The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-12-14
THE TALBOYS.
How They Unwittingly Over
reach ed Themselves

reach ed Themselves.
ga worthy young lady, and the sol,
support of her mother. Your needing
a saleswoman at this moment seems
really providential- is, if you fine
my recommendation sufficient"
Thus said Rev. Mr.. Rivers, smiling
very benevolently upon Mr.. and Mrs
Talboys, in their fine dry-goods store,
in the town of Stickinthemud.
Mrs. Talboys simpered, and Mr.. Tai.
boys smirked. They rubbed their hands
and glanced at each other, and replied,
as with one voice:
''Oh, certainly, certainly, Dominic
Rivers; what more could we want?
Your recommendation we ask no
more"
''Then will tell dear Mrs Chaun-
cy to send her daughter Tomorrow
said the minister, land thank you SO
much"
He shook hands and departed.
His coat was old, his boots shabby,
his stiff, low-crowned hat showed long
wear, as he came into the sunlight: yet
there are many spruce and natty clergy
men not half SO pleasant to look at,
especially at this moment, when he felt
that he had done practical good to
some one, and his face beamed with
kindness.
Fife Chauncy had lost her father
not long before, and the little needle
work she had managed to get had not
provided for the needs of the two sor-
rowful women, and Fife had feared that
she should be obliged to leave her
mother in order to support her.
When she had heard that the Tai
boys advertised for clerk in their dry
goods store, and were willing to take a
woman, she felt that it might be a
chance for her. Her sewing could be
done in the evenings, and they could be
together still, and good Mr.. Rivers had
volunteered to recommend her; and. as
you see, he had done so, and had, more
over induced the Talboys to give her
the wages they had given the young
man who had just left them. However,
the smile faded on Mr.. Talboys' lips
and the shipper from those of Mrs. Tai
boys when Mr.. Rivers was quite out of
hearing.
Dominic Rivers will poke his nose
into every thing" said the husband.
I'VE ought to get girl for half"
And I'd have told him we'd choose
our own clerks, if I'd dared" said the
wife; but you know"
Mr.. Talboys did know. Dominic
Rivers. as he called him, had done him
great service. Ignoring the gossip
that was afloat regarding something
the Talboys had been supposed
to be connected with. which did
mot rebound to their credit
as honest folk, taking them into the
church and inviting them to visit him,
he had been their great friend in Stick
inthemud, and they understood so little
of noble nature that they fancied he
would revenge himself if they offended
him by refusing to take his advice. Iu
reality he had merely believed them
innocent people who were slandered,
and had done his good work from truly
Christian motives. Now, though the
walk was long, the weather hot, and
his simple dinner waiting for him, he
hurried to the widows little cottage to
give them the good news, and was well
repaid by the tears of gratitude in
Effie's eyes.
Effie Went to the Talboys next MORN
ing. 1t was new life for the girl
not too easy, as one may fancy: but
having passed through the ordeal of
learning the stock with credit, and hav-
ing made up her mind that Mrs. Tai
boys sour aspects and Mr.. Talboys'
harsh voice We're natural attributes,
and not called forth by dislike to her
alas! she was little wrong here, for
the Talboys could smile when it was
advantageous to them TO do so,
and she was as thorn in their sides
she set herself to earning her wages
honestly.
At the best they were not large, and
soon she found she had more TO contend
with than she had feared.
There is flaw in this stuff, you no
tice," she said, one day, to a poor
woman who was about to buy remnant
of merino for a child's frock. You could
not cut the garment without using that
piece"
The customer thanked her, and did
not purchase.
You knew we were anxious to sell
those remnants, Miss Chauncy," said
Mrs. Talboys, when the woman was
gone. You were officious to point out |
the flaw"
1T was my duty, / Think said |
Effie.
Your duty is to u.s." said her en-
ployer
Again, when a young girl who had |
received short change, insisted that she |
had offered two-dollar, and not one
dollar note, Effie, who had carried the |
money to the cashiers desk, gave her
testimony that the girl was right.