The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1905-05-04
IN THE BALANCE.

4 friend OF mine has told me that his
soul was once In the balance, and the
weight on the other eide seemed to be mere
ly bit Of pasltboard tb,ut an inch long
and half al inch wide.
A story which illustrates how a very tri.
val incident may tip the scales one way or
the other runs rs follows
When John T. X. was boy he went to a
country academy, and had daily TO take q
railway ride Of some length from his home
to his school.
He was poor boy, and every cent count
ed, His alo vance Of money WAS a small
one, and barely covered his railway fares
and necessary books, but all that he could
save by walking part way to school wss
bic, as well as what he could earn.
2. L. Barnum's circus was coming to
town, aud the flaming posters never had
more fascination for boy than for my
friend. lie glosted over them day after day
as he stood before the huge bill.boards.
He WAS particularly interested in wild
animals, ard to see the elephants pile them.
selves up into a black pyramid, showing
here and there cleaning tusB, with the
baby elephant standing on the trunk Of its
grandfather, ard to see the Spanish cava.
Her In his sombrero ard long Iidlng.whip
boldly enter the liops' den and tame the In
mates with glance Of his compelling eye
and a mere suggestion OF his whip had been
the dream Of the boy's life.
The circus had been to that town btfore.
but the boy had never been rich enough TO
20 to II, and bis father, who entertained
the Pdlitau dislike for such SHOVE, had
been obduilte about giving the necessary
half dollar.
But this year the boy had nearly enough
money saved up to pay for bis. ticket, ard
his father bad promised that II be eou'o
earn or save quite enougs, be would with.
draw his obi ctIon, and permit him for
once to see the circus. There were, how
ever, still ii'teen cents lackipg to make up
the necessary balf.dollar.
The bil!-bosrds we're arrayed In all their
glory OF emphatic capitals and thrilling
pictures Of equestrian aud aorobatlc per-
formsDces, and visions Of mysterious wag-
ons had been seen by many excited young
eters coming into town 10 the early dawn
Of the next day, and In their imsginations
the great tents we're already b ing erected
on the vscsnt lot usar sub street.
All sorts Of delightful insginings, more
gorgeous thsp The bl,-bosrts themselves,
stirred the b 81 heart. But alas be had
but ihlrty.n;e eents. That morning az u.s.
osl, be took his seat 10 the train that was
to take lin TO the academy. II was too
far for him to We ksll the way to school,
ard home du had prevented him from
trampiog eyeu be fwsv, ~ he sometimes
did, TO ttve pstl Of bic fare
That morning, hox,vsr, ~ the coDduc.
tor was about 10 take up the tickets Of the
passengers from Cbelsyille, bis attention
Was dislrschd by The rews OF a freight
wreck ia frort ~ fis own trsin, AID when
II reached Ctup,osn, where the academy
was situated, be Jumped n and hurried TO
the telegraph fise 20 ! qiire about the
wreck Meanwhile the boY looked rouid
upon the platiOrg, bat csuld d ID DO one 10
take his lieset
Now came The struggle q bis life. Width.
er be shou'd ba irafspsfenily honest ard
truthful or sht uli blji his record with
small dishonesty Was The momsntocs 9aes.
liln which be bad TO dsci.e.
The arguments which the demons ~tl
pered 10 his ear we're yeyy familiar and
very specious Il WAS great corporation
90 whole train be WAS rldlps; the fifteen