Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-03-03
WHAT ONE LITTLE BOY DID.

WHAT ONE LlI1LE BO1 DID.
Before us is large, red apple. For
a week has it stood on our desk. Had
we eaten it the evening it was brought
it would have given strength to our
body, but standing there in sight it has
given US much more of mental strength.
This Saturday night, as men tramp
along the street; as those who live by
labor are looking a for day of rest to-
morrow; as the stars are visible and the
time has come for men and women to
look into their hearts to see if they are
not more liberal than they were last
week, we stop awhile from busy. busy
business cares to rest in the home corn
er. And here stands the apple.
Have you home corner, good reader !?
A snug.clean, well-arranged place where
in are books, flowers, birds, pictures and
a coming of guests from over there-as
all good thoughts are guests that abide
with us if we wish them to. If you
have not home corner, get one. Save
the dimes you spend for cigars, tobacco
and liquor. Save the money you throw
away on the rabble that you may be-
known as good fellow among spend
thrifts. Save the hours that you waste
in idle gable. Save the precious mo-
ments that pou lose in idle talk. Save
the minutes, and the hours will bring
your wealth! Save your words that
amount to nothing and had better not
be spoken, and you will save your
strength of mind. Save yourself from
dissipation, and in a little while you
will have home corner and be as
strong as one of the cedars of Lebanon.
or as man who knows that he is doing
what is right.
1t was about week ago that man
came into our Office one evening. With
him was a little boy, not quite ten years
old. The man introduced himself and
his son, and as he did so he gave us an
apple. Accepting an invitation to a
seat he began:
az do not wish to take your time, as
it is wrong to rob busy man even of
one moment, but 1 wish to thank you
in behalf of myself, my wife and our chill
dren, of whom this little boy Charley is
the eldest. 1 came to Denver eight
months since, and at the end of five
weeks of dissipation 1 had lost over
$4,000, all my pluck. Then it was all the
way in the rut of poverty. My wife
grew sick of body because she was sick
of heart. 1 gave up and said that the
world might wag as it would, that
would make no more efforts. 1t SEEM
ed as though all my hopes were gone.
tried to obtain work but could not. l
suppose that men saw in my eyes that
was no good"
Zone day there was nothing to eat in
the one room in which we lived. The
landlord said we must go. My wife
prayed. / swore. She had learned to
pray from her mother l learned to
swear from loafers. My wife asked me
what was going to do. l told her l
did not know.
'Fhen my little boy Charley, this little
fellow here, stood a few moments in 81
lence, and then said:
Mother, I'm going awayP"
"'Where?'"
"I don't know"
"'What are you going to do?'"
e I'm going to be mann"
"'A manY"
"'Yes, man! I'm going to get some
thing to do. l know can do something
if try, and I'm going to try. l seemed
just now as though somebody whispered
to me:"
.'""Charley, come out doors, and I'll
help you to get something to do And
I'm goingp"
HE put on his old cap and went.
He"
'Yes, he came here. remember him.
He is the boy that came and borrowed
one dollar for week. He said he want
ed to get some apples and to sell them"
Yes, this is the boy. He is my son. |
lie has come to pay you back the dollar,
and to ask you to accept the apple as |
gift"
What did he do with the dollar?"
"He left it store, and got a basket |
and a half dollars worth of apples. He
went from Office to office selling apples
Men bought of him, and all seemed to
give him kind words. He sold three
baskets of apples that day, and at night |
came home with 81. The next morning
he was away early, and left me think
ing
"What did you think?"
81 thought that he was more of man
than was. That he had more pluck,
and that ought to be the son and he
the father. Then | thOHght-and | tell
you frankly, where there is a will there
is way. | washed my face, and felt
better. | started out resolved to find
to do, or to go in partnership
with Charley. walked two blocks, and
the first man asked for work, looked at
me, and gave me job at once at So a
day, working at my trade-1 am car
penter. Before night all my pluck came
back to me- Iwhlstled as l worked and
never was so happy before. At might
went home. There was Charley, and he
had made So clear that day. The land
lOrd gave US half the rent off for
When 1 told Jane, my wife,
what had done, she cried, but it was
'or Joy. Now have contract to build
/ house and barn, and l shall make
,ood wages and profit. Oh, I'm all
light now, and it's all because you help \
d Charley, my boy. L feel so good D
Vish you knew how feel. Charley and y
both thank yoa."