Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-08-03
CLEAN HANDS.

j
miss it."
Ned Howell spoke impatiently, as
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 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, aud,
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 good bargain for
yourself, why, give them back to me-"
"I'll take them" said Ezra, slowly,
closing his hand over them. 'I'll 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 tri-
umphant 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.
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.
IL wouldn't be choreboy for any.
thing" said Ned.
"Why?" asked Uncle Frank.
''0h, they have to do such dirty
work. answered Ned. "Ezra's hands
are always dirty. l 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 IL 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. II could not feel
how white they might be, if had just
been cheating a poor boy out of his
Neds face grew very red.
1T wasn't my fault If he didn't know
how to make a good bargain. he NUT
tered. Everyone must look out for
himself in bargains"
''Iie 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. ~
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. at was just as much lie as
il you had said real gold. You can not
call your hands clean. my boy, when
you stain them by cheating. aud 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 IL
he had done smart thing in getting
the best of the bargain. As he looked
al his hands. he fancied that he could
almost see the stains upon them. and
he drew uncomfortable at the remem-
brance of the stains which were upon
his heart. At last he made up his mind
that he would rid his hands from this
asst stain, and he went down to the
barn to look for Ezra.
81 say" Ned began, bravely. II cheat
ID You about those buttons. They
aren't real gold; they are only plated.
ind worth about twenty-five cents. You
Seep the pigeons till / send you the
money for them.
Then he went back to Uncle Frank.
I've made it all right with Ezra, he
aid. ''and | mean to keep my hands
lean after this. sir.
Don't forget the stains on your
heart, Ned. said Uncle Frank, kindly.
Remember 10 whom you must take
hose stains for cleansing
Ned had been proud of his sharp bar.
-ains, and it was no easy matter for
lim to remember his new resolution to
Leep his hands clean; but he did not
rive up trying. and when he failed, as
lie did sometimes. he took care TO free
lis hands from dishonest stains by con-
essing his fault-Minnie z. Kenney,
n Sunshine.
1T is the first step that costa
french Provsrh.