Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-06-16
A FRIEND IN NEED.

with a solemn face and what we thought
ridiculously polite ways. He would
take off his hat when he came in and
say:
"Good morning, gentlemen. TRUST
I see you all in good health this fine
day."
And some of the boys would nod
and some wouldn't do anything; but
never could help standing up and
bowing, perhaps because 1 knew that
my mother would have said 1 ought
to do it.
And, you see, it was gentlemanly of
him, I said and if he was little
creature, with queer little wig, why,
he looked something like gentleman,
too. / said so once to Merrivale, next
desk to mine; but-well-I didn't try
it again.
You see, Merrivale was up to every
thing, dressed elegantly, sneered at
everything almost, and I'd come from
country town and he was city
man.
Nobody was down on cold Dumps"
as he was, especially after he made us
that speech about our conduct to the
ladies.
Dumps made the speech you know,
and it was Merrivale who had said the
lady only came in to look at him.
''The man who calls blush to the
cheek of woman by look or tone
must have forgotten his mother" said
Old Dumps. "When that lady asked
you civil question she relied on her
belief that you were gentleman, Mr..
Merrivale. When you answered her
as you did and spoke to her as you did
any one could read your insulting
thoughts, Mr.. Merrivale; and you did
not even rise from your seat, sir. You
proved that she was very much mis-
taken.'
"Mear to say that I am no gentle
MANI" said Merrivale,
'1n this instance, sir" said Old
Dumps, ''you certainly have not con-
Quoted yourself as one should"
"Mr. Dumps is right this time
said l.
"Bah" said Merrivale. "You're
from the country"
''Thank heaven for it, then, my
young friend" said Dumps, as he sat
down.
After that Merrivale was never
even half way civil to Dumps, and the
boys followed Merrivale's lead. But
I liked the old fellow When we met
in the street I'd take off my hat and
shake hands and say some of those
polite things that mother used to teach
me to say. And l wrote of him to
mother, and she said she was glad that
her boy knew what was due to good
old gentleman.
Sometimes, when I lived at Hare
dale with my mother, I've seen the
sky beautiful and bright and blue one
hour and the next black with the
clouds of thunderstorm. Just that
way my trouble came to mean awful
trouble as l could not have
dreamed Of
l had written to my mother that I
was doing well and liked my business,
and would be down to see her Sun
day, when I was sent for to go into
the inner office; and there-I can't go
through with it can't even remem-
Der details; but 1 was charged with
being thief.
You'd have to understand our par
ticular business, as well as bookeep-
ing, to know how 1 was supposed to
have done it; but they believed had
robbed them of $500.
They urged me to confess. I was
innocent, and l said so. Then they
told me they did not wish to be hard
on me. 1 was young. The city was
bad place for boys. They would be
merciful and only dismiss me without
recommendation. All could say had
no effect. They proved me guilty be-
fore they accused me, they said; and
at last staggered out into the Office.
The boys We're getting ready to go
home. l saw they knew what had
happened.
''None of you believed this of me?"
said I. ''None of you who knew me?"
And Merrivale said
''Look here, Forester; you're lucky
to get off so.
And Grab said:
81 say, Forester, don't talk too
much; you'll give yourself away"
And what with shame and rage and
grief. 1 could have died; when out of
his dusty corner came Old Dumps, in
his little snuff colored overcoat and
held out his hand.
''Mr. Forester" he said, 'I've
watched you ever since you've been
here. know what you are. You are
incapable of dishonest act, and what
is more, I will prove it before 1 rest.
Ghe man who respects others always
respects himself. The man who honors
his mother will do no dishonorable
thing"
lie TOOK my hand in his arm, and,
bowling to the others, walked out into
the street with me. heard Grab and