The morning call., 1890-11-16

slow at figures and slow with his pen, and
he had by nature no gift for saving. 1t was
fortunate that he had little to spend, other
wise there might have been clearer revela-
tons OF his generous traits. Everybody
gave him congratulations enough on his
good chance in the County Savings
Bank, but nobody wasted sympathy on
the Gagged heart of poor Jonas, who loved 4
free life and out of door air. He some
times felt as if the new bank fittings, and
especially the handsome iron fretwork be-
hind which he stood, all savored of the
prison, aud that during bank hours, at
least he was sorrowful captive. The other
clerks were fond of their surroundings and
recognized, as time went on, different spirit
in their young associate. By some mysteri-
GUS insight they were aware of the tone that
Jonas mother always took in laying his
duty before him. She was a devoted mother,
but she loved the exhorting sound fiber own
voice, and had talked so much TO her grow
ing boy that he had become stoldly reticent.
Perhaps Downs and Hathaway had found
their example in one of Mrs. Dyer's rare
visits to the bank, when it may be suS-
pected that she had come Ill merely to look
upon her only son at his desk, trusted as he
was with untold gold and on the high road
to fortune. There was nobody else there
= that day on the CT StOmers Sidewhen Jonas
: tinidy presented his mother to his three
companions. Old Mr.. Pendel behaved with
courteous dignity, inviting Mrs. Dyer to come
in and sit down, while Jonas unfastened the
wicket gate for her, and blushing red gave
her his own chair. How fast the good wo-
man did talk without knowing it! Jonas
went ostentatiousy into the great safe to
divert her mind and show her how COM
pleiely he felt at home, trying by the way TO
escape direct look at Downs and Hathaway.
To tell the truth he was Just 20 years old and
hardly felt as if he were 16
Il tell JONAS" Mrs. Dyer was savin e,
"that there is a good deal to be proud of and
grateful for in this situation. | know he's
good boy, if not SO quick as some, and
advise him to he attentive and bidIble to
you, Mr.. Pendel, and | want him to be con-
slant at meetin' and avoid worthless aSsoei-
ates. l felt very anxious about him when
he came away from home. BE amt no judy
ment what to eat"
Jonas came bursting out of the safe with
an expression of agony.
4 CUES Mr. Pendell will let you come in
and see where he keeps all his money" the
poor boy told his mother. trying to behave
as If there was great joke going on. He
did not look at the other fellows.
80 tell EN- up cur way that there's moth
ing to prevent your filling your pockets IN
less tits your own honesty" the visitor
said, and then happily became speechless as
Jonas let her take one hurried look into the
gold and silver drawers. He was fond of
his mother. but she insisted upon treating
him like boy, and since he had lived in
as if he were man. The call was abruptly
ended by The appearance of frierd v ho
had brought Mrs. Dyer to town shopping.
Downs and Hathaway shook hands politely
with the 50od woman. and seemed to take
pleasure in accepting her kind invitation to
come up with Jonas and stop awhile
whenever they got leave But alas! from
this call much misery took rise. 1t was the
delight of the older clerks to treat Jonas as
If he were both touchingly young and deli
cate of constitution. They never went so
far as to show the slightest disrespect in
allusion to or quotation from the anxious
mother; they simply adopted her soicitude
about Jonas, who was seldom allowed in
their presence to put on manly behavior
But if they did not chaff him about this
they would be sure to find something else,
and so, as they explained his bank work
with unfailing patience, our hero bore their
chatting and mockery as best he might and
with whatever bravery and unconcern he
could muster.