Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-03-25
TOMS TEMPTATION.
by HoRATIo ALGER. sR


NOW, mother, said Tom, as he
paused at the door, with his hat on,
just IS he was starting for the office
where be was employed at four dol.
lars week. promise me you won't
sew any to day
But Tom ii won't hurt me, aud
you know we can't live on your
salary alone.'
Wait till you get well, mother !;
then won't objeos. You are not
we'll enough to sew yet
One glance at Mrs. Briggs, pale,
thin and miserable. as, with slow
and weary step she moved about
the. room, was enough to justify
Tom to caution.
What do you want me to do then,
Tom?' asked his mother, smiling
family. Am l to sit still and hold
my hands?'
That's just what l want you to
do, mother. Don't you remambe
what the doctor said-tLat you
needed absolute rest p
There are only two shirts left to
make, Tom. l would rather finish
them. Then you can collect the
money, and we shall need it when
rent-day comes
You may work q couple of hours
said the kind. hearted des.
pot of fourteen but mind, not
minute more. And mind you don't
work fast.'
i will sew awhile this forenoon.
and again in the afternoon, Tom
If ! rest between, it won't hurt me-
To this Tom assented, and then
hurried off to the office.
Tom was an office-boy in the
employ of Bond & Avery brokers
in hides and leather, in that part of
lower New York known as the
Swamp He had held his posi-.
ton for year and half. During
the fret year he received three dol.
lars per week, but on the first of
January he was promoted to four.
The extra dollar wasa welcome
addition to his small salary for on
THE, his mothers small earnings as
a seamstress, and a Goversmen.
pension of eight dollars month
for Toms father was killei in the
war of the Rebellion-the little
family was forced to live.
Mrs. Briggs was naturally delicate
and the confined life she led
brought on a combination of physi.
cal debility and nervous depression
and the doctor prescribed absolute
rest. But he neglected to explain
where substitute could be found
for the two dollars which Mrs.
Briggs earned with her needle.
The poor woman would gladly
have followed bis advice, but she
knew just how much it cost to live
even 10 their humble way, aud ne.
cessity spurred her to renewed ef-
fort.
Il wish mother could lay aside her
needle for good and ALL thought
Tom, as posed through Spruce
Street on his way to the Office. Now
if only earned six dollars instead of
four, there would be no need of her
working. Of course Bond & Avery
won't increase my wages, but If
there was only something to do out
side.'
1t was easy enought to frame the
wish, but hard to think of any way
in which the desired two dollars
could be earned. Of course Tom
could not spend an hour night and
morning blacking boots, for this
would cost him bis situation. There
would probably be an objection also
to his selling papers, and apart from
these two ways of ear ming money,
in particular suggested it.
self to him.
Tom reached the office and open.
ed it. He had just got it into order,
when Mr.. Avery came in.
Mt. Avery was only one with
whom Tom had to do, Mr.. Bond be-
ing simply q capitalist who had an
interest in the business but took no
active part in it's management.
'You may 60 to the post Office,
Tom,' said Mr.. Avery, writing brief
answers TO three business letters
which came in the morning mail.
All right, sir
Wait minute, first. l have
something to say to you
Tom listened, expectant, but be
was by no means prepared for the
heavy blow that awaited him.
How long have you been with
me?'
"A year and q half, sir
1 have been very we'll pleased
With you.'
lis it possible be is going TO in
crease my salary 2 thought Tom,
and his heart gave q bound.
And l should BIS glad to keep
vou with me for years to come;
but
Tom turned pale. What did Mr..
Avery mean by this awful 'but?'
But Mr.. Bond, OF course, has q
voice in the matter, and be has writ.
ten me. requesting your place for .
young nephew Of his, who is just
school, / am really sorry,
not alone because 1 wish to retain
you. but also because this boy is
rom the country. and will need to
be broken in.' You understand ex-
actly what to do, but shall, proba.
bly, have considerable trouble with
him."
When is this boy coming p asked
Tom, in low voice.
He will be here on Saturday, and
ready to enter upon bis duties on
Monday morning
1t seems rather sudden said
Tom, quietly.
Mr. Avery did not notice how
dull and dispirited be looked. In
fact, be knew nothing Of Toms
means. he fancied him in comfort
able circumstances, for our young
hero was always neatly dressed, and
had natural fund of good spirits.
How could his employer suspect
that be was so strsited in means?
That's fact, Tom, be said. 1T
lie sudden. l don't want to act IN.
fairly, and will, therefore. on Sat-