The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-06-27

at the end of the week he was engaged as a
regular hand in the large establishments OF
Messrs. Freeman & FaWsit, tea brokers.
Alan murmurl at nothing; nothing was
too much for him, and no one ever heard him
say he could not do what was required OF
him.
Trustworthy and attentive in business, ne
soon found favor with his employers, and
they were but too glad to promote him as the
chance came in their way.
The two friends were now fairly started
in life, with every prospect of doing we'll;
and had they both attended to the good ad
vice that was given them on entering their
sew vacations, it would have been we'll for
bad habits cling to us as ivy to wall;
idle, iuattentive boy found a diff
settling down into the diligent bust
hth.
novelty of his new life soon wore off,
of yore, he began to feel everything
bic.
getting up in the morning was his
diffculty-tO lie in bed to the last mo
was Austin'S plan; then all his duties
& performed hurriedly, and it was nothing
scramble and commotion till he had
he'd to his train, which, however, he gene
ly managed to lose. -
Thus matters went on, tn Bis employers
would put up with his unpunctuality no
longer; so, at the time that Alan Burne was
promoted to his first rise, Austin Compton
received his dismissal.
As his mother was not very well off, ne had
to bear all the inconvenience of straitened
circumstances; and the various straits which
the youth was put to, brought him to realize
the advantages Of the situation which ne had
allowed to slip away from him.
Now that he had become practically &C.
quainted with the many hardships that idle
ness brings, he resolved that if ever good
situation came in his way again, he would
discard his old habits and do his best to
keep it.
But it was long time before Austin OBJ
tanned employment again-gOod situations
are not to be found at every street corner !;
and so he found. But, at last, another office
opened its doors to him, and once more he
had the same means of earning livelihood.
The years have rolled on, and the two
friends are now middle aged men, but their
regard for one another is still as strong as
when they we're lads at school. Then they
were both poor, with the world before them
to make their way in, bat now their circum-
stances are different.
Alan Burne, through his untiring perse-
veranCe, rose step by step till at last he be-
came managing man in the establishment
where he first begged that trial might be
given him.
He has proved "worthy of his hire" and
in the receipt of handsome income, is now
reaping the fruits of his industry.
Austin Compton, on the contrary, though
hard working and peraevering enough now,
is still poor man; he just manages to make
both ends meet, but the ball that he cast
from him in his thOughtles8 youth has never
come in his path again; and though thankful
that we'll is we'll so far, yet sadness comes
over his spirit when he thinks of the oppor-
tunity that he let slip.
But it is no good repining over what can
not be mended; and, as Austin Compton
tells his young friends, if they will only per-
severe and grasp their opportunities of sue
cess, and climb the ladder step by step, they
may some day place their feet upon the top;
and he names his friend, Alan Burne, as an
example. BRITISH Juvenile.