Morris tribune., 1881-08-25

In all this uon unQefStand, nrSt you Dld
Mary farewell. then you induce me to leave
Cloudesly street, and now,you tell me you
have loft your office. Walter, my dear son,
do not, do not conceal any thing from me.
Walters lip qaiyered and his eye avoided
his mothers steady gaze, but making a
great effort he soon recovered himself, and
| seeing that he must be cool and firm, or all
|. would beSeyplained sand .perhapseo shock
ismother as to do her serious injury, he
addressed himself to her in the calm Ian
guage of reason. He explained that he had
been discharged by Mr.. -, owing to his
being extremely dissatisfied with him, and
| that as he never intended to return to that
line of business again, it was necessary,
until he had established himself in some
other, that his mother, deprived of the as
sistance of his salary, should be placed in
such position as would enable her to live
upon the euderannuity she enjoyed.
My son, said the mother, affected at
this instance Of filial devotion, but why
separate from Mary2"
Because" replied Walter, II wooed her
under favorable circumstances, became
gracious il her eyes by the aid of those cir
cumstanees, a d now that they have disap-
peared, my duty to herand myself demands
that should withdraw from her society.
Ourposition toward each other has nnder-
gone changes; she is in the same condi-
tien, while l am poor, very poori and love
and poverty rarely agree. I"
h You know little yet of woman's heart;
Walter, said his mother, smiling, "or you
would be aware that, provided a man re-
tains his honor, she cares little in her youth
about the trash the world calls wealth."
This remark caused Walter to turn pale
as death, and almost to fall from his seat
fainting. His alarmed mother flew to his
assistance, aud beseeched him to make a
confident Of her; for she was sure, she
said, he had something concealed from her
which caused him the most poignant dis
tress. .s.-.... ..-- -.F'a
With the utmost difficulty he reassure
her, and when both were more calm, he
solemly requested her to grant him fa-
ver.
What is it2" she inquired.
Trust me-" replied he, falling on his
knees before her.
Il will" she emphatically exclaimed,
falling on his neck: and from that day forth
the subject was never renewed between
them.
Two resolutions triumphantly carried
out, " said Walter, after his mother had re-
tired; and tomorrow is the nativity of the
third"
Taking large sheet of paper, he wrote
upon it, in a very large round hand, the
talismanic words, Never despair!", and
then fastened it to the curtains at the foot
of his be-, SO that he might have the SEN
tence before him to read night and morn
irg.
1t was mighty task, and no bloodstained
knight ever couched lance against foe
more gallantly than Gid our brave Walter
| this his first great moral battle,
The struggle with life was an arduous
and protactel one; but as il is not our in
| tention to follow Walter in all his wander
| ingS, We can only relate that he found NO
| employment too mean for his industry, and
no occupation disgraceful unless criminal
or dishonorable At the end of six years,
oy dint of the most indefatigable labor
and hard common day labor alone-he had
| accumulated from his savings sufficient to
pay his first employer the amount of the de-
| falcation. together with interest to the day
| of the payment.
Noon had just been proclaimed by the
great bell of st. Paurs when Walter pre-
serted himself at the Office of the merchant.
| With some difficulty he obtained private
interview.
|
! very aniiable manner, for Walters apparel
was not very attractive, s-.:..... !.
Six years ago this very day." said WAL
| ter, modestly, but firmly, you dismissed
| from your service a clerk named Walter
Jackson for defalcation in the account in
! tru sted to him, 1 am Walter jackson, and
here is the amount owing to you with in
| terest at five per cent. / have been unable
to pay you sooner, Or should most gladly
| have done so. Now, to my great relief, !
am able, and beg in addition that you will
| accept my most grateful thanks for the for
| bearance yon exercised toward me on that
| distressing OCCASION
Surprise for time held the merchant
mute, but when he recovered he stretched
| forth his hand to the workman, and when
| he received that of the latter, shook il
warmly. He then requested Walter to re-
late what had befallen him since their sep
aration. Walter did so in brief but, clea
| and unreserved manner.
SO the moment you left this Office you
determined to make restitution?" said the
merchant, smiling, evidently highly graft
| fed with the narrative.
"Oh, mol" replied Walter; 'I was
tempted to do worse first"
| Indeed! how?" inquired the merchant,
whose curiosity was reused.
by thinking could never redeem my
lost character, " answered Walter. - "a,
"What saved you?" asked the merchant,
eagerly.
Two Words said Walter, a glow ami
/ mating his naturally fine countenan:e
Never despair" - - u, ts~T~E~G+E.
| :. The merchant saw a kindred spirit before
him, and detained Walter in conversation
for some time. In the course of many revela-
tions which were obtained from him, he
stated that he had found time to acquire
knowledge as well as to labor, and that
some of the sweetest hours he had spent
were those devoted to study.
They parted; but from that day forth a
friendhip was established between Walter
and the great city merchant and when the
latter died he left him legacy of one
thousand pounds.