Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-08-18

1RRhAs
There was little sleep in the dingy
back attic that night; but towards
morning Harry threw himself upon
his bed and fell into light, uneasy
slumber. the weight of his heavy
pain mingling with redoubled force
as be awakened to the consciousness
of his own misery In the light of an
other day.
He had set himself resolutely to de-
wise some way of obtaining employ
ment, and casting aside one place af-
ter another as worthless, when Mrs.
Joy tapped lightly upon his door.
Harry Lee, you know Mrs. JOY
this is little Willie come to make
you a visit and bring you good news,
opening the door in answer to his
feeble response +"
The lad springs to his feet, and
the hot blood leaped into his pale
cheeks, his lips quivered, but he
could not utter word.
"Papa says come back to the
store,n pleaded the child's voice.
"He said must tell you, because l
did it, though l don't know now"
Eyes, Harry, Mr.. Joy has forgiv-
en- you, and desires you should
come back to your old place. And,
my dear boy, I cannot think you
really meant to be dishonest; now
did you?" going up to him and lay
ing her hand upon his, with the ten
derness of a mother.
ooh, no madam Indeed l did not
l intended to replace every cent. |
did wrong, but was not a willful
thief
"Will you tell me just how it hap
pened, Harry, and how you came to
be alone in this great city, with such
forlorn surroundings"
81 came here six months ago from
Woodland, pleasant little country
town where / lived all my days; my
fathers health had failed, and with
only the income of the small farm, it
was hand to make both ends meet.
could not bear my dear sister
should wear herself out with teach
ing, while I, a strong lad, was 60
ing to school by her earnings, so |
determined to start out for myself
and see what | could do to help
hard as it was to give up my books
and leave the old home and all be-
hind.
"No Que can imagine what | suf-
tered from inconsistencies for the first
few weeks after | entered Mr.. joys
stone; ard this cherries room-the
best | could afford, seemed such a
dreary place in which to spend my
evenings, that | grew so very wretcht
ed WAS glad to fall into the COM
onionship of almost any one, and |
WAS led into places ought never to-
have entered, but my associates were
kind and attentive, and better COM
pany than my own gloomy thoughts,
and | was only too glad to have
somewhere to 60. | always sent "A
certain amount home every week,
but | was tempted to spend apart of
my money in lickete for the theatre,
for felt it was not honorable to ac
cept favors without ever returning
them; and so | had not the requisite
amount. | tried to get the courage
to ask Mr.. Joy for the $500 which
I needed to make the usual sum,
and then the thought came to me
that | could keep that amount from
my daily sales and replace it next
week, never stopping to think how
easily it could be detected, or that
it was possible l could be considered
a thief. But / see now how wrong
it Was, and | am afraid / can never
regain Mr.. joys respect and conid-
ence, and all my fellow. clerks will
look upon me with pity and con-
tempt. No, Mrs. Joy, and dear
little Willie, though my heart blesses
you for lifting a part of the load,
do not feel as if could go back. |
believe | will go to sea-"
"And leave that dear father and
mother to gricye for you? Why, it
would break their hearts. They
need not know about your tempt
alton until you can go to them and
tell them all your trouble; but if you