Year: 1869

u ton OF doing business for himself, but whcr
l' he know he could lay up money. And h
was moro satisfied because another party ha,
L been talking Of purchasing the store
c 81 wouldn't trust him so far as coul,
throw fat hog by the tail up hill assortcc
v Luke Wharton. He spoke Of Mr.. Samue
g Lovejoy a man who lived in a distant par
l OF the town, and who was the individual tha
, had some talk Of purchasing the store.
What do you mean by that p asked Mrs
Wharton.


T " mean just what / say" returned Luke
" wouldn't trust him an iuch'
But what do you know against him, my
e son ?"


81 know enough lie would have bought
our store if he could and he meant to do 4
in undcrhand way. He knew that | wanted
it, and yet he tried his best to work me out
d But how do you know this2'
How do ! know why ] know it well
- enough. ! know that he went to my employ.
er' Mr. Green offered to purchase the whole
b and know that he iutimated that / might
never be able to pay my half tell you he
isn't to be trusted


"I hope you have not spoken thus to any
= one else said the old lady with much ear.
nostness.


Why do you hope that?"
Because it would have been very wrong
Il know Mr. Loyeioy is an eccentric man,
and very set, and even bitter in his preju-
dices; bnt never heard lisp against his
character for honesty and uprghtness. Have
you spoken Of him out Of doors ?"


" have spoken my mind Of him., replied
Luke somewhat stubbornly; and | shall
speak so again


Stop" said the mother She spoke
sternly, yet tenderly Do not say so. You
are too free in the use Of that tongue of yours.
You are not sure that Mr.. Loyejoy has spok-
en- one word against you, and you have no
right to speak so against him. If this should
60 to his ears it might injure you If you
are going into business, you should endeavor
to make friends and not enemies Let me
assure you, my son, that you should break
yourself Of this bad habit Just look at it in
this one light, and you ought not to look fur
ther 1t is habit from which no good can
possibly flow, but from which much evil must
result. Is not that reason enough for giving
it up2"


While they were yet speaking the doorbell
rang, and the servant soon handed in letter
for Luke Wharton, saying that the postman
had just left it.


The young man broke the seal and read as
follows:


FRIEND WHARroN-l am very sorry to be
obliged to inform you that our plan for pur-
chasing the store in partnership cannot be
carried out. | had so arranged to have the
money from my uncle Samuel Loveioy, whom
you well know, but he will not allow me to
move as | intended may as well be frank
with you as not. He says he will purchase
the whole store for me, or he will allow me
to take such share as / wish. A week ago
he had resigned all his previously formed
plans in my favor, but he has met with some
thing which has suddenly and strangely chang
ed his mind. lie simply tells me that he will
not trust you where my money will be at
stake. He says further that pardon me, for
| must speak frankly man who uses his
tongue as you use yours would be sure to
ruin any business sooner or later.
VIII you see him and talk with him
may see you this week


Yours TuoNAs Lyon.


The hand that held the letter sank by
Luke's side, and smothered groan escaped
him


What tt" asked his young wife, spring
ing to his side.


Nothing nothing now" he whispered
and then he seized his hat and hastened out
of the room


What a blow was this How high had he
built his hopes upon the bright prospect be-
fore him-how proudly had he dwclt upon
the fattering promise of the future-and how
heavy was the fall ? lie paced to and fro in
the garden, and finally he reasoned calmly on
the subject. At first he had muttered deep
imprecatons upon the head Of Samuel Love
joy but when he came to read the letter
again he was forced to think and feel differ
emily.


." A week ago he had arranged plans in
your favor he read


81 was mistaken" he said to himself
"while | thought he was trying to work me
out, he was in reality trying to help me-
He was ready to let Thomas have four thou
sand dollars to be my partner. What fool
| have been Why couldn't | have known
that he was Lyons uncle and my friend ~


My SOM"


Luke started-turned and beheld his moth
er.


"What is this ?" she asked


He handed her the letter, and she read it.


What shall | do ?" he asked.


What have you proposed to do ?"


Nothing, know not what | can do"


You can give up the store, and all the
bright hopes you had based upon it,"


COIL cannot do that, mother"


"Ihen you can do better Go to Mr. Love-
JOY, and tell him frankly that you have been
at fault, and that henceiorth you will do so
no more"


Il cannot"


" Then you must do the other thing-give
up all. You have done very wrong, and if
you have not the courage to acknowledge it
to him against whom the wrong has been
DONE then you deserve no favor that he can
grant Think oft my son and as you think
remember this If you come honorably out
of this, it may prove the best lesson you have
received, God be with you, Luke, and may
good sense and reason prevail


She left him, and he remained alone in the
garden for half an hour Then he went to
the stable and got horse, and rode away to-
see Samuel Lovejoy. He found the old gem
tleman at home, and after he had overcome
his embarrassment, be stated the object of his
visit.


You thought that meant to work against
you, eh ?" said Samuel Loyejoy.


" Ii makes no difference what | thought,
frankly returned Luke. IL did wrong, for |
had no right to question your motives nor
had | any right to speak as did 1t was
spoken thoughtlessly, and ! am sorry for it.


Sorry that heard it, eh ?"


No, sir am glad that you heard of it,
for it has opened my eyes to the greatest
fault of my life. But am sorry | said it,
because it was wrong"


"Well, well" said the old gentleman,
come in If you really feel in that way,
perhaps we can talk"