South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1877-09-21
A Lesson for Boys.

A boy went and lived with man who
was counted hard master. He never
kept his boys. They ran away or gave
him notice they meant to quit; so he
was half his time without or in search
of boy.
The work was not very hard-open.
ing and sweeping out the shop, chop.
ping wood, running errands, and help
ing around. At last Samuel Fisher
went to live with him.
"Sam's good boy" said his mother.
81 should like to see boy now adays
that has spark Of goodness in him"
growled the new master.
1t is always bad to begin with a man
who has no confidence in you, because,
do your best, you are likely to have lit
tie credit for it. However, Sam thought
he would try: tho wages were good and
his mother wanted him to go. :.
Sam had been with Mr. Jones but three
days before, in saving a cross.grained
stick of wood, he broke the saw. He
was little frightened. He knew he
was careful, and he knew he was pref
ty good sawyer, too, for a boy Of his age !;
nevertheless the saw broke in his hands.
"And Mr.. Jones will thrash you for
it," said another boy who vas in the
woodshed with him.
"Why, Of course, I didn't mean to do
it, and accidents will happen to the best
of folks" said Sam, looking with very
sorrowful air at the broken saw.
"Mr. Jones never makes allowances,
said the other boy;."I never saw any
thing like him. That Bill! might have
stayed, only hejumpcd into a hens nest
and broke her eggs. fle dared not tell
Of it; but Mr.. Jones kept suspecting
and suspecting, and laid everything out
of the way, to Bill, whether he was to
blame or not, till Bill couldn't stand it
and wouldn't"
did he tell Mr.. Jones about the
eggs?" asked Sam.
NO" said the other boy; che was
afraid; Mr.. Jones has got such tenn
per-"
Il think he'd better owned up at
once" said Sam.
II uspcctyou'll find it better to preach
than to practice" said the boy. 81
would run away before I'd tell him."
And he turned on his heel and left poor
Sam alone with his broken saw.
The poor boy did not feel very com.
Portable OF happy. lie shut up the wood
house, walked out into the garden and
then went into his little chamber under
the caves. He wished he could tell
Mrs. Jones: but she wasn't sociable,
and bc had rather not. 20 my God,
said Sam falling on his knees, help me
to do tie thing that's right"
do not know what time it was, but
when Mr.. Jones came into tho house
Sam heard him. He got up, crept down
stairs, and met Mr. Jones in the kitchen.
Sir" said Sam, 81 broke your saw,
and | thought I'd come and tell you 'foro
you saw it in the morning"
"What did you get up TO tell me for?"
asked MIR. JONES'" 1 should think morn
ing would be time enough to tell oFyour
carelcssncss."
Because" said," Sam, Il was afraid
if l put it Off | might be tempted to lie
about it. rm sorry l broke it, but tried
to be careful.
Mr.. Jones looked at the boy from
head to foot, then stretched out his hand.
There, SAM" hQ said heartily, "give
me your hand. Shake hands. That's
right. Go to bed, boy. Never fear.
I'm glad the saw broke; it shows the
mcttle's in you. Go to bed"
Mr., Jones was fairly won. Never
were better friends after that than Sam
and he. Sam thinks justice has not
been done Mr.. Jones. If the boys had
treated him honestly and "above board"
he would have been good man to live
with. 1t was their conduct that soured
and made him suspicious. l do not
know how that is. l know that Sam
Fisher finds in Mr.. Jones kind master
and faithful friend.