The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-24
THE TOUCH OF GOLD.
Hugh, a Simple Hearted Boy Who Serv-
ed as Cash in Ten Cent Store,
Learned How to Turn Every
thing He Handled Into
-, Gold

Learned How to Turn Every
thing He Handled Into
= Gold.
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 twelve
years old, fatherless and penniless. He
had made good use of his schooling up
TO that time. and he knew more than
some boys of fifteen, but he was hardly
prepared to go out into the big world
and learn 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 position, and
don't know but that he would have had
to go out and sell newspapers if Calvin
Cuthbert, who lived next door to him,
had not offered him position as cash
boy in his ten-cent-store.
Mr.. Cuthbert did not do this because
he had a kind heart, but because Hugh's
extremity 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.. Cuth-
bert called him into his private office and
said to him: Hugh. / have done great
deal for you. Your father did less, for
he left you poor. have put You in the
way of becoming rich, il you attend to
business, and come here at Z in the
morning and work hard all day until
6 at night, or ON Saturdays and the
Christmas holidays, without extra pay
for over time. You will receive one dol
lar week for your work, and | hope
that, besides trying to earn it, You will
always remember that it was | who
saved You from starvation
Hugh was a Supplemented boy and
had never been allowed to have much
spending money, so that dollar week
seemed good pay, and he was of so CRATE
full disposition that he felt he could
not do enough to show that he appre-
ciated his neighbours efforts in his be-
half. He was always on time. worked
hard at whatever he had to do, and
found that by boarding at a cheap place
and spending nothing upon foolishness
he was only five dollars in debt at the
end OF the first month. He went to Mr.
Cuthbert and asked him when he could
expect raise. That benevolent man
was exceedingly angry. DO you think
that | am made of money? Ii you had
come to work here in the ordinary way
by answering an advertisement, | might
raise your salary at the end of year,
but as | was kind enough to save you
from starving, it will be two years be-
fore / think of raising your pay, and
think a long time before | act. Be
thankful that you did not starve a
month ago"
''But / have to pay two dollars week
for my board. SIR
Hugh. / did not hire you in order to
hold dialogues with you. | am busy.
Get busy yourself"
Hugh felt that the good Mr.. Cuthbert
was a good man, but it did not make it
any easier to see how he was to pay his
landlady, and she could not afford to sup
port him for nothing.
That morning n TALL thin man, with
slanting eyebrows and a black nous
tache and goatee, came into the store.
He was famous magician, and / dare
say that you have seen him draw forth
rabbits and canaries and gold fish from
a stovepipe hat He saw that Hugh
looked downcast, and as ne was fond
of children. he asked him what the
Trouble WAS. HUGH lOlu Hill, dllu I1l,
magician shook his head and said some
thing about Mr.. Cuthbert that was not
complimentary.
my boy, | can't do anything for you
unless / give you the touch of gold"
What is that?" asked Hugh.
sWhy, whatever you touch will turn
into gold.''
And can you do that for me?" asked
Hugh, his eyes glistening.
Il can try. Come to the soda foun-
tain"
Hugh was a little afraid that Mr.
Cuthbert would come out and scold him
for leaving his post of duty, but he de-
cided to risk it and make it up at lunch
time by staying in.
'What'l you have?" asked the magic
ian.
sI'll take vanilIa-no, I'll take pine
apple--no. / guess III take lemon"
take all three if you want said the
magician, so Hugh ordered all three.
Just before he drank the strange mix
ture the magician emptied a powder into
the glass and passed his wand over it
and it fixed up much higher than or
binary soda water, and a fountain of
parti-colored fire burst from the foam
and descended in brilliant sparks upon
the marble counter.
Drink it, my boy. Don't be afraid.
said the magician, kindly, and Hugh
drank it and pronounced it the best
soda he had ever tasted.
..Now pay for it. said the magician.
II have nothing in my pocket except a
BUTTON answered Hugh, quite crest
fallen, and the soda water clerk looked
as if he were going to call an officer.
1.-THE button will do very well. ! guess,
said the magician, and Hugh drew IT
forth from his pocket and it was pure
gold.
The soda clerk was at first afraid TO
take it, thinking it was brass, but ne
tested il. and then he wanted to give
Hugh change, but the magician SAID fhnt
that was not allowable, and with that
he disappeared. He was near the door
and the door was open, so ! suppose ne
went out into the street. but he did u
more quickly than ] could, and Hugh
was astonished and yexed besides. for
he wanted to thank the kind magician
for the drink and the gift.
Now, it so happened that that morn.