The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-10-12
CLEAN HANDS.
Why Uncle Frank Thought Ezra's Were
the Whitest.

the Nhltest
'It's bargain You won't get again in
hurry, and if you're sharp you won't
miss it"
Ned Howell spoke impatiently, IS
Ezra, the choreboy Mt 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 a dozen
of your fancy pigeons! 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,
if they were, he would be quite willing
to give six of his white fantail pigeons
for them
Don't paw them with your dirty
hands, if 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 a good bargain for
yourself, why, give them back 40 me-"
9TH take them" said Ezra, slowly,
| closing his hand over them. 'I'll have
the pigeons in a basket ready for you
| to take home with you tomorrow
| morning"
| He put the bnttons 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 tri-
umphant smile on his face.
II did not occur to him that he had
done mean or dishonorable action in
taking advantage of Ezra's ignorance,
and he was proud of what he consid-
cred his cleverness.
He 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 choreboy for any
thing" said Ned.
"Why?" asked Uncle Frank.
"Oh, they have to do such dirty
work. answered Ned. "Ezra's 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 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.
II 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 rhad just
been cheating poor boy ont of his
pigeons
Ned's face grew very red.
at wasn't my fault if he didn't know
how to make good bargain, he NUT
! |
himself in bargains"
, HE simply took your word for the
value of the buttons. You told him they
were real"
"Well, so they were-real 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
lyon meant him to think that they
were real gold" said Uncle Frank.
sternly. 1T was just as much lie as
if you 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 well as
your hands"
He went into the house leaving Ned
to think about his words,
. Somehow. Ned did not feel now as If
, he had done II smart thing in gctt ing
', the best of the bargain. As he looked
at his hands. he fan"ied that he could
!, almost see the Stain upon them. and
he drew uncomfortable at the remem-
. brance of the stains which were upon
!. his heart, At last he made up his mi I'd
! that he would rid his hands from this
last stain. and he went down to the
barn to look for Ezra
A IL say" Ned began, bravcly, II cheat,
ed You about those buttons. They
o aren't real gold; they are only plated
A and worth about twenty-five cents You
A keep the pigeons till | send you the
a money for them
4 Then he went back to Uncle Frank
1--WE made it all right with Ezra, -" hs
n said, land | mean to keep my hand,
|, clean after this. sir"
- Don't forget the stains on your
>. heart, Ned" said Uncle Frank, kindly
o Remember to whom you must tax,
= those stains for cleansing"
i, Ned had been proud of his sharp bar
gains, and it was no easy matter fol
a him to remember his new resolution &
:, keep his hands clean: but he did no
IL give up trying, and when he failed, n
a he did sometimes. We took care To frc'
- his hands from di-,hpnes, stains by con
tossing his fault Minnie Z. kenney
N Sunshine.
,e 1T is thu first step that "D5ts-
h French Proye'h.