Mexico weekly ledger., 1877-09-06
MEXICO; MISSOURI, THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 6, 1s77.

+ it is right in the middle of Mai
Y street. And they couldn't refuse yo
+ a trial, If you pay one-quarter's ren
# in advance; and it will give you quit
g q holiday to go to N-for goods. >
e Could he? Dared he?
Tom felt his figure straighten, hi
e heart expand. Nobody had for year
! seemed to consider him fit for an,
responsible position. His mother.
tender pleading was only to lead hin
from wrong; Robert exhorted him te
'sstop making beast of himself
Z Maggie wondered how he could SC
, forget his family, but little Elsie
trusted him, asked him to
take care Of her, proposed to him to
open a store.
| 'I'H do 1t, Elsie!''
/ ''And, after ALL" the tender heart
argued, as Elsie rose from prayer be-
fore retiring, 'sthey all said he would
only waste the money in drink, and
he cannot do worse than lose it in q
store"
But he did not lose it! Heron's
Hill was in great iutter when Hun.
ter S store was opened, great sign
put over the door. bearing the in
scription, ''Thos. Conard, Furniture
Dealer" great vans came numbering
over from N, full of the new
goods, and repairing was promised
upon grand scale.
Curiosity was the first attraction
for customers, and trities of wash
stands, chairs, kitchen tables and such
expensive articles were found to be
needed in every household. Elsie,
perched at o high desk at the back of
the store, was the cashier. Tom,
important and busy, was salesman,
and the two were as merry as babies
over new dolls house.
1t was wonderful to see how the
new responsibility did steady ''wild
Tom Conard."
The ale house knew him no longer;
the sneers and jokes of his old boon
companions had no effect upon him.
Elsie's trust in him, and the fact that
he was her protector, kept him in the
straight path where all else had
failed,
The new store prospered, and the
cashiers place was filed by a clerk
Tom was quite able to pay, and Elsie
returned to her duty as housekeeper
for Tom; adviser-for Tom friend
counselor, comforter, all-for Tom.
1t took time-years--to convince
Robert and Maggie, and Elsie's
esi4cels 10 .ssa~ral. thah she had not
Elsie was twenty-one, pretty as
ever, gentle and loving, faithful to
Tom, when one evening over the cosy
tea-table momentous conversation
occurred.
ssElsie." Tom said, 81 met Mr.,
Murray this afternoon, very down
hearted"
Mr.. Murray was the new minister
at Herone's Hill. Elsie grew rosy in
moment, stirred her tea and said
never a word.
sElsie, are you treating him quite
fairly? He Is good man."
eyes," very faintly.
San upright, spledid fellow; what
l call a true Christian gentleman"
"Yes, Tom"
"And loves you!'
No answer.
"And you love him. Why did you
send him away?'
"Oh, Toni" in burst of tears,
.you are cruel. 1t was all for your
sake!'' ...
Then she was running away, but
Toms strong arms caught and held
her.
ssFor my sake! So 1 suspected!
But"--and brown mustache swept
Elsie's cheek as Tom whispered-"I
was only waiting for Mr.. Murray to
speak, Elsie, to be sure there was
some one to take care of you before
asking
sob! Tom-Helen." !"
ssYes, dear Helen. Will You let
her take-not your place, Elsie, for
nv heart has room for you both, but
my wife's place in my new home y
So it was settled, and when the fair,
sweet wife Tom won would speak
loving words Of his and her own hap
piness, Tom would say:
81 owe it all to Elsie. My sisters
love and trust made man of a me- er-
do WE'LL"
The old gentleman was really griev-
ed, and he said:
s'My hoy, I'm willing to do any
thing, but you must be more respect
full. You tell your mother to pul
down her vest, and order the girl te
bring beer"
ssOh, father" said he, ''put up the
bars or you'll catch cold"
Two persons were once dispaan'
SO loudly ON the subject OF religion
that they. awoke a big dog which ha'
: been sleeping on the hearth befor
them, and he forthwith barlSed mos