The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-05-30
REWARDS HIS HELPERS SON
QueeT Old Clerk That Was the Mcr-
chants Mascot.
Preferred Aid That Made n Man.
Bread Cast on the Waters That
Ssnic Back-OneG cod Deed Repaid
by Others-Peebles Rebukes The
spy System.

lFor The Messenger.
have often thought of the chain of
strange circumstances which changed
he whole condition and current of l:fe
lof a former friend OF mine through
The overwhelming influence Of an act
lin which he had no concern; and, as
[ venture to believe that the little
STORY will be OF interest in print, l
)give it herewith as | recall it.
Many years ago, in a town n q
Thousand miles from many readers OF
The Messenger, there lived one Henry
burnett, his dwelling a n and a half
|story frame building in the suburbs
rather a tight fit for the husband, wife
land four children-not over and above
comfortable and we'll furnished, badly
needing a coat OF paint and other re-
Ipairs, with the shabby little front gar
|den hopelessly invaded by unsigntly
Iweeds-for to this family, life was be
iginning to show Its ugly, sordid.
|seamy side.
Henry Burnett had made his appear
lance in the place some years before
with his young wife, had taken the
lay Of the lan0. rented a store ten
cement, and opened a general merChan-
jdise business. He had some three or
flour thousand dollars in ready money,
(which, when l introduce him to The
lreader, he had been for a long time eat
ling up in household expenses, n us
ling against the horse leeches'-oanE
drafts and northern creditors bills; IN
It'll his capitol is gone, his business is
reduced to a low ebb, his stock is u
down and the man feels that,do wha-
The will, he is slipping down hill. Nor
lcould he do much. He was not n
Iof the men cut out for success in this
lworld; and, if there was any groove
lin all industry's Callings in which he
might fit easily, he certainly was rot
lin it when he stood behind the
tier, and dealt out email, bacon, lard,
letc., to a rather Improbable clientele.
lit was delightful to hear him discuss
Adam Smiths wealth Of Nations"
Iwhile his own wealth remained an un-
known quantity, and ne was thorough
lily familiar with the sumptuary Jaws of
Edward VI. though lie knew not how
Ito get a living ont of his little stock
|of goods. He had :: right to rrt "A.
NJ" after his name, but the express
company insisted III -. u. d., and II
things continued to go FROM had to
worse the bank would ilexora!iF finish
lit up with -. ".
One day an clderly man entered the
Istore whom Burnett had never before
t,o1. 1xiIorflv :. - p, ,,.fns in tho ltaIt1
HE looked anywhere from 50 TO GO
Iyears Of age, was ungainly in shape
land movement, was decently dressed in
Ian ill-fitting suit OF rough clothing, II
HAD one of those wather-beaten, rus
Iset-apple faces which always betokens
many a rub with the world, taken
lstoutly and pluckily. Shrewd, kindly
Iblue eyes, under bushy gray eyebrows,
Throat and neck, a strong square chin.
land a large mouth conically twisted
land puckered, made up his picture.
The stranger bought some fancy
jcakes and a slice Of cheese, which he
lmunched as he sat Oh the head OF Il
barrel, and asked questions about the
town, which he had struck the eteE-
ling before, he said, and liked what he
lltGu SCCu VI IL l. hAON buL Nhdf
The might hang up there for a While. SO
The rambled on, making inquiries about
business, and venturing comments
levincing UGH sound sense and good
Judgment, until other customers came
Jim, and he took his departure, sham
bling awkwardly down the street, and
Hooking here and there with his bright
leyes n eager face, like a second
i"NicOdemus Baffin."
The next day he called again, and
flor days after that; in fact, he seemed
to be strongly attracted to Burnett, and
THE latter found the old man wonder
fully CHEEKY and whOleSOme-a bOrn
lcptimist, if ever there was one. He had
lgiven his name as Peter Hay. He had
knocked about in many places he
said, but he didn't know what spot
The might call home more than another.
He had mined and farmed in South
lAmer1ca, and mad too behind Il coun-
ter himself in Rio"
You don't speak very hopefully OF
lyour business said this queer old fell
How II day to Burnett; but it seems
Ito me that, such as it is. you nced q
iclerk. There are outside matters that
Ineed attending to, sweeping out to be
IuolC, Liz StOIc 10 Uc hCpt HI uC(SA'
lorder, etc" Dull as his trade was
burnett did need a clerk, and had VI
Ito a few weeks before employed a lad
wis Lad given up Djs situation to take
~ course in G. northern business col.
lleee.
We'll, now" said Peter Hay, I'm q
STRANGER here, anil can't give you any
I:eIc' ences. and il | wanted to s&ir'
lflc you references wouldn't keep III
fr"r 1t. But, | like you. and | like
1t lis tow n, and I went employment fra
will keep me here. l leave the matter
Iof salary to you I'm not particular
Iabout it, anyhow-but if you'll give
me the job III serve You honest, anC
Imaybe you won't regret it,"
After some hesitation Henry Burnett
accepted the proposition and took OF
1.-THE new clerk at the salary given Il
Eh.~ -