Connecticut western news., 1883-05-02
HARRY LEES TEMPTATION,

Do not dismiss him without another trial, Frederick; remember it is his first offense."
 '' am not so sure of that. A lad who would stoop to such dishonest act would not hesitate to tell falsehood to shield himself from punishment. I have treated him better than he deserves in not publishing his guilt, thereby shield ing others from like deception
 s'But he will find it difficult to obtain another situation without 8 recom- mendation from you
 That is not my lookout. I dis covered the lad in dishonest act, con- mitted with perfect intrepidity and cool ness. l had no other alternative but to dismiss him from my employ, and am aware that it was done in no gentle language. Of course his plea had all the seeming innocence and simplicity of which his class are capable, though he was too much overwhelmed with surprise and confusion, at being detected in his guilt, to have many words"
 "Well, Frederick, I cannot be deceived in that faee-that honest, noble, manly face. If you had only gained his con- fdence he might have made it plain. He is so young to be left to make his way alone, and this very act may be the turning point in his life, and you may be the means of his ruin or salvation, just whichever way your decision turns. Think, what if it was our boy, Frederick ?"
 Mir. Joy looked down into the bright, beautiful face of his only child; and, drawing him close to his heart, held him there.
 Yes, papa, for my sake forgive poor Harry"
 '.I will try again, Mary. You must go and see him in the morning and gain his confidence if you can. Perhaps I have not done my whole duty"
 MT. Joy was awakening to sense of his responsibility, and his next words sent thrill of happiness to the heart of his true, faithful wife.
 Mary, if it is not too much trouble for you, will invite all my clerks up to tea tomorrow evening. You must ask your sisters to happen in, and we will try and give them pleasant evening. Then we can ascertain if they have re- hgious interests, and perhaps gather them into our Bible class and church. Strange, Mary, that I have never felt thls duty keenly before. So many of the lads are without the restraining influence of home, subject to amultitude of temp tations, and I, who am in measure re- sponslble for their souls-iust as for this little child whom God has given mel have left tbem to run into all kinds of danger and vice, it may be, without a friendly word of warning or counsel"
 And while the earnest resolves were filling the little household with a new peace and happiness, Hary Lee sat by the dingy back window of his attic chamber alone and in darkness. Mrs Joy had said there was nothing bad il that young face, and she would have re alized 1t all the more could she have looked into it then; pale, sad and de spairing, the black curls pushed away from the full, fair forehead; the frank boyish expression changed to one O agonizing dispair.
 There was little sleep ill the dingy back attic that night; but toward morn ing Harry threw himself upon his bal and fell into light, uneasy slumber the weight of his heavy pain minglins with his dreams, and coming back w1tl redeubled force as he awakened to tn, consciousness of bis misery in the ligh