Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-07-20

"Good-bye, Tom" said Mr.. Perrin, as he
turned the key in the heavy lock, and stop
ped moment to shake hands. "You've
done we'll by us, and If things are ever so
that we can take another start, we'll do well
by you in our turn"
They shook hands, and Tom walked away,
with a months wages in his pocket and no
particular idea what to do next. Was he
down-hearted 7 Not at all. There was
something somewhere that he could do that
he was sure of and although he looked
grave, he whistled cheerily enough as he
marched along.
Suddenly turning corner, he ran upon
Harry Blake, walking in a listless, detected
way, which at once caught his attention.
Hslloo-what's upP" inquired Tom
Haven't you heard :" replied Harry, in
melancholy voice. 1.-THE Tiverton Bank
has gone to smash, with most OF our money
in it -
"Your money!
"My mothers. It's the same thing ex-
actly.'
"was it much ?" Is the bank gone for
good ?"
"sure smash, they say, and seveneighths
of all we had"
Tom gave whistle of dismay.
"Well, Harry what next 2" he de-
manded. Have you thought OF anything
to do 2"
"No. What can 1 do ?" Harry's voice
sounded hopeless enough.
What could Harry do Tom, who had
never wasted nights sleep over his own
future, lay awake more than once debating
this question. Hard times were hard times
to him, as well as to everybody else but he
baI Ett1a laid hu hiQ hahitQ
simple, and TO pinch for while cost him
small suffering; besides, he could turn his
hand to almost anything-but poor Harry :
One plan after another suggested itself and
was proposed, but each in turn proved
failure. Harry lacked bodily strength for
one position, for another he had not the
requisite training, still another was I'M
suited to his taste, and fourth sounded so
"ungenteel that his mother would not
listen to it, 1t would break her heart, she
said. Tom himself got temporary place
in a locomotive shop, which tided him over
the crisis, and enabled him to lend help
ing hand, not TO Harry only, but to one or
two other old comrades whose families had
lost everything and were in extremity. But
these small aids were not enough. Perma-
nent situations were what were needed. At
last Harry obtained a clerkship in drug
store. He disliked it, and his mother hated
it, but nothing better offered, and it is to his
credit that he did the work well and dill
gently, and only relieved his mind by pri-
vate grumblings to Towser in the evenings.
an tell you what" said Tom one night,
after patiently listening to one of these lam
entations, "you boys used to think my
father strict with me when we were at
school together, but I've come to the con-
clusion that he was a wise man. Where
should be now if I'd grown up soft and
easily hurt, like you Giving knocks and
taking knocks-that's what business mans
life is, and it's good thing to be toughened
for it. | used to feel hard to my father
about it, too, sometimes, but thank him
heartily now and he held out his brown,
strong hand, and looked at it curiously
and affectionately. Well he might. Those
hands were keys to pick Fortunes locks
with-only Pm afraid Towser's mind was
hardly up to such a notion.
"You're right" said Harry, after think
ing little, "and your father was right.
You're true grit, Towser-up to any work
that comes along, and sure to succeed, while
Pm as easily knocked down as girl. only
wish I'd had a wise father and been raised
tough, like YOU
Harry has repeated this wish good many
times in the years that have passed since
then. Life has gone hardly with him, and
business has always been distasteful, but he
has kept on steadily, and his position has
improved, thanks to Toms advice and help.
Tom himself is a rich man now. He was
long since taken in as partner by the Perrin
Company, which reopened its works the
year after the panic, and is doing an i'm
mense business. He makes a sharp and
energetic manager, but his open-handedness
and open-heartedness grow with his growth,
and prosperity only furnishes wider oppor-
tunity for wise kindness to those who are
less fortunate. His own good fortune he al
ways ascribes to his fathers energetic train
ing, and Mr.. Kane, who is an elderly man
now, likes TO nod his head aud reply: al
told you so, my boy; told you so. A habit
of honest work is the best luck and the best
fortune a man can have"