The Hazlehurst signal., 1884-02-07
TIE BEST POLICY.

TIE BEST POLICY.
Erred" said Mr.. Pierce. as he came
into the sitting room one evening and
found his son reading In the twilight.
al heard something to-day that think
will please yOu."
"What was it?" asked Fred. closing
his book. and looking up cagerly.
His fathers air Of satisfaction reused
his curiosity.
"Unclc Asa came into my Office to-
day, and hc 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.
II seems"
81 don't think So" said Mr.. Pierce.
"In my opinion you are Uncle Asi's
choice. aud IL depends on yourself
whether you get the place or not
81 shall try hard for IT," said Fred
"Ycs. do think Uncle Asa is rather
partial TO me. He Is always very cor
dial when he meets mc."
"Hc spoke Of you in the highest terms
to-day. Your fortune il made II he
takes yon into business with him. he
careful what you say and do in his pres.
cncc hereafter"
"rll make extra efforts 10 please him.
of course" said Fred. al wonder II
Henry knows anything about it? Ill
II, hi.,, "a. t,,nrrntv "
Old Asa Maynard was Mrs. Picrcc's
uncle. and he stood in the same relation
10 Henry Hard,'s mother. for the two
women were sisters. Hc was the richest
man in South Auburn. aud owned one
of the largest wholesale hardware houses
in the West.
But he was eccentric anil peculiar,
and his relations never exactly under
stood him. They were always In fear
of offending him; though they knew
they had little 10 expect from him at his
death. he having distinctly given them
all To understand that he should leave
his fortune 10 found q hospital for aged
an iniirm 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 mo treat each Of you to n
book. Come in and select what suits
YOU best. Henry, you can have the first
choice"
Henry quickly put his hand on n
book OF adventures, proiusely Illus
tratcd.
"l'vo wanted this for ever so long"
he said. ..I.
Mr.. Maynard's countenancc fell.
Like good many old people he enter
tanned very severe ideas about story
bboks. But hc made no remark. and
Henry put .hc book under his arm.
Fred had not been iinobscrvant Of the
change In Mr.. Mnynarrs face, and he
saw q chance Of winning additional IA
y0r for himself Mt the cost OF very tri-
fling sacrifice. ..... .
II will take this look OF travels, I'M
Gle, "lc said. at looks as II II might
prove interesting"
81 commend your choice" said MIR.
Maynard. in q wcll-plcased tone. 81
am sorry Henry's tate does no, rim In
the same direction. 4 young man
should he ever striving after self.im-
proyemcnt.
81 get all want OF history at school. ="
said Henry. "Whcn / have chance
TO read ut home. ! want something n
little more lively than descriptions OF
foreign countries, ancient palaces and
tombs of great men," -.
Each TO his taste. OF course" said
Mr.. Maynard, q little testify; "but. in
my opinion, profit should come before
pleasure always"
81 hope ! have not offended you,
uncle" said Henry.
mot at ALL" said the old man. rs he
walked away. well pleased at the test
he had made.
Fired shall certainly have place in
INV store In June" he thought. "Ho
has long head-that's clear
Meanwhile, Fred and Henry were
looking over their books.
"You know very well that you don't
caro- for travels. Fred said Henry.
"You Just wanted to please Uncle Asa.
"Wcll, IL was very natural should.
and perhaps you've lost more than you
imagine by choosing that book OF adj
ventures" :.
eat least. was honest in my cholce." !"
said Henry; "and you know tho old
provcrb: Honesty is the best policy
"There's such thing as being too
honest" said Fred; "and you'll find
that 1. doesn't always pay to stick too
closely to that old proverb."
"Pcrhaps so; but 1t Is too late TO
mend matters now. I'll read my book
aud then lend Il 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 ladP'
he asked. pleasantly. laying his hand
affect!onately on the boys shoulder.
For one instant Fred hesitated. Then
ho looked up boldly into the keen. gray
eyes searching his face, and answered
In the affirmative. -,
.D!d YOU lind IL intcrcstingP" :! =.
ayes, SIR" replied Fred cit Is tho
best one Of tho kind I ever read. i could
hardly lay It down until / had finished
1T oughtfo have been bound better.
It was a Cheap book. But Ill get you
n better one, my boy. ! like to en-
courage a tastc for solid reading"
o."I wlll.bc glad, to read anything Of
tho kind you may choose to give me-
said Fred. ill,f.u, I'D 81 eu,iqiyuai
.You shall have. oil your mind can
digest, depend upon Il, said Mr.. May
nard, as he went ON bis way.
~ Opposite tho residence Of Mr.. Pierce,
ho ipaussd and reflected . smomsnt. . II
seerned'to him that II would be only
kind for him to 60 In and toll bis niece
that bis. decision had been msde. and