Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-01-31
AN OLD PROYERB.

| FreQ, SAID MIR. Fierce, as he cam
into the sitting-room one evening an,
found his son reading in the twilight
81 heard something to-day that thinl
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 full,
| made up his mind to take either YOU Of
Henry into business with him in June
So do your best to graduate with honor
my boy"
but he may take Henry" sale
Fred. His chances are equal to mine
it seems"
81 don't think so.'' said Mr.. Pierce
"In my opinion you are Uncle Asa's
choice, aud it depends on yourself
whether you get the place or not
81 shall try hard for it, !" said Fred.
IS Yes: 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
takes you into business with him. Be
careful what you say and do in his pres.
ence hereafter"
"rll make extra efforts to please him,
of course said Fred. Il wonder il
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
women 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 hospital for aged
and infirm men.
The day following his confidential dis
closure to Mr.. Pierce, the old merchant
was 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 can have the first
choice.''
Henry quickly put his hand on a
book of adventures, profusely illus
trated.
1--we wanted this for ever so long,"
he said.
Mr.. Maynard's countenance fell.
Like good many old people he enter
tanned very severe ideas about story
books. But he made no remark, and
Henry put the book under his arm.
Fred had not been unobservant of the
change in Mr.. Maynard's face. and he
saw chance of winning additional ia
yor for himself at the cost of very tri-
fling sacrifice.
Il will take this book of travels, I'M
de-" he said. at looks as if it might
prove interesting"
IS commend your CHOICE" said Mr..
in a well-pleased tone. 81
am sorry Henry's taste does not run in
the same direction. A young man
should be ever striving after self-im-
provement."
get all Iwant of history at school,
said Henry. ''When / have chance
to read at home, I want something q
little more lively than descriptions of
foreign countries, ancient palaces and
tombs IF great men,
Each to his taste, of course" said
Mr.. Maynard, a little testify; ''but, in
my opinion, profit should come before
pleasure always"
II hope l have not offended you,
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 place in
my store in june he thought. He
nas long head-that's clear.''
Meanwhile. Fred and Henry were
looking over their books.
"You know very we'll that you don't
care for travels, Fred said Henry.
'' You just wanted to please Uncle Asa"
''Well, it was very natural l should,
md perhaps you've lost more than you
imagine by choosing that book of ad-
ventures"
"At least, Twas honest in my choice"
;aid Henry; "and you know the old
,roverb: Honesty is the best policy"
There's such a thing IS being too
,onest," said Fred; and you'll find
hat Is doesn't always pay to stick too
closely to that old proverb.
s.Perhaps so; but it is too late to |
mend matters now. I'll read my book
md then lend it to you," said Henry, |
Is he walked away.
A week later, Mr.. Raymond met |
Fred one morning on his way to school, |
..Have you read your book, my lad?"
le asked. pleasantly. laying his hand |
on the boys shoulder.
For one instant Fred hesitated. Then
le looked up boldly into the keen, gray
yes searching his face, and answered |
q the affirmative.
..Did you find it Interestingly"
eyes, sir" replied Fred. cit is the
,est one of the kind ever read. could i
ardly lay it down until / had finished
TT
''It ought to have been bound better.
t was cheap book. But I'll get you
better one, my boy. like to en-
ourage taste for solid reading"