter incongrnity between man with
pocket full Of bank notes, and 9notae
with only saventy.lvc cents, no !el
there was practical danger ir sitting =
close to exposed wealth. Tho pocket
book by mistake might got into hi
..4:nl,k n,at ankanOIpl II