Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-06-24
A FRIEND In NEED.

They used to make fun OF him at
the office. He was aqueer old fellow,
with a solemn face and what we thought
ridiculously polite ways. He would
say
'Good morning, gentlemen. TRUST
see You all in good health this fine
day"
And some of the boys would nod
and some wouldn't do anything; but
1 never could help standing up and
bowling, perhaps because knew that
my mother would have said ought
to do it.
And, you see, it was gentlemanly of
him, said; and if he was a little
creature. with queer little wig, why,
lie looked something likea gentleman,
too. i said so once to Merrivale, next
desk to mine; but--well--I didn't try
il again.
You see, Merrivale was up to every
thing, dressed elegantly, sneered at
everything almost, and Id come from
country town and he was city
mun.
Nobody was down on cold Dumps"
IA he was, especially after he made us
that speech about our conduct to the
ladies.
Dumps made the speech you know,
and il was Merrivale who had said the
lady only came in to look at him.
." man who calls blush to the
cheek OF woman by look oil tone
must have forgotten his mother" said
Old Dumps. "When that lady asked
you u civil question she relied on her
belief that you were a gentleman, Mr..
Merrivale. When you answered her
rs you did and spoke to her as you did
any one could read your insulting
thoughts, Mr.. Merriyale; and you did
not even rise from your seat, sir. You
proved that she was very much mis-
taken"
"Mear to say that am no gentle.
mani" said Merriyale,
'In this instance, Sir" said Old
Dumps, lyon 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
liked the old fellow. When We met
in the street I'd take off my hat and
shake hands and say some of these
polite things that mother used to teach
me to say. And 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 aud blue one
hour and the next black with the
clouds of thunderstorm. just that
way my trouble came to mean awful
trouble-such as ] could not have
dreamed Of.
/ had written to my mother that |
was doing well and liked my business,
and would be down 10 see her sub
day, when was sent for to 60 into
the inner office; and there--I can't go
through with i'll can't even remem-
Der details; but / was charged with
being thief.
You'd have to understand our par
ticular business, as well as bookeep-
ing, to know how was supposed to
have done it; but they believed l had
robbed them of $500.
They urged me to confess. / was
innocent, and / said so. Then they
told me they did not wish to be hard
OIL me. 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, thew said; and
at last / staggered out into the Office.
The boys were getting ready to go
home. / SAL they knew what had
happened. 49,,
''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 of So"
And Grab said:
81 say. Forester. don't talk too
much; you'll give yourself away"
And what with shame aud rage and
grief. could have died; when out OF
his dusty corner came Old Dumps. In