The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1889-08-15

ambitious to work into something bette
if you do accept it, then you are no
worth saving" and with this the gentle
man turned away.
Charles had twenty-five cents of til,
watch money left in his pocket. Thi.
was the sum total Of his earthly posses
sions. The way in which this gentleman
looked upon tine pride which made him
hesitate about accepting the position Of
csr conductor seemed the expression Of
all business men from his uncio to the
present one. ....
"Wesl, what do you sayS" the gentle,
man inquired, returning moment te
speak to him.
"If you will show me how to secure
the situation you spoke Of" Charles re.
piled, with lip which would culver o
little in spite Of all he could do, ~ will
go Immediately and see about it."
"Good for you" said his companion.
II will go with you," and the rich
merchant passed his arm through that of
his struggling, poverty stricken COM
panion, and in this way they sought the
! Office of the great railroad company. A
few brief words and the ugly business
was settled. The young man would take
his place the next morning ct six o'clock,
with small but sufficient salary.
81 have the best works on shorthand, ="
the gentleman told Charles as they were
about to part; "and if you will step
ro,,pd to tho bouoo ,,,+l, nm ebo,,ll -
happy to lend you the books. My daugh-
ter studied stenography for fun. 1t took
her one year to learn the system, by study
ing little every day. You ought to be
able to beat girl at the business"
Charles smiled. Application That
was what his uncle said he needed more
than any other qualification. Should he
take this mans books, and promise him
to spend his spare time in the study of
stenographys How strangely his affairs
were being taken out of his hands. The
young man had always believed that the
great business of the universe was taken
care of, but this was the first time that
he had ever felt that his small affairs
were in any way managed or directed.
Now it seemed to him as if his ways were
in some incomprehensible manner being
ordered.
Of course, there was neither generosity
nor justice in the matter, and everything
was all wrong; still some power outside
of himself was responsible, and he won
dercd, as he looked over the strange
characters that evening in the book his
new friend had lent him, which stray
Cling mark his life was like. They all
meant something, that was one comfort
some letters, some phrases; but the
zigzag character which stood for him
would doubtless be the one of smallest
account. 1t might be an interrogation
point, he thought; surely no one asked
more questions or received less answers.
He had one meal that day His remain
ing twenty-five cents must be saved for
breakfast the nextmorning. How he was
to manage for full week without any
money was a physical and mathematical
problem which he was not equal to.
Sufficient unto the day." and "Think
not of the morrow" were the last words
on his lips before going to sleep; and they
were repeated with SO much reverence,
and sucn evident desire to ge3 hold of
the faith which was dimly dawing upon
him, that his good angel must have felt
comforted.
Promptly at six the next morning the
young man took his place on his car. The
first thing to do was to sweep it out.
Charles Barney had never handled broom
in his life, but he gave his mind to the
work, and succeeded in appearing much
less awkward than he felt. There was a
good deal to learn, indeed much more
than he supposed, but he listened to the
numerous instructions with attention, and
his new work commenced.
1t was not quite as dreadful as was sup
posed. Still it was distasteful enough,
and the poor fellow wondered if he should
ever get used to it. At noon, on his re-
turn to the car station, he found letter
from his new friend, with an enclosure of
five dollars.
81 had an impression it said, "that
you were entirely out Of money. tried
once when was about your age to live
without eating. 1t didn't work, I'm sure
it won't in your case. Come in and see
me some time when you have leisure.
Keep up your courage and stick to your
stenography."
The first thought that went through
the young mans mind as he read and
re-read this kind letter was that this rich
merchant didn't feel himself above asso-
ciating with car conductor. To do him
justice, he recognized that this was
very mean consideration. Then he won
dered how long it would be before he
could return the money, and concluded
he could do it i'll two weeks. Then and |
not till then, would he call on the gentle
man.
Only an hour could be given to study !
In the first twenty four hours of his new |
life; but this time was refreshment in
stead of drag, and when he put away
his book for the sleep he must have, it |
was with real reluctance.
He had been employed about two
months when one morning Uncle Adoni-
ram stepped on his car His first i'm
pulse was to pull his hat down over his
eyes and avoid recognition if possible,
but Charles Barney was learning manli-
ness as well as application and he imme-
diately thought better of it. The old
man did not look up when his nephew
gave him his change; but Charles said
softly: "Good morning, uncle" and
then sprang to his feet.
Charles" he exclaimed, grasping
the conductors hand. "Charles, nv
boy, how do you doG"
There was abundant love and hearth.
ness in Uncle Adoniram's voice and man
ner, and there was something more that
was new to Charles. He knew now that
for the frs. time his uncle really re-
spected him, and out of this a stronger
courage was born.
81 have been very lonely without you,"
the old man said, as he stood on the back
platform with his nephew; ''and have
been worried about you, too. Why have
you not been home, Charles2"