The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-08-19
STEP BY STEP.
BY SILVER GREY.

"Halloa, Bernie; want to trade
knives?"
"My, but that's a beauty! Where
did YOU get it, Edgar?'
Bought it in town the other day;
it's none Of your country-store
knives. But I've got tired of it,
and I'll trade, if you say So"
"But haven't got anything but
this" and Bernie pulled his poor lit
tie, battered, one bladed knife from
his pocket.
"Never mind; that'll do. I'll
trade even, if you will"
"Will you. really, thought Ber-
nie's eyes sparkled; and when he
found himself the actual owner Of
a white handled knife with three
cleaning blades, he felt at least
twice as rich as before.
A few days later, he came to Ed
gar with a doleful face, and hold
ing the knife in his hand
See, Edgar! I've broken the big.
gest blade"
How in the world did you do
that? You little youngsters are SC
careless"
81 was only cutting a stick" re.
piled Bernie. sorrowfully.
An older boy, standing near by.
took the pieces from Bernie's hand
and looked at them carefully.
"Pot metalw was all he said, as
he gave them back, and, began to
whis tie.
"What's that?" asked Bernie in
nocently.
"Its what your knife blades are
made Of"
"Just mind your own affairs, will
you Charlie Daytonp
"Oh, certainly; but hope my at
fairs will never be as small business
as cheating a little fellow like Ber'
ME-"
Edgar's eyes flashed; but before
he could answer, Squire Burleigh'f
bay pony dashed by the schoolyard'
and the Squire himself called out
"Here, boys; one of you! Run down
to the post-office and mail these
letters for me-
Edgar was off in an instant, and
reached the Office almost as soon as
the pony. He took the letters in,
and brought back the contents OF
the 'Squire's box.
"You are sure you got every
thing?' inquired the portly old gen
tleman.
Eyes, sir; sure
alright, then. You've saved me
the trouble of climbing down from
this gig. Here's five cents for you,
and he tossed down a coin which
fell on the sidewalk.
"Stingy old miser," muttered Ed
gar, as he stopped to pick it up.
But his face changed as his fng'
ers touched the coin, and he glanc'
ed uneasilly at the Squire, who was
talking to the proprietor of the
, store and post-office, and presently
drove off.
"He'll never miss it," said Edgar
to himself. "He has piles of money
and it's no more than he onght te
give me, any way"
So he slipped the twenty-five cent
piece in his pocket, and walkec
away; and Squire Burleigh was
never any the wiser for it.
The firm of McAllister, Rogers d
Co., were counted among the strong
est in the city. The partners wer'
cautious, substantial business men
aud whatever went through thei1
hands was expected to be success
Nevertheless, dull time effected
them as we'll as others; and whei
business was slack, they were among
the first to retrench.
1--WE cen spare at least one clerk
said the senior member OF the trm
in consultation with his partners
land / suppose it must be eithe
Foster or Arnot."
1--WE can't spare Foster" reptile.
Mr.. Rogers, "He knows the busi
ness already, almost as well as "
do. And he's sharp as q needle; no
body will ever get ahead OF him."
4 "Not too sharp for our good, d
You thinkY'
mo, indeed; I would trust him +
any extent
every well; no doubt you ar
right. Let it be so then. But Ar
not must 60"
| That evening Henry Arnot, walk
ling homeward, with the words Q
dismissal yet ringing in his ears
heard rapid step behind him, an