The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-05-22

}. mother, did as he had been advised
careless and thoughtless of how it &C
cumulated from month to month. Th
gentleman who had been so interest e
in him often gave him small sumi
though debarred, like others, fror
rendering his m other assistance
which an honest pride forbade her t.
accept, and of which health and in
dustry prevented her from being il
absolute need.
A year passed, and CHANGING to b.
In the company of evil associates
Archley got into trouble with them
They committed some theft, in which
he did not share, and of which he wal
ignorant until he was arrested, like
them, and tiied as their accomplice
Information of the affair being brought
to Mr.. Dwight, he felt convinced OF
the boys innocence, aud after ques.
tioning him undertook to plead his
case which influence however, only
succeeded so far against the false tes.
timony of the really guilty that Arch.
ley was fined for trespass while the
others were more seriously dealt. with.
The shame Of the accusation seemed
to overcome the grieved boy more
than the fear of punishment, however
unjust; and he wept more bitterly
than the young reprobates who had
thought to make him share their pun.
ishment as we'll as their disgrace. -r
tYou need not shed tears. my boy
said his temporary protector, sooth.
ingly, SO that all could hear. None
who know you can think harm of you.
The best are often injured by false ev-
idence beyond their power of defense
against law and in this case the PEN
atty it prescrlbss for you I believe
you can pay, without depending upon
any body but yourself.
MY mother is so poor sobbed the
boy, that I don't like her to pay SO
much and how can pay it7'
What have you done with the box p
oh, forgot that but don't think
there can be 80 much in it, for the lit
tie have saved up in it,
'Send for it, and we will see about
that ,,i
The little box was therefore brought
and opened in court, and much to the
boys surprise. far more was found in
it than was demanded to meet the PEN
atty. This discovery cheered young
Archley, for he was now relieved from
his modification at dependency by be-
ing able to pay his fine with his own
money, which he did with some pride,
and with his mother, his friend aud
his box, he marched out of court amid
the cheers of his joyful playmates.
You see, my young friend, that by
being provident, without being mean,
you have been able to rescue yourself
from difficulty said Mr.. Dwight on
parting with them. Bear the lesson
in mind in future, as well az you have
kept your promise, and you will find
it of service throughoutyour life, long
after am dead, perhaps. There ia
more than the amount you have paid.
wished yOu to send for the box only
the better to illustrate what virtue
there is in providence, and how
thong ghtless prodigality might have
left you without one friend to serve
you.' .fr. |
The lesson thus learned had doubly
good effect and the boy was more
careful as to the character of his COM
panions ever after. .sisa.
The manifold changes of q few years |
transforming the boy into a man, in-
volved other great alterations in the
of his life. His mother
slept in the grave; his good FRIEND, Mr..
Dwight. had moved away, he knew
not whittier; and he in a neighboring |
town, no less popular as man than
he had been as boy, had, by dint of
enterprise, acquired thriv-
ing business, of which he was the
head. ~ - tt~-sf -H-
Fortune long seemed to favor the
young man, and often the image and
counsel Of his early good advisor came
up before him and the pleasant re-
made him yearn to see
him. But unfortunately the advice
which he remembered he did not fol-
low. His benevolence and confiding
nature, his eagerness to oblige, and
his impulsive sympathy at every sig
nal Of distress, became known to all
around him, and by allow and sure de-
grees the unstinted exercise of his un-
charity, annulled the good
results of his honest industry, and car
ried his affairs gradually into the back
ground, where prodigal generosity
often leads and leaves a man, and
where debt incurred by helping others
brings distress and ruin upon the do
serted bankrupt. s5y 81 stH
Herbert Archley failed, and found
few friends to praise, pity him, or de-
fend his honesty of purpose, and none
who were able or dared to help him.
To him came now the old experience
of the too benevolent, who have less
means to sustain than heart to prompt
generous actions and though fortune
did not so utterly forsake him as to
consign the well-meaning debtor to
Jail, his freedom to wander seemed no
to him. who, as he left the
town, poor and censured man, could
not leave its recollections also behind.
The imprisoned thought was Itself
as, when far away, he
tn Col |