Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1892-11-10
CLEAN HANDS.
why Uncle Frank Thought Ezra's Were
the Whitest.

4
Ezra, the choreboy at his grandfather's
house, stood by the gate thoughtfully
looking at pair Of cuff buttons that lay
on his open palm.
They're real" went on Ned, eager
to close the bargain. why, one Of
them is worth more than half dozen
of your fancy pigeonsi and here you
have chance to get the pair of them
for less than half the price"
Ezra had come out the loser too often,
in his dealings with Ned, to be willing
to believe everything that he said; but
the buttons did look like real gold, and,
TO give six of his white fantail pigeons
for them.
Don't paw them with your dirty
hands. il you're not going to take
them" said Ned, rudely, as Ezra turned
the buttons over and examined them
more closely IF you aren't sharp
enough to make good bargain for
yourself, why, give them back to me. p"
''I'll take them" said Ezra, slowly,
closing his hand over them. I'm have
/ the pigeons in basket ready for you
to take home with you tomorrow
morning"
/ He put the buttons in his pocket, and
went down to the barn to do his even
ing chores, wondering whether he had
really been cheated again in his bar
gain, as he had SO often been before.
/ Ned stood at the gate, looking after the
retreating figure of Ezra. with a tri-
umDhant smile on his face
1t did not occur to him that he had
done "A mean or dishonorable action in
taking advantage of Ezra's ignorance,
and he was proud of what he consid-
cred his cleverness.
lie knew that there was very little
danger that Ezra would discover the
comparative worthlessness of the cuff
buttons, and so his untruthfulness
in the matter would not be discovered.
Presently, Uncle Frank left his seat
on the porch where he had been sitting.
hidden by the vines which climbed over
it, and joined his nephew at the gate.
81 wouldn't be a choreboy for any
thing" said Ned.
"Why?" asked Uncle Frank.
ooh, they have to do such dirty
work" answered Ned. "Ezras hands
are always dirty | wouldn't touch
them for anything" and he glanced
with very satisfied air at his own
hands. which were almost as white and
smooth as if he had been a girl
"Ezra's hands are cleaner than yours,
to my mind said Uncle Frank,
gravely.
"Why, what do you mean?" asked
Ned, opening his eyes in surprise.
Il think dishonest bargains stain
ones hands more than honest work,
answered his uncle 81 could not feel
as if my hands were clean, no matter
how white they might be, if had just
been cheating poor boy out of his
pigeons!'
Neds face grew very red.
ut wasn't my fault if he didn't know
how to make good bargain, he NUT
tered. Everyone must look out for
himself in bargains"
"He simply took your word for the
value Of the buttons You told him they
were real"
We'll, so they were-rea buttons"
said Ned, smiling, as he remembered
what he had thought his cleverness. II
didn't say they were real gold; only
said real buttons
"You meant him to think that they
were real gold,' said Uncle Frank,
sternly. 1T was iost as much lie as
if Won had said real gold You can not
call your hands clean, my boy, when
you stain them by cheating. and the
stains are upon your heart as we'll as
your hands.
lie went into the house leaving Ned
to think about his words.
somehow Ned did not feel now as if
he haa done a smart thing in getting
the best of the bargain. rs he looked
at his hands, he fancied that he could
almost see the Stains upon them, and
he drew uncomfortable Mt the remcm-
hrance of the stains which We're upon
his heart at last he made up his mind
that he would ria his hands from this
last stain. and ne went down 10 the
barn to look for Ezra
Il say. Ned began bravelv, Il cheat
cd voa about those buttons. They
aren real gold; they are only plated.
and worth about Twenty-Five cents You
keep the pigeons tlil l send You the
money for them"
Then he went back t. Uncle Frank
I've made il all right with Ezra, he
said. and | mean to keep my hands
clean after this sir.
Don't forget the stains ON Your
heart. Ned, " said Uncle Frank, kindly
Remember to whom you must take
those stains orcleansing.
Ned had been proud of his sharp bar
gains, and il was no easy matter for
4 him to remember his new resolution to
/ keep his hands clean; but he did not
4 give mp trying, and when he failed, as
he did sometimes, ne took care to free
I his hands from dishonest stains by con
/ Tossing his fault Minnie +, kenney,
\ in Sunshine
1t is the first step that costs
| French provcrb