Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-02-15
AN OLD PROyERB.

erred" said Mr.. Pierce, as he came
into the sitting-room n evening and
found his son reading in the twilight
81 heard something to-day that l think
will please YOU" +.
"What was it?" asked Fred, closing
his book, and looking up eagerly.
His fathers air of satisfaction reused
his curiosity.
"Uncle Asa came into my Office to-
day, and he told me that he had fully
made up his mind to take either you or
Henry into business with him in June.
So do your best to graduate with honor,
my boy"
"But he may take Henry" said
Fred. Ellis chances are equal to mine,
it seems"
81 don't think sos said Nh. Pierce.
"1n my opinion you are Uncle Asa's
choice, and it depends on yourself
whether you get the place or not"
II shall try hard for it, said Fred.
"Yes; l do think Uncle Asa is rather
partial to me. He is always very cor
dial when he meets me-"
"He spoke of you in the highest terms
to-day. Your fortune is made if he
lthCS NOu ~ DltSlIlCSo Wlul HILL 1)c
careful what you say and do in his pres
ence hereafter"
"Ill make extra efforts to please him,
of course" said Fred. II wonder if
Henry knows anything about it? I'll
ask him tomorrow"
Old Asa Maynard was Mrs. Pierce's
uncle, and he stood in the same relation
to Henry Hardy's mother, for the two
mi were sisters. He was the richest
man in South Auburn, aud owned one
of the largest wholesale hardware houses
in the West.
But he was eccentric and peculiar,
and his relations never exactly under
stood him. They were always in fear
of offending him; though they knew
they had little to expect from him at his
death, he having distinctly given them
all to understand that he should leave
his fortune TO found a hospital for aged
ana intirm men.
The day following his confidential dis
closure to Mr.. Pierce, the old merchant
vas walking briskly along one of the
principal streets Of the town. when,
CHANGING to look up, he saw Fred and
Henry standing before the window of a
book store.
A generous impulse seized him. and,
going up to the boys, he said. kindly:
LET me treat each OF YOU to a
book. Come in and select what suits
you best. Henry, you a have the first
ch0ice.n
Henry quickly put his hand on a
book OF adventures, profusely illus
tratcd.
"I've wanted this for ever SO long,
he said.
MI. Mavnard's countenance fell.
Like a good many old people he enter
tanned very severe ideas about story
books. But lie made no remark, and
Henry put The book under his arm.
Fred had not been unobseryant of the
change in Mr.. Maynard's face, and he
saw a chance Of winning additional ia
vor for himself ut the cost of q very tri-
fling sacrifice.
u will take this look Of travels. I'M
cle,' he said. sit looks as if it might
prove Interestingly
81 commend your choice" said Mr..
Maynard in a well-pleascd tone. II
am sorry Henry's taste does not run in
the same direction. A young man
should be ever striving after self-im-
provement.'
"lget all want ofhistory at school,
sad Henry. "When 1 have a chance
to read at home, l want something a
little more lively than descriptions of
foreign countries, ancient palaces and
tombs uf great men,"
each to his taste, of course" said
MI. MAYNARD, a little testify; "but. in
my opinion, profit should come before
pleasure always"
81 hope | have not offended vol.
uncle said Henry.
Not at ALL" said the old man, as he
walked away, well pleased, at the test
he had made.
Erred shall certainly have a place in
my store in June" he thought. He
has a long head-that's %clear.,'
Meanwhile, Fred and Henry were
looking over their books.
"1ou know very we'll that YOU don't
care Tor travels, Fred,' said Henry.
"lon just wanted to please Uncle Asa
"Neli, it was very natural | should,
and perhaps you've lost more than Won
imagine by choosing that book of ad-
ventures"
.At least, Twas honestinm my choice.n
said Henry: land you know the old
proverb: Honesty is the best %policy.'H
There's such a thing as BEING too
sonest,' said Fred; land You'll find
that il doesn't always pay to stick too
closely to that old proverb.'
"Perhaps SO; but it is too late to
mend matters now. III read my book
and thcn lend it to you," said Henry,
as he walked away.
A week later, Mr.. Raymond met
Fred one morning on his way to school.
"Have you read your book, my lad?"
he asked. pleasantly, laying his hand
a~tfect:onately on the boys shoulder.
For one instant Fred hesitated. Then
he looked up boldly into the keen, GRAY
eyes searching his face, and answered
in the affirmative.
odd you find it interesting?n
Yes, SIR replied Fred. s.It is the
best n OF the kind | ever read. Icopl1
hardly lay it down until | had finished
it,
ut ought tc have been bound better.
At was 4 cheap book. But III Get Won
a better one, my boy. I like to en-