The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-10
THE TOUCH OF GOLD.
Hugh, n simple-Hearted hoy, Learn
ed How to Turn Everything He
Handled Into Gold.
BY Charles Battell L.oomis.

BY Charles Battell Loomis
Copyright 1889, by c. B. Loomls.
When old Mr. Carpenter died he left
one son, Hugh Carpenter, and that was
all he left. His fortune had been swal-
lowed, and Hugh found himself ~ years
old, fatherless and penniless. He had
made good use of his schooling up 10 that
time, and he knew more than some boys
of 10, but he was hardly prepared to go
out into the big world and earn his living.
His father had had many friends when he
was rich, but they did not tumble over
each other in their efforts to help Hugh to
a position, and l don't know but that he
would have had to so out and sell news
papers if Calvin Cuthbert, who lived next
door TO him, had not offered him position
as cash boy in his 10-cent store.
Mr.. Cuthbert did not do this because he
had kind heart, but because Hugh's ex-
tremuy was his opportunity, and he got
him to work at just half the wages that
are generally paid for the same amount
OF labor.
The morning that he began Mr.. Cuthbert
called him into his private office and said
to him: Hugh, have done a great deal
for YOU Your father did less, for he left
you poor. 1 have put you in the way of
becoming rich, if you attend to business,
and come here at in the morning and
work hard all day until at night, or nine
on Saturdays and the Christmas holidays.
without extra pay for over time. You will
receive 81 week for your work, and l
hope that. besides trying to earn 1t, you
will always remember that 1t was 1 who
saved you from starvation"
Hugh was a simple hearted boy and had
never been allowed to have much spend
ing money. so that dollar week seemed
good pay, and he was of so grateful dis
position that he felt he could not do
enough to show that he appreciated his
neighbor's efforts in his behalf He was
always on time. worked hard ct whatever
he had to do. and found that by boarding
at a cheap place and spending nothing up
on foolishness he was only five dollars in
debt a the end of the first month. He
went TO Mr.. Cuthbert and asked him when
he could expect a raise. That benevolent
man was exceedingly angry do you think
that am made of money? If you had come
10 work here in the ordinary way by an
swerine an advertisement / might raise
YOUR salary at the end of a year. but as
was kind enough 10 save you from starv-
ing, it will be two years before / think OF
raising your pay, and think long time
before l act. Be thankful that you 'ad
not starve a month ago
But have to pay two dollars week
for my board, sir"
Hugh. | did not hire you in order 10
hold dialogues with you. | am busy. Get
busy yourself"
Hugh felt that the good Mr.. Cuthbert
was a good man, but ii did not make Il
any easier 10 see how he was TO pay his
landlady. and she could not afford to sup
port him for nothing.
That morning a tall, thin man, with
s1antfng eyebrows and black moustache
10 nd gostee. came into the store. He was
a famous magician. and I dare say that
Won have seen him draw forth rabbits and
canaries and gold fish from stoveppe
hat He saw that Hugh looked downcast
and as he was fond of children, he asked
him what the trouble was. Hugh told him.
and the magician shook his head and said
something about Mr.. Cuthbert that was
not complimentary.
MY boy. l can't do anything for you
unless l give you the touch of gold"
What is that?" asked Hugh.
why, whatever you touch viii turn
into gold.'
And can you do that for me?" asked
Hugh. his eyes glistenng.
II can Try Come 10 the soda fountain. y
Hugh was q little afraid that Mr.. Cuth-
bert would come out and scold him for
leaving his post of duty. but he decided to
risk il and make it up at lunch time by
staying in.
"Whatn you have?" asked the magi-
cian
"I'n take vanilla-no, I'll take pineap-
p.e-no I guess I'll take lemon"
Take all three IL YOU want" said the