?SIJ AIlATOIl.
ravenous appetite, ho amused himself with all tht
eager curiosity of one unaccustomed to see timilar
sights.
The appearance cf the youth coon attracted ray
curiosity, and gently opening the door, I stood be
hind him .without his being in the least conscious of
my presence. He now began rumaging his pocket,
and-, star a great deal of trouble, brought out a roll
of paper, which he opened. After satisfying him
lelf that a largo copper coin was safe, he carefully
put it back again, saying to himself, in a low tone,
" Mother, I will remember your last words : " a pen
ny saved is two-peuee earned." It shall go hard
with me before I part with you, old friend."
Pleased with this remark, I gently touched the
lad on the shoulder. lie started, and was aVout to
move away, when I said: '
" My good lad, you seem tired, and likewise a
stranger in the city,"
" Yes, sir," he answered, putting hh hand to his
hat: He was again about to nor- r
" You need not hurry av.r.;-, . L jy, " i cl:;:vcd.
" Indeed, if ; . i. trailer, and willing to work,
J can per!:- yea to est what you require."
Th . onto with astonishment, ,and col
or . .ucU an extent as to show all the freckles
r: l'jl ub urn t face, stammered out,
" Yc3, sir." .
41 1 wi3h,to know," I added, with all the kindness
of manner I could assume, "whether you arc anx-
10U3 10 Una WOrK, lOr J YtllUb u juum vu sb uijr
coachman."
The poor lad twisted and twirled his bundlt about
and after only placing his hand to his head, manag
ed to utter an awkward answer, and said he would
be-very" thankful.
I mentioned not a word about what I had over
heard with regard to the penny, but Inviting him in
to the house, I sent for the coachman, to whose care,
I entrusted the new comer.
Nearly a month had passed after this meeting and
conversation bad occurred, when I resolved to make
some, inquiries of tho coachman, regarding the con
duct of the lad.
" A better boy never came into the house, sir ; and
as for wasting anything, bless me, sir, I know not
where he has been brought up, but I really believe
he would consider it a sin, if ho did not. give the
crumbs of bread to the fcirds every morning."
. . I am glad to hear so good an account," I re
plied.;; And as for his good nature, sir, there is not a
f errant among us that doesn't speak well of Joseph.
He reads to us while we sup, and he writes all our
tilers for us. Ob, sir, he has got more learning than
all of usnt tij-ethvr; and what's mom, he doesn't
mind work, and never talks about our secrets after ,v
he writes our letters."
Determined to see Joseph myself, I requested tie
coachman to send him to the parlor
"I understand Joseph, that you can read and
write." ' ; I , ,
" Ycsf sir, thanks to my poor'dcad mother." .
"You have lately lost your mother, then!"
"A month that very day when you were kind
enough to take me into your house, an unprotected
orphan," answered Joseph.
" Wher-did you go to school?"
" Sir, my mother, has been a widow evi r since I
can remember. She was the daughter of tho village
schoolmaster, and having to maintain me and her
self with her needle, she took the opportunity of her
leisure moments to teach me not only how to read
and write, but to cast up accounts."
" And did she give you that penny which I saw
you unroll so carefully at the door."
Jc;:ph stood amazed, List at length replied with
0rcat emotion, and a tear stood in hh eye.
" Yes, sir, it was the very last penny she gave nit."
41 .Well, Joseph, so satisfied am I with your con
duct, that not only do I pay to you a month's wages
willingly for the time you have been here, but I ruu?t
beg of you to fulfil the duties of collecting clerk to
our firm, which has become vacant by the death of
a very old and faithful assistant."
Joseph thanked me in the most unassuming man
ner, and I was asked to take care of his money,
since 1 had promised to provide him with suitable
clothingtfor his new occupation.
It will be unnecessary to relate how, step by step,
this poor country lad proceeded to win the confi
dence of myself and partner. The accounts were
always correct to a penny ; and whenever his salary
became due, he drew out of my hands no more than
be absolutely needed,' even to a penny. At length
he had saved a sufficient sum of money to be depos
ited in the bank.
It so happened that one of our customers, who
carried on a successful business, wanted an active
partner. This person was of eccentric- habit?, and
considerably advanced in years. Scrupulously just,
he looked on every penny, and invariably discharged
his workmen, if they were not equally scrupulous in
their dealing with him; .
Aware of this peculiarity of temper, there was no
person I could recommend but Joseph ; and after
overcoming the repugnance of my partner, who was
unwilling to be deprived of so valuable an assistant.
Joseph was duly received into the firm of Hicham
Fairbrother k Co. Prosperity attended Joseph in
his new Undertaking, and never suffering a penny
difference to appear in his transactions, he so com
pletely won tho confidence of his senior partner, that
he left him the whole of his business, as be express
d la his will "even to the very last penny,-