The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-05-27

leading question. will tell you
little story, and you can call it what
you please:
"Whcn l was about ten years old,
my father died, after lingering i'll
ness. He had been unfortunate in
some business ventures and his sickness
had entirely exhausted our funds. l
left school, and felt that, as I was the
Oldest, must help mother to support
the family.
Poor mother! it grieved me greatly
to see her patiently stitching away on
the coarse work she received such
pittance for, from the shops l tried
to get place in some store, but could
not succeed. My efforts in that line
and my many rebuffs would astonish
you.
II concluded would sell papers, but
at first it was very hard work. l did
not mind the fatigue. / sold evening
papers, but / could not call my papers
out loud and clear, and then some other
boys would get ahead OF me. l was
better dressed than the other 'newsies;'
and so they looked upon me as an in
terloper, and tried to run me out OF the
trade But thought of my mother at
work at home, and determined l would
succeed.
Zone evening l jumped on car,
crying my papers in my best style. l
sold several, and was just leaving the
car, when a gentleman, who vas bu'ily
talking with his neighbor, while both
occupied uncertain standing room,
called me: Here, boy, a Chronicle, l
gave him one, and he put his hand in
his pocket and drew out and gave what
he supposed was three-cent piece, but
l saw it was gold piece.
II jumped off the car in a hurry. and
soon went home. l felt little uncer-
tain as to how mother would view the
matter, but l never had any secrets
from her, 80 l told her all about it. ad.
ding that l considered it rare piece OF
luck, for we did need the moaey more
than you children can imagine.
"But mother argued that morally
had no right to any more than the
price of the paper, unless it was given
me; that it was mistake. But l in
sisted that any man so careless ought
to lose his money, and that it was in
tended to relieve our own necessities
But mother SAID: MY son, He in whom
| have put all my trust has never de.
serted me yet. and l can not so dis
trust Him now. would rather starve
than have my boy become dishonest.
II believe there comes to every one
some supreme crisis in life, when good
and evil strive for his soul, and that
night was the crisis in mine"
Mr.. Morton had forgotten his eager
listeners, but was recalled by the ques'
ton:
"But what did you doP"
"Well your grandmother finally got
me to promise that if l saw the man
again l would return the money NJ
fear of my not knowing him; his face
was before me all the time. Mex
evening l began my work as usual.
had been through several cars, and al
most hoped l could not find my gener
Gus (p) patron. But at last | cam,
face to face with him. spoke quick
ly, for fear my courage would fail.
=" You bought paper of ME las
evening, sir, | exclaimed.
"'Well, said he, l suppose | did
/ bought one from some boy. What
wrongP Didn't pay your
Il told him what was the matter
and his astonishment was great; h
looked at me as if l was curiosity
asked my name and where | lived
Others heard the conversation, and m,
papers were soon all sold at doubl
their price-the gentleman laughingl
telling me that they knew what the,
: were about. l fairly flew home tina
night, and l never felt so proud an,
happy as when l poured that none
into my mothers lap, and heard he
/, say:
! THANK God, for having kept 20
honest, my boy
1.-The next day mother had cal
from the gentleman, and the resu
was that my career as newsbo
9 ceased, and mercantile life began
! very low down, to be sure, but
worked away. l attended nigh
school. too and by degrees I rose, til
: as you know, l am a partner in tn
house. Now you may Judge whethe
| believe in luck, or the Divinity this
;. shapes our ends, rough hew them ho