The Arizona sentinel., 1886-05-29
"DO YOU BELIEVE IN LUCK2''
A Little Story in Answer to a Leading
 Question.

A Little Story in Answer to Leading Question.
 The curtains were drawn to keep out the wintry blasts, and the bright fire-light aided the shaded gas-light in revealing all the comfort of that pleas ant room. The number and variety oi books in the elegant bookcase, and the numerous papers on the table, indi- cated that the owner was a man oi culture and familiar with the world s daily dOings, while luxurious chairs and lounges proved that he was not un- mindful of physical comfort. Indeed, as we look at the owner of this beauti- ful establishment, as he is seated in an easy-chair, reading a paper, we feel that he is every inch a man, and worthy of our entire respect. The merry group by the fire, who are wis itors for the holidays, evidently share our opinion. Suddenly one of the boys turning to his uncle, said:
 "Uncle Harry, do you believe in luckp"
 "Well boys" said he. ''that is rather a leading question. will tell you a little story, and you can call it what you please:
 "When 1 was about ten years old, my father died, after a lingering ill., ness. He had been unfortunate in some business ventures and his sickness had entirely exhausted our funds 1 left school, and felt that, as I was the oldest, l must help mother to support the family.
 "Poor motherl it grieved me greatly to see her patiently stitching away on the coarse work she received such a pittance for, from the shops I tried to get place in some store, but could not succeed. My efforts in that line and my many rebuffs would astonish you.
 'I concluded Iwould sell papers, but at first it was very hard work. 1 did not mind the fatigue. 1 sold evening papers, but 1 could not call my papers out loud and clear, and then some other boys would get ahead of me. 1 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 I would succeed.
 "One evening I jumped on a car, crying my papers in my best style. I sold several, and was just leaving the car, when gentleman, who was busily talking with his neighbor, while both occupied uncertain standing room, called me: Here, boy, a Chronicle I 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 a gold piece.
 ''I 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 1 never had any secrets from her, so 1 told her all about it, ad- ding that considered it a rare piece of luck, for we did need the money more than you children can imagine.
 "But mother argued that morally I had no right to any more than the price of the paper, unless it was given me; that 1t was a mistake. But 1 in- sisted that any man so careless ought 
 tended to relieve our own necessities. But mother said: My son, He in whom 1 have put all my trust has never de- serted me yet. and 1 can not so dis trust Him now. l 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"
 MT. Morton had forgotten his eager listeners, but was recalled by the ques-- tion:
 "But what did you do?"
 Well your grandmother finally got me to promise that if 1 saw the man again I would return the money. No fear of my not knowing him; his face was before me all the time. Next evening I began my work as usual. I had been through several cars, and al- most hoped I could not find my gener- ous CD patron. But at last I came face to face with him. 1 spoke quick ly, for fear my courage would fail
 (" You bought paper of me last evening, sir, I exclaimed.
 {" Well, said he, suppose I did. bought one from some boy. Whats wrong? Didn't I pay youP'
 '' told him what was the matter, and his astonishment was great; he looked at me as if I was a curiosity, asked my name and where I lived. Others heard the conversation, and my papers were soon all sold at double their price-the gentleman laughingly telling me that they knew what they were about. I fairly flew home that night, and l never felt so proud and happy as when I poured that money into my mothers lap, and heard her say:
 ''Thank God, for having kept you honest, my boy
 The next day mother had a call from the gentleman, and the result | was that my career as a newsboy | ceased, and mercantile life began very low down, to be sure, but l l worked away. 1 attended night school, too, and by degrees 1 rose, till, | as you know, am a partner in the house. Now you may judge whether bn1 AI n AL