The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-12-13
A POOR BARGAIN.

Don't put your fingers in the dish,
dear, and don't pick at the cake" said
Roy's mother.
Don't take an apple without leave
from tree belonging to any one else, y
said his father.
Roy was good little boy in most
things, but he took no plins to correct
himself of this hlbiC of picking and pill
fering in a small way.
And as bad habit, like great many
bad things-and good ones, too--grows
very fast, it was not long before he
would take an orange or half-dozen
maccarOons from dish waiting for des-
sert; and if marble or a pencil bel ing
ing to another boy came in his way, he
would slip them into his pocket if he
was quite sure that nobody would see
him.
His mother sometimes came to know
of his ugly tricks and talked t. hIm Of
The sin and meanness of taking any thing
belonging to another.
'WIll you go down town and get some
Berlin wool for me, Roy p asked grand
mother. coming into the room.
Yes, ma'am, said Roy.
That Is one of the things your hands
can do" said mamma, as he took mp the
half-dollar and the bit of paper on which
grandmother wrote the errand although
he insisted he could remember it with
out writing it.
Two ounces like sample" said the
man at the store. Eyes, that's right, "
as Roy laid down the money, Its
twenty-five cents an ounce"
The man put the wool into a paper
bag, which he showed towards Roy, and
then turned to wait on another custo-
mer.
Roy began looking at the marbles
which stood in the little round wooden
boxes on the counter. He haG never
seen 20 many in his life before. There
were commIes and CHIMES and potteries
and hrandies and crystals and agates,
BILE 1t was there too. They were all
cOlors of the rainbow, PLAIN and streaked
and shaded and spotted.
He felt almost like buying some of
them. But he had been for weeks saw
ing up his half-dolar to buy a fishing
rod. which he could not do without, for
he was going home with grandmother
and they alway fished there.
He began to think 1t very unfair that
Mr.. Pike the s. orekeeper, should have so
many marbles and he so few. He took
one out to look at. What a beauty it
was with its red and white stripes, with
delicate twist of blue inside.
His paper bag of wool lay near as he
gave the marble soft little roll on the
counter. The paper had become unfold
ed and the marble rolled toward it,.
With another little touch it actually
rolled in-al of itself ! Roy was sure
it was none of his doing,
H glanced quickly up to see if Mr..
Pike was looking, hut no he was still
busy with somebody else
There were such lots of marbles, Roy
said to himself.
"What harm could it do to let il stay
in the bag, as it would roll there Just
one when Mr.. Pike had so many"
He had never taken anything from a
store before and his fingers-the fingers,
alas ! which his mother though good for
so much better work-trembled as he
began folding up the opening of the bag.
Let me see," sail Mr.. Pike turning
suddenly toward hIm. Il wonder il |
got the right weight on that wooli 1t
was two ounces, wasn't it 2"
"Ye-es, sir" stammered Roy.
His face turned red, and he felt hot
down to his feet, as Mr.. Pike took the
bag from his hand,
"Why I've made mis- axe T. said Mr..
Pike, putting it on the scales. Sure as
the world I've given you four ounces. l
must take some out"
"Oh, no r. said Roy, in great fright,
taking hold of the bag.
How could he bear To see that marble
found there? In a moment it flIshed
upon him, that, by paying for the extra
two ounces, he could prevent it.
IL believe grandmother would just
as lieve have four ounce s." he said
He took his own half dollar and ffer
ed it TO MIR. Pike.
"That'll be all right" said Mr.. Pike,
dropping Rny's half-dOllar in hi' change
drawer.
The poor, naughty little boy set his
lips tightly together as he went out of
the store, carrying his paper bag.
His half-dOll4r was gone, and with 1t
his fishing-rod-the beautiful bamboo
fishing-rod, with which he had expected
to astonish all the little country boys,
who had nothing but saplings cut in the
woods.
He took out the marble and looked at
it as he walked home. 1t was finer
one than any of Johnny Pringles, there
was no mistake about that. But he had
paid half dollar for it, and he knew it
was worth just about five cents.
He could not bear to look at 1t. He
carried the wool to grandmother, and
then went and hid the crystal in an old
box of rubbish IN the farthest corner Of
the tool house.
"Hi. there 2" called voice to Roy,
few DAYS afterward.
Roy was walking along the street, hav-
ing just taken a sOrrOwful look at the
window inside of which were the fishing
rods, and settled upon the one he would
have bought, if he could have bought
any.
1t was Mr.. Pike who called, and Roy
look, d toward him with cheeks again
turning red, and wondering as he had
wondered the hundredth time, If Mr..
Pike knew.
Here's your half-dollar," said Mr..
Pike. Did you think | meant to make
you yay it for one marble ~
Roy hung his head, and held back his
hands.
Take it," insisted MIR. Pike, taking
the small hand and putting the coin into
it.
But let me tell you. my little man.
he added in more serious tone, you'd
better face right about in this matter of
bping sneaky and deceItful. You've got
long life ahead of you, and il you go
through it paying away truth and honor
and manliness for every trifie you want,
it will be much worse bargain. than
paying fifty cents for a marble"
I'll remember, sir, and thank you,
said Roy, in a very humble tone. I'll
run and bring back the marble"
mo-" said Mr.. Pike. You can keep
it," /
"But l / ate the very sight of it, said
Roy.
Never mind that Put it among
vour other marbles, and play with 1t
Don't trade it or give it away, but let II
always remind you to stand by fair and
honest dealings as long as you live i
1t WAS a good lesson 70 Roy; and
hope he profited by it, don't you
Golden Days.
HE WROTE HIS OWN EXCUSE.