Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-02-08
THE BEST POLICY.

nto the sltting-room one evening and
found his son reading in the twilight.
:" heard something to-day that 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. His chances are equal to mine,
1t 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
Il shall try hard for it," said Fred.
g Yes; l do think Uncle Asa is rather
partial to me. He is always very cor
Sial when he meets me-"
" lie spoke of you in the highest terms
to-day. Your fortune is made if he
sakes yon into business with him. Be
careful what you say and do in his pres
snce hereafter"
"Pll make extra efforts to please him.
If course" said Fred. Il wonder if
Henry knows anything about itP III
ask him tomorrow"
Old Asa Maynard was Mrs. Pierce's
uncle, and he stood in the same relation
70 Henry Hardy's mother, for the two
women were sisters. He was the richest
aan in South Auburn, aud owned one
IF the largest wholesale hardware houses
"a the West
But he was eccentric and peculiar.
md his relations never exactly under
GOOD him. They were always in fear
# offending him; though they knew
fey 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
an 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 q
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.
"Pve 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 a chance of winning additional ia
vor for himself at the cost of very tri-
fling sacrifice.
Il viii take this hook of travels, I'M
cle," he said. at looks as if it might
prove interesting"
60 commend your CHOICE said Mr..
Maynard, 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 want of history at school, -
sad Henry. "When i have IA chance
to read at home. l want something a
little more lively than descriptions OF
foreign countries, ancient palaces and
tombs of great men,"
Each TO his taste, of course" said
Mr.. MAYNARD, little testify; 'but, in
my opinion, profit should come before
pleasure always"
~ 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.
Fred shall certainly have place in
my store in June he thought He
has long head-that's clear
Meanwhile, Fred and Henry were
looking over their books.
You know very well that YOU don't
care for travels, Fred said Henry.
% You just wanted TO please Uncle Asa. >
"Well. it was very natural should.
and perhaps you've lost more than you
imagine by choosing that book of ad-
ventures"
AT least, Twas honest in my choice"
said Henry; <and yoX know the old
proverb: Honesty is the best policy. -
There S such a thing as being too
honest" 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. I'll read my book
and then 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
affectionately on the boys shoulder.
For one instant Fred hesitated. Then
eyes searching his face, and answered
in the affirmative.
'.D.d You find it Interestingly
Eyes, sir" replied Fred. cit is the
best one of the kind ever read. Icould
hardly lay it down until / had finished
it."
1T ought to have been bound better.
1t was cheap book. But I'll get you
better one, my boy. / like to en-
courage taste for solid reading"
II will be glad to read anything of
the kind you may choose to give me"
said Fred.
"You shall have all your mind can
digest, depend upon it, said Mr.. May
nard, as he went on his way.
Opposite the residence of Mr.. Pierce.
he paused and reflected moment 1t
seemed to him that it would be only
kind for him to go in and tell his niece
that his decision had been made, and
that his choice had fallen on Fred.
Why keep them all in suspense until
JuneP So reasoning, he pushed open
the gate, and walked up the path to
The house.
The servant who answered his ring
told him that Mrs. Pierce had gone out
tor a moment, and asked him to await
her return.
"Pll wait ten minutes-no longer
said the old man, es hs stepped into the
library.
Mr.. Pierce was fond of reading, and
the room was lined with book-cases In