The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-10-10

JACK went home very much stirred
by what had been said to him. Al
ter all. could Ii be wrong TO go where
he could do 50 much better? Almost
double his wages, Was IL not really
his duty TO obtain II, and to drive
wagon instead of trudging YEARLY
along the streets? They never had
felt so hot and dusty az they did just
nov. when he might escape from the
tiresome routine.
Might, but how? BY the sacrifice
Of his pledged word. By selling his
truth and his honor. So strongly
did the reflection force itself upon
him that when he told his mother OF
the offer he had received he merely
added:
at would be a grand, good thing
If could take it, wouldn't 1t, moth
err"
YES, 1t would"
Some boys would change without
thinking of letting a promise stand
in their way"
Eyes, but that is the kind of a boy
| who, sooner or later, is not wanted.
| 1t is because you have not been that
sort Of a boy that you are wanted
now"
Jack worked away, doing such good
work, as he became more and more
accustomed to his situation, that his
mother sometimes wondered that Mr..
Hill, who seemed always kindly inter-
ested in him, never appeared to think
of raising his pay. This, however,
was not Mr. Hills way of doing
/ things, even though he showed an in
creasing disposition to trust Jack with
! important business.
So the boy trudged through his
three years, at the end of them hav-
ing been trusted far more than is
usually the case with errand boys.
He had never forgotten the offer
made him by Mr.. Lang, and one day,
meeting that gentleman on the street,
gentured to remind him of it, telling
him his present engagement was
nearly out, adding:
! "You spoke 10 me about driving
! the wagon, sir"
"Ah, so I did; but you are older
now and worth more. Cali round
and see me"
/ One Saturday evening soon after,
Jack fingered in Mr.. Hills office after
the other errand boys had been paid
and gone away.
"My three years are up tonight,
sir" he said.
Yes, they are" said Mr. Hill, look
ing as if he remembered it.
'Will you give me recommended
ton to some one else, sir?"
well, [ will, if you are sure you
1 want to leave me-"
II didn't know you wanted me to
f! stay, but, he hesitated and then
! went on-"my mother is a widow
and I feel as though 1 ought to do the
| me- to call on him.
HAS Mr.. Lang made you an Of
fer?"
Jack told him of what Mr. Lang
! had said to him nearly two years ago
why didn't you go to him, them"
asked Mr.. Hill.
| Because I had promised to stay
with you; but you wouldn't blame
me for trying to better myself now?"
mot bit Of it. Are you tired of
running errands?"
"Pd rather ride than walk" said
Jack, with a smile.
| 81 think it is about time you were
]
you think you have been doing this
| faithful work for me through these
years for next to nothing, but, If so,
you are mistaken. You have been do
! ing better work than merely running
| errands. You have been serving an
| apprenticeship to trust and honesty.
l know you now to be a straightfor-
| ward, reliable boy, and it takes time
to learn that. 1t is your capital and
you ought to begin to realize on it.
You may talk to Mr.. Lang if you wish
but I will give you place in the
! Office, with a salary of six hundred
dollars for the first year, with a
| prospect of a raise after that"
Jack did not go to Mr.. Lang, but
straight to his mother with a shout
and bound.
You're right. you're right, moth
! er!" he cried. mo more hard work
! TO ryou, mother. I'm wanted, you see!
Wanted enough to get good pay, and
all the hardest part over."-The
Rams Horn.