Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1880-10-21

OICU.
One day Mr.. Muller was invi-
ted to the country seat of 6
friend, and, arriving there at the
appointed time, he noticed this
Iyoung man walking up and down
the shady paths of the garden.
engaged in earnest conversation
with the host.
"Now ] shall know who this
young pan is" thought Mr..
Muller, and hastily approached
them.
"Allow me-" said the host, af-
ter exchanging greetings with
his friend, "to Introduce"
at is not necessary, / assure
you," said the young man, 1--WE
have known each other for many
a yearI"
"You must be mistaken" said
Mr.. Muller, "for in answer to
your greetings, l have repeated
ly bowed to you,- still you are
entirely unknown me!'
"And yet l insist" " replied the
young man, "that l have been
acquainted with you long time,
and am delighted to have the OPP
portunity of meeting you here,
and to present my heartfelt
thanks for service you once
did mel"
'FYou speak in riddles," said
Mr.. Muller; chow can you be
under obligations to me, when !
do not even know you!'
"It does seem a little mystic
rious," laughing answered the
young man, "but let us sit down
here on the piazza, while l throw
a little light on the subject.
"Seyenteen years ago, when l
was a lad of nine, / started to
school one morning, with my
books under one arm and lunch
of bread and butter under the
other. l was a poor boy with a
big appetite. And my luncheon
seemed never enough for my
hungry stomach, and / used Of
ten to envy boys whose mothers
could afford to give them choice
fruit for dinner.
"My way to school was thro'
the market-place, and as / ar
rived there it seemed to me the
fruit had never looked half so
beautiful or desirable. / stood
there several minutes, gazing at
the abundant supply, instead of
fastening away from tempta-
ton, as / should have done.
"Suddenly an old market-wo-
man, who superintended large
rosy-streaked apples, turned her
back on her wares to gossip with |
a neighbor.
"Such lots and lots, u thought
to myself, "surely one from so
many would never be missed, yet
it would do me so much good"
"Quick as flash l stretched
out my hand, and was just a.
bout to thrust one into my pock-
ct, when a sharp slap caused me
to drop the fruit in an agony Of
terror.
"Youngster," said an earnest
voice close to my burning ear,
"have you forgotten theTenCom-
Now l hope this
is the first time that you have
ever stretched out your hand af-
ter goods that were not yOurf
own; let it be the last time also"
81 hung my head down for
shame, and only for an instant
lifted my eyes from the ground
to see who my reproyer was.
"When / reached school the
words heard were still sounding
in my ears. My heart was SO
full l could scarcely keep from
"Let it be the last time
ais" ""Let it be the last time al
So" again and again confronted
me. Bowing my head on the
desk, 1 resolved that it should
indeed be the last time, even as
it had been the first; that never
as long as / lived would ] covet
what belonged to another, or
strive to gain unlawful posses
sion.
"After a few years / left school
and became a clerk in my uncle's
counting room. From there a
year or two later / went to South
America. You will readily be-
Iieve me when | tell you that
there the temptations to young
are not few. / Irepeat-
edly had opportunities, which ac-
quaintances of mine did not hes
itate to improve, to benefit my
self at the expense of others,
but every time these presented
themselves, that ringing blow on
the ear and those words. II let