Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1878-10-31
Edwards Temptation.
BY H1RATo ALGER, JR.

Itwas six o'clock in the after.
noon. AS this time the great whole
sale warehouse Of Messrs. Hubbard
Il Son was went close, unless the
presS~re of business compelled the
partners to keep open until later.
The duty Of closing usually de-
volyed upon Edward Jones, boy of
fourteen, who had lately been ell.
gagged to perform few slight duties
for which he received tie sum Of
fifty dolllrs annually. He was the
boy" but if he behaved himself so
as TO win the appreciation of his en-
ployers bis chance Of promotion was
good.
Vet there were some things that
rendered this small salary har,l
tlial to circumstances with
which his employers were unac-
Qnainted. HIS mother was widow.
The sudden death of Mr.. Jones had
thrown the entire family upon their
Own resources, and these were i'll
deed but slender.
There was an older sister who as
sisted her mother to sew, and this
with Edwards salary constituted
the entire income of the family.
Yet by means Of untiring industry,
they had continued thus far to live,
using strict economy of course.
Yet they had wanted none Of the
absolute neceSsaries of life.
Bat Mary Jones-Edward'S sister
grew sick. She had taken a Sc
ve;e cold which terminated in few
er. This not only cut off the in-
come arising from her own labor,
hut also prevented her mother from
accomplishing as much as she would
otherwise have been able to Go.
On the morning of the day on
which our story commences, Mary
had expressed q longing for an
orange. In her fever it would have
been most grateful to her.
tis hard indeed when we are
Obliged to deny 10 those we love
that which would be a refreshment
and a benefit to them.
Mrs. Jones felt this, ard SO did
Edward.
Il only wish coulJ buy you one,
Mary" said Edward, just as he set
out for the store. Next year l
shall receive Il larger salary, and
then we shan't have to pin;h so
much"
Never mind, Edward" said
Mary, smiling family, Il ought not
10 have asked for it, knowing how
hard you and mother find it getting
along without me.
Don't trouble yourself about
that, Mary" said Mrs. Jones, sooth-
ingly, though ter heart sank within
her at the thought OF her empty
larder. "Only get well, and we
shall get along we'll enough after
wards"
1t was with lie memory Of this
SCENE that Edward went To the store
in The morning.
All around him were boxes Of
rich goods representing thousands
of dollars in money.
"Oh ~ thought he, Elf only l had
the value Of one OF these boxes, bow
much good it would do poor Mary!''
and Edward sighed.
The long day wore away at last,
ard Edward was then about to close |
the warehouse. But as he was pass
ing the desk of bis employer, his at
tention was drawn TO bit Of paper
lying on the Hoor beneath. lIepick-
ed il up, and to his great JOY he
found it to be ten dollar bill.
The first thought that flashed up
on him was "iiow much good will
this do Mary. l can buy Her the
oranges she wants, and she shall
have some every day, and perhaps
she would like q chicken"
But a moment later his counte-
nance fell.
st isn't mine.'' he sighed. ''1t
must be Mr. Habbard's This is
lis desk, and he must have dropped
it,"
''Still,'' urged the teupter, "he
will never know it. And after all,
what arc ten dollars to him ? lie Is
worth hundred thousand.
Still Edward was not satisfied.
Whether Mr.. Hubbard 1coyld spare |
it or not was not the question. It
was rightfully his and must be CIV
en- back TO. him,
''I'll go to his house and give 1t to
him this very night" said Edward.
otherwise l might be tempted to
keep it.
He determined to go to Mr.. Hub
hard's before he went home. The
sight Of his sick sister might per-
haps weaken his resolution, and this