The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1886-08-05
FORGIVING NAT.

front of his desk. Preferences all
satisfactory. Will engage you from
tomorrow morning as Office boy. Be
round early now, and keep upto time. ="
He made motion with his hand to-
wards the door, but the boy fingered,
twirling his well-worn cap in his hand.
''Please sir" he said at length, 1--we
q dog, a real clever little chap.
Mothers out washing all day. and l
don't know where TO leave him. He
follows me round everywhere, and if I
should turn him out bv himself he
might get lost: Would you mind, sir,
if he sat in the entry while l was
inside?'
1t was novel request for the new
Office boy to make, and the head of the
firm frowned, but fortunately for the
boy he was fond of dogs.
"Have you got the animal with you?'
he inquired.
Eyes sir.'' was the eager answer,
right outside, SIR
He followed the boy out through the
front Office where three clerks we're
sitting writing busily. The dog, a
small Scotch terrier, was lying on the
pavement, his bright eyes fixed on the
door, patiently waiting for his master
to come.
"He's not bad, not bad at all,' said
the head of the firm, surveying him
critically. 'You wouldn't want to
sell him, now?'
Please, sir,' said the boy, flushing,
I'D deal rather have Mop than the
money he'd bring.''
well, well,' said the old gentle
man, somewhat touched at the boys
evident devotion to his little favorite,
keep the dog and bring him every
morning if he gives no trouble.''
And SO the matter was settled. How
proud and happy Mop and his master
felt as they ran home through the
streets OF the city that afternoon, to
think that they had obtained the covet
ed position.
Il wonder. Mop" said the boy,
''what Jim Elder will say when he
hears of it. guess he wanted the
position most as bad as we did, And
Mop wagged his tail as if to say he was
glad they had been the successful can
didates.
Suddenly the tall, ungainly figure OF
the subject of their thoug hts loomed up
before them with a dark scowl on
his face.
Il say you, Nat Meadows; he COM
menced. so hear you've sneaked
into that place. You knew I wanted
it, and it was mighty mean-that's all
have to say. Everywhere, in school
and out of it, you are always in my
way.
He spoke with a mixture of despair
and passion that was pitiful to see.
IL cant say I'm sorry got the
place. said Nat, gently, "but wish
you had one too, JIM.
''Oh, it's all very we'll tor you say
that said the boy. "Get out of my
way,' and he gave the too inquisitive
Mop kick with his foot. and was off
the next instant down a side street.
Mop pursued him, barking furiously.
but Nat callei him back, and they
went home quite soberlv together.
The next morning Nat commenced
his wOtk, and very soon had become a
great favOrite with the clerks, as well
with the head of the firm. He was al
Ways Conscientious, prompt and obljg-
Jug, and full of a certain bright humor
that brought freshness and life into the
quiet Office. Mop, instead of being a
trouble, was great amusement, and
the young men taught him number of
tricks, of which he was very proud.
Sometimes they noticed shade of anx-
iety and trouble on Nat bri Sht face,
but they did not know that on the boy S
way home at night he was often SUBJ
ject to petty prosecutions that he found
hard to bear. One morning he burst
into the office with flashing eyes and
the tears running down his face. The
clerks looked up in CONSERVATION.
what is the matter?' one of them
asked. apxiously.
"Jim Elders killed my dog cried
Nat, passionately. Il could stand any
thing he did to me-but Mop
He stopped-it seemed as if he could
not GU on.
what shame-how did he do it?''
asked his sympathizing and Indignant
listeners.
Threw stone at him, and it hit
him in the head said Nat in smoth-
cred tone. When I took him up he
was quite dead.'
''Where is the wretched bOy?' they
asked with righteous indignation.
He cut and run while was seeing
to Mop said Nat, dejectedly. Oh,
there is no use talking any more about
it,"
The boy went around for the next
few days, looking as if he had lost a
near snd dear friend. and they all felt
profoundly sorry for him. On his way
home in the evening Nat looked in vain
for the destroyer Of his dog, intending
to take summary vengeance on him,
but nowhere did he see him.
Il guess he knows enough to keep
out of my way he thought gloomily.
"Oh. Mop. Mop, how miss your
''Not long afterwards a messenger
boy came into the office with a note
directed to Master Nat Meadows. from
one of the nurses in B-Hospital.
"There is boy in my ward" the
note ran, every ill with kind of low
fever. He says he has done you an in
jury, and cannot rest until he sees YOU
Will you come to him?''
ut must be Jim Elder" thought
Nat land don't want to CO.,
All his life Nat bad been taught by
his honest, Lard-working mother to
listen to the voice Of Conscience, and
do always what was ght, yet it was
ha d to put down anger, and the
sense of injury and Injustice done to
himself and to lis Mop. But the next
afternoon he walked slowly up 20 the
hospital, and " tn a hesitating hand
pulled the iron doorbell. In one of
the upper wards he was met by the
nurse who had written to him, and
was taken to the end of the room where
Jim Elder lay tossing to d fro.
IL - N.Y.