St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1898-07-02
{ A FRIEND IN NEED

THEY USED to make fun of him at
the office. He was queer old fel-
low, 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
see you all in good health this fine
day"
And some Of the boys would nod
and some wouldn't do anything; but l
never could help standing up and bow
ing, perhaps because | knew that my.
mother would have said l ought to
do it.
And, you see, it was gentlemanly OF
him, / said; and if he was little crea
ture, with a 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 a
country town and he was city man.
Nobody was down on "Old 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 a good woman by look or tone
must have forgotten his mother" said
Old Dumps. "When that lady asked You
a civil question she relied on her belief
that you were a gentleman, Mr.. Merri-
vale 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 mistaken"
"Mean to say that | am no gentle
man." asked Merrivale.
"In this instance, sir" said Old
Dumps, you certainly have not con-
Quoted yourself as one should"
"Mr. Dumps is right this time" said /.
"Rahr' said Merrivale. You're from
the country"
"Thank heaven for it. then, my young
friend,'' said Dumps, as he sat down.
After that Merrivaic was never even
halfway civil to Dumps. and the boys
followed Merrivale's lead. But liked
the old fellow. When we met in the
street Id take off my hat and shake
hands and say some of those polite
things that mother used to teach me to
say. And / wrote of him to mother,
and she said that she was glad her boy
knew what was due TO good old gen.
tleman.
Sometimes. when lived al Haredale
with my mother. I've seen the sky beau
tiful and bright and blue one hour and
the next blsck with the clouds of a
thunderstorm. just that way my trou-
BILE came to mean awful trouble
such as / could not have dreamed of.
I had written to my mother that
was doing well and liked my business,
and would be down TO see her on Sun
day, when l was sent to go into the
iHner office: and there-I can't 20
through with it-I can't even remember
details; but was charged with being
thief.
You'd have to understand our partic-
ular business, as well as bookkeeping.
to know how was supposed to have
done it; but they believed had robbed
them of E100.
They urged me to confess. / was in
nocent. and | said SO. Then they told
me they did not wish to be hard on me.
/ was young. The city was bad place
for boys. They would be merciful and
only dismiss me without recommenda-
ton. All l could say had no effect.
They proved me guilty before they ac-
cused me. they said; and at last stag
Rrred out into the Office. The BOYS
were getting ready to 60 home. I saw
they knew what had happened.
"None of YOU believed this of me %
said /. None of you who know me ?''
And Merrivale said:
.Look here, Forester; you're lucky
10 get OIL So"
And Grab said:
Il say, Forester. don't talk too much; ;
You'll give yourself away"
And what with shame and rage and
erief. could have died: when out OF
the dusty corner came Old Dumps, in
his little snuff-cclored osercoat and
t9M pst bis haa4