Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-05-15
PATCHED ELBOWS.
Rev. Edward A. Rand

ABOUT ana showed his mother the rents |
where two very active elbows had
worked themselves out of prison. Mrs.
Baldwin was frying griddle- cakes fol-
Dawes breakfast. She looked up and
said in her pleasant way:
''Well, Dave, the thing that made the
trouble will cure it, Work did it, and
work will cure it, and next month you
will be able, from your earnings to
have a new coat, so that again you can
say, what made holes will cover them.
In few minutes ! will sew up those
holes"
Sorry to make you so much trouble,
mother I'm an awful boy"
Thereupon Mother Baldwin told him
she would stop his mouth with griddle
cake if he did not sop that style of
talking.
II shouldn't OBJ ect, mother, to look
ing as well as Frank Thompson"
II should if thought you got your.
clothes the same way. | was at the
Thompsons' the other day, and Mrs.
Thompson groaned and said she should
be glad when Frank got his bills paid
but clerks must dress in, any store, she
supposed. Before you and Frank went
into Toppleton's store you and he were
glad to pick green's in the city lots and
bring them home for dinner, and
would rather you'd be a dandelion-
picker for life than have you owing
everybody and never paying them"
To this sentiment Mother Baldwin
gave emphasis by the vigorous landing
OF another griddle cake ON Dawes plate.
81 think young people ought to grow
up with horror of debt, for it is one
kind of dishonesty if you owe people,
because you have bought something you
know you may not pay for Then, il
you expect when you buy to be able to
pay, but still don't pay, and so keep
people out of their Just due, after a
while conscience gets easy on this debt
subject, and says ooh, any time will
do, and who knows2 If l. get easy
about what owe man, may get
easy on the subject of taking something
outright from him. No, Dave, / want
to bring you up right"
Still again did Mother Baldwin give
emphasis to her words by the prompt
and hearty landing of q griddle-cake on
the hungry boys plate.
That's good, mother. You give 'em
big and hot. I'll promise to be hon
est"
IF you don't, young man." said
Mother Baldwin, with ringing laugh,
''you may speak for another cook. The
very first evening / possibly can, will
engage to cover those active elbows with
two as neat patches as I can put on.
They will do till you can buy new
coat"
Dave and Frank that morning walked
together to Toppleton's Dry Goods
Bazaar" where they were clerks
"Oh, that is q beautyW exclaimed
Dave, noticing one of Franks sleeve
buttons. The style was that of blue
stone in cross form set within rich
gold band.
Like it?' asked Frank. ''The ladies
all think it very fine When I sell EN-
a piece Of silk, Just carelessly lay my
hand on it and say: TT shows well
against iewelry, and it is just just
irresistible"
Must have cost something"
"Hem-well faint paid for yet
but that is all right. By wearing it I'm
advertising ewelry for the firm where
got it, and that is pay"
Don't know about it, but seems t.
me feel easier when I pay for 6
thing"
'Oh, nonsense, replied Frank,
sharply. He did not wish to be re
minded of the subject of debt, ADJ why
should his old companion in days O
dandelion-pieking worry him with hi
sensitive conscience'
That night Dawes mother covered hi:
'enterprising elbows with two very
neat patches. Only a pair of sharp eye'
would have detected these homes
covers.
say, Dave" said Frank. the mex
Gay, cycling closely his fellow clerk
are those patched elbows paid for9"
patched elbows4" asked Jim Blake
clerk with rough voice. paid for
Has Dave any strange notions about tn
subject Of debt"
Eyes" said Dave, coolly and pleas
antly, 'and | am not ashamed of them
OF my clothes either"
Indeed" said Frank, contemptu
ously.
Come boys! Attend to your work.!
exclaimed voice.
The clerks all looked up. 1t was Top
pleton himself There was an awful 81
lence in that part of the store.
Guess l made mistake" exclaime
Frank. ''Tll look out for the old ma
next time.
a very serious, mistake, that night
TOppleton thought somebody was max
ing. Almost all of his clerks had left
CHANGING to look out of his counting
room, he saw an arm that, reachin
round the corner of set of shelves o
which were expensive broadcloths, al
stracted a fragment and then wa
quickly withdrawn.
Indeed" thought Toppleton. 'Tha
was neat operation. Look here
What did l see on that arm, or til
wrist, rather} Something blue? Humph
The next day the clerks wondered VIII
Toppleton seemed to be bowling so niue
when near them, STOPPING down to til
level of their hands.
Funny" said Jim Blake 'Tthougt
Toppleton would turn cannibal and ei
my hands to-day"
81 thought he YVES going off with m
sleeye-buttons, remarked Frank. 81
said they were a pretty pattern, an