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* * DEVOTED TO SOUTIERNRIGHTS, DEMOCRACY, NEWS, LITERATURE SCIENCE AND THE ARTS W.1. J. FRANei.4, Proprietor. r *! O . TERIS--T Dollar P i V- SUMTERVILL E, S. O., JIUN E 29, 18,52. TEMPERANCE. LITTLE PELE,C(l THE ]1) UNKAU L'S S'ON; BY WILLIAM T. CoiGSIALL, Author of " Oakslaw," " Neil Elton," "'rnT Toper, Esq.," and other Tules. CHAPTER . The Christmas Supper 1eleg.-A homely name for a homely boy, but a boy as good as he was homely. Peleg Brown, or as the school boys tauntingly called him. because his complexion was nearly the color of a hazel nut, BrownI Pe leg, was the son of a worse than widowed woman, who lived in an humble cottage on the outskirts of a village situated upon the romantic stream, Kishacocuillas, a Pennsylva nia tributary to te noble Juniata. Peleg's mother, one of those gen tie womien, who seem only able to hold life in its sunshine aspects, but whose experience is an evidence that they have latent strength for cloud and storm, was worse than widowed, because her husband, John Brown, had, for several years, been a con firmed drunkard, dependent upon the efforts of his gentle wife and feeble son for his food, raiment and shelter, as well as for the means, obtained through force and stealth, by w hich he purchased, at the village grog shop, the numerous draws that ren dered his wife a creature of sorrow, and his son a youth shunned and for ken by the boys of his age. was Chi istmas--a holiday to buys-but a day of labor to Brown. With his saw back its shoulder and his wood sai his arm, Pelcg trudged thiro' w, fromfone house to aitiier a job. A pile of wood in R the mansion of cne of the we. -tLmen f- tihe ViUegc attrazt ed his attention, aid he begged the privilege of sawing it into proper stove-lengths. Il.e was told that lie might carry it into the back-yard, saw it, and pile in the wood-house. It was a good job, Peleg was a small boy, but he though how mny com forts lie might buy his mother with the money the job would bring himi, and, with a cheerful heart, andi a Willing; hand, he weit to work. Noon came and he sat down on his saw buck to cat his frugal dinne.t. It was a blustering day, and the snow, whirled from the topls of the houses, full upon Peleg, until lie looked as if he were a miller's apprentice, but -lie heeded not the snow or the cold, and was hurrying with his repast, that lie might have the wore time to work, when he found himself face to face, with a handsome, well dressed boy, about his own age, but of much larger size, who said to him : 'Ilalloa, little fellow, how much did you have to spemu for Christmas.i I had Iothinmg, sir,' honestly al swered Peleg, somewhat astonished at the abrupt question, ' but if 1 work well to-day, mother will make me a nice pie when I go home.' iIa, ha,' cried the well-dressed boy-' work on a Charistmas and get a nice pie for it. You'ie a little unm fortunate. Where d.Q you live ?' .-hisas-s.idwth an air-, as if the sipeaker regairded Peleg a curiijty but Peleg was too honest to nmotice such irony, anmd lie answered frankly. I live ini the little house back of thme chiul-ch on the comnmiu. 'Oh ! then you are the sun of drunken lBrown. No woindeir you don't have any- nmney to spend on Christmas. I had three dvllars~. miy father aimn't a drunkard.L' P'elcg was hurt-sorel y hurti -but lhe thought of his mother and uttere-d no retort, lie made his saw r-un glibly through the wood, and p'aid no attention to the car-eless boy dihat had tauntedi him. When lie tuiriedl around to get aniothier- stick ot wood to lay upon his buck, heo noticed dhat his torineintor was gone. T1hiis boy was the onily son of the -mnerchauit for whotu Peleg w as saw ing wood. Wheni lie left the yard, ho rani into the pailoir, where his mother, father and sister- were sitting, {mti mnaehinmg up to the latter, lhe wlis ered, ~ 4l~b's a chracer iin thecyard, Jane,~ a ebalp thait'llI jost suiLt'u. H~e is sawinig wood omi Chriistmais to - ge m ptie at night. Ain't lie a char -actor ?f ' Wint ebarnecter,' inquiiiredl the Ilfather, caltching~. the last wvords, 'comue, 'iank , what imischief have you bieei up to) now j oNthiing, Pa,' returutd. the boy, only I had been out to see my pony, when 1 found a character inl the yard -the son of drui'ikard I rownt is sawing onr wood, and I had some fun with him.' 'You did not make fun of his mis fortunes, I hope, my son,' said the mnother. 'No, mamna,' reto: ned Frank, 'I only laughed at him a little for hay ing to saw wood Christmas, and be ing content with a nice pie at night,' 'That was naughty, Frank,' said Jane. 'Come, come, Jane,' interrupted the flather, 'let 1rank have his sport. to-day. You inay prach to him (o t1orrOw. .ut, Ierank, you must not asst'ciate with drunkard's sons antd wood-sawyers. It is irii enough to have 'nc in thu lunily given to such company.' The last sentence was intended as a re primnaud. o Jaue. le felt it, and left the parlor. As she walked to her owni room, the tears started in he eyes, ant her heart said 'Why does not father love ine Y Ile tells me I am iotely. lie says Frank is his tly pride : but I love father, though le never does call ite Pet. I'm sure it 1 dou associate with the drunkard's children its not to diso bey 'a, but it is because I love to see them have soiiething good to eat, ani wear. Ma loves ime for this, atd other people say I am good. Wh'ly does not Pa love men' A gain, and again she asked her. self this questionii, an1d still she could find no answer, but that she was a holnely girl, and Frank was a hand some boy. Site did not feel that her father uas a werldly man-one whose heart was on houses and lands aind stocks amit hills--that lie loved Prank because lie was a fine lookirg kit,.---iaVwue ipeced3. -heii-to -sus tain the credit of!' the house of Pridore & C., antid that he had ittting to expect of .1 atne, because she was ntot only hotimely, but seeied to itrae no joy inl the societ v of the rich and proud who visited his house -would rather. even wh ten it sttorimed , carrty a basket of cl11tliingr artund1 to the poor chibir1ent in thle nei;:hborhlood, thta sit in the parlur an [lay ott the pliait fr visittors. Frank laughed at Jame Icr these -/ ,/ ." lie loveld the dashing comltla:vy that visited his lither'ts house-he was well leased when his ither allow ed him to sit dtowin with ti' piroud visitcrs to a rich supper, ati drink the chlice wine which slowed freely arun. the board. Soaetiites his mother Ii iithougtt he took too wch wine. hut the father said, 'o. It dtn't hurt hit. le's of tle real Pritlore stock. lie knlows what good w ine is, an.1 it is "/",d for hiimi.' Niht was atprotaching-- little Ile leg prepared t. quiit wo(,rk for the da. Ilis -jobh' was n11t inisied, but he setit a niieilest ritiest into the house that, as it was Clri.tn miis, lie nmight be paid for what lie hail done; ion isin g to e!11._ on the im11rio1w andti compl~e te his work. Iilis requtist wvas grantied, and hile was carieflullyv plhacinig the hardi earned si.\peices: iin tihe piocket of his iargtd jacket, when at youniig hotly crotssed the yaird deterinjined to do s, iiething fo~r the druiinlard's Sotn, which wouiild cautse imi to forget F"rank's har-,hiitss, andt ieimeimber that Chiristmias with pleaS Site spoike kinily to IPeli , aid tol hitm lie must inot think haid of whtat her b rthe~Ir had said . .lle la a thouightless hoy. '1 didn'it otily for a iiomienit, kindt lad~y,' siai l'eleg, -I knotw lhe doest feel wha t it is to b~ie a drunk-ii atrd's sont. . amt a poottr btoy, hut I've got a good mothier, and I love her.' 'You are at giood biy,' sai Jatne, 'staty here ia mioimet I have some Pe~~~leiipu d'ewn his saw-buck~l, anid Jane rani into the hotiste. lai a in iienit shte apptearedl agini, briniinig a hask et wh ichI was ecarefliy corVei, atnd whtich Pieleg foumnid to beU hieavy whlen J ant put ii inito his hand, say 'Carriy this to yourt motthier, and teil hiei it is frinii . atuc idtre.' 'W\e arte not beggars,' was 'in Ie ieg's lip, but ,Janie siledct upotn him so su cetly , iie coiuld ntot saty it. Th'ianik iing her wiath a tone which made her liem t thrill, he bidi her good eveingi:, atnid ratn hiomecwards. 1i1 tadl woik ed hard, mad wa ti..d. lie ...,...;.. his wood-saw and buck and a heavy basket, but the remenbrance of Jane's smile was warm in his heart, and he walked not a step until lhe reached his muother's cottage. lie was gladly received-joyfully weleoied, and the basket w3:s quickly opened. There, nicely :nud carefully packed, was an ass-rtimienit of delica cies such as Pelbg had never parta ken of, and .uch as his mother had not seen for iany years. The mother prepared the Christ. mas: supper in the neatest style her u.eagerly furnished house would al low, and when Peleg had dressed hiimself, in his Sabbath school suit. they sat down to such a repast as had never been eaten in that cottage. There was but one thing wanting to complete comfu t---the husband and hither could not partake with mother and son. IIe was at the village grog-shop, and he did not come home till long alter Peleg had recited his lessons to his mother, and was dream ing of Jane l'ridore. The wile had left for the busl:anda a portiol of the Christmas supqper in the most tempting inainer she could prIpare it, but lie was in no nmoodi, for 'delicacies.' lie threw hiiself ainoi his couch---.slept the sleep of a d raaunk ard, aiid was away froma the cott ge againi as soon as it was light, secking his bitters. CIIA .PTER II. The Birth-Night Pasty. Spiniig had come-iis silag sweetly in the bushes awal mnodet flowers were spriniging to ne w-life in the narrow beds around the pretty cottage where dwelt little Pcleg, and his iniother--but within there was sadness, son ow antd ..death.- There lay a body, prepared for the narrow bied 'apr iaed~t ici all-'thff aiving' from wi b there is no lwn-life--the Spirit unp1repared; had been libera ted, by violence, from the bonds which confined it to earth, awlt w;Is now where it witnessed, ini all dread fiil reality. the degrading results ol th ose habits which dcase high re slv l V1re yiehld holy pleasur aes, 1r the -ratilheation of low passionis and grovel linig a! lpetites. The hiusband ana liither hal been fcilal dead, on the highwaV between the village gtrog-shiopi :aol his hoite, I's death was a violent one-what inan who ever died of the direct iniiu. eices of intoxication did not have a violeit death! The fItueral was not 11111nerously attcde'l: roit the church ard to their' soldened hlome, but tine Iso accomuiiatied the chief mouetirCiS that one wVas J tme Pridore. 6he was welcumed to the cottage inl a Mianier whicb showed that she was a fretuentat but never a tedious visiter. 'You have been so kind t: us,' said 1cleg-'You are a litl girl not jiige r than I am, but you can do so inClh.' 'Fther is kitd to tale, I'eleg. Ile is rich, and I have sometii n; to do with. II youa were :as rieb ;as I :am, yoUucould do a great dual mnoie thIanl 1 do.' 'lll be ri-h z'nw, dity,' sahl l'ele _, I know~ I uill, al i en I'Il do a :rent deal. i'll notl forget the por i know1 wont.' 'lem- ou cani do somie*.ligt Va' sinet o1 ii'y folks suime daY, rc turned-i J ane. -Uu you'r a-ie sioh re, you'l nI everi lie por, miid wahat Iti a o I mausat do~ fr thle J~oer. I evecan Cdirgt. the, time. wheni I wais a p'oir drunik imd-S s)on, if I live to lbe a hmidried years el ti, andi get as sieb :s LStephei Girard,' ans1were d Pe1le-g. '1've readi in iv hols Pelega,' said J an e, -of many ic pelaoplhe lbe wht mayig~O~i happen; but I aiuL run i~i' good) bye iNlris .OOrown.' 'Go b1ye c, amy little benef ac tres, sail Mirs. lir~ownu. Peleg followed J ae to the garden gate, alnd tiiere said gotd bye, as Jaelen tripjiing over- the cananion towarads the village.- Ini a miomlent .The cried 'PI'cee I Pel-. ' Peleg rani to meiet lier whlen shte whisper' ed, as if die winid i mist no' t catch thle sounid alnd hear it t . eais. I've thaoul'ht of somethaini -'ve somieting to tell you, Pea ~ buat I wona't tell it now-to-morriow \tAnd althouagha the boy miade oi e-lfort to dletain hut, inta mtiomenit shiL again. Peleg could not imagine why Jane should not tell him then, if she had any thing important to communicate, nor was he able to conjecture what she might have to tell him. lie went back to the cot tage, but said nothing of Jane's con duet, determined that until he knew her secret, lie would keep his own. When Jane reached home, she found that her Father and mother had just taken dinner, and were in the p.arlor. She ate her diinner in haste, fearing that her father would go the store befotre sho could see hiin. When she was ready to enter the parlor, he was still at home, low ever, and she greeted hiin in her most pleasant inanner. 'And where have yon heen roam ing to-day. J ane?' i:i1uired Mr. Pri dure. 'I went to Mr. Brown's funeral.' 'Ihe lrown's have become great favorites ofyours, Jane.' 'They are nice people, father, and I could not neglect the mother, and that honest little hov, just because Mr. Brown was a drmkard.' Well-well, Jane, you can't be Frank, and I suppose you must have you- wahiuns: I don't expect much of you.' 'Now, pa, don't he cross, or scold me to-dav,' said Jane, walking up en'ililettly to her father, and placing her hawd on his knees, 'I have sotme thing to ask of you.' MIr. l'ridere was-a nmn. who, with all his harshness to Jane, loved to in lulge her. Ile was touched by her wininig miiianner, amrjsaid, smiling, Well, J ane, 1 n not in a bad hiu:nor, and it would"not be strange if I granted you a favor, notwith standing you have bcen a truant to day.' - 'l-, pa; mom 'e i U$t.e; to the funeral; but I don't want to ask anything for myself. I heard one of the clerks say, this morning, that a boy was needed at the store. \\on't you let that little Peleg rown, come? He'll work hard. fitler, and I knows lie's honest.' \\eli 'e'll, Jane,' said Mr. 1ri lore, I sl d il think you were getting familiar with the .lrtiow1:s. The lirst we know, this little Pteleg will be a beau oh yot-s. a irumikaris sun wait. Illg t oll /,/ tauglit er! o-no, fatler; I alm sure I nev eri thought of having a leaut. 1 doi't want a beau, interrupted Jane, in her sitmplicitv. nit seeing the hear inig of her fatler's objeetions. 'lint, pa, do give this hav a place. lle Sti POrts is 'ii .nutlert, and i'u sure he's hutnest. 'You've set your heart on it, Jaie. 'etrhal s I'll take this fellow: I'll see about it this evening.' 'Thank you,. pa; nit for nyself, but Ilir the po)or bov's widowed moth er,' said Jaie: follo ii I he'r fatheir, as he walkedt tiroughlI the hall, on his w av to the ctluting-outm of the ling f- l'ridore . Cu. \hether lr. Prilre made any intquties rec-' tii 'Iele-g .Itowi, he nei vet- ebla-.e to 0slose;~ bul tee unoa it is ti t, onidi the morrow, Janei 'cnt a nte to the. boy wicht, ~wen dienn eye, h e foundti t' cotini th4e follouine wods 1)-ir l'e?:1:-I tonl niot come to see. you toamltl o that You ae toliveat or hose-n, you rt: t o woik in lie store, andt Iiv at homte i yout please. \\ill you ecm ? I )-'t say 1no. 1 got the& pace ftr yeu, fromi Ia. Comie thius aifttenon 'a u ill e lt what you tau t do in the eveing: lie is so id. .m N:.' ' Alotherc-intothler'.:' crtied Pelecg, afteri he had rad the ntote overi atnd. ther,. oht itlithr see hiere- I tol vout I t'h yo 41v a. shouh l 1:e ich-I- I ktiow I shall.- See hete---see what that lit tie girl, nuot bi'.;t-t thani I atm, codtlt d (o aillythinig IEu- utyself or you, but saw wood amnd run etrrands; ht. mitheric, seeC wh!at Jantie has donte. <>h! I inever thought it; bitt now I :i'l lor yout. I U // be richi, andt *. ant theni 'll give loor- boy VaI tee; al i gooll hoys 'a is' ltherst a- dead, liiko inei~ shall have the lirst ebance. (h ! inith'o, we shiali he4 'o happ~y: do''t youi think we~ -4 Yeo ,ljl my chi,' saii ai.v lrown read the note ; ' I am glad you have got this place: Jane is very kind to us.' 'Indeed she is, mother. I love her so. I'll be a brother to her more than a brother-' Mrs. Brown looked at her bov with a singular expression; she felt the meaning of his word s, but knew that he did not, and she was com pelled that when lie did understand their true import, they might be to him the talisman of his several trial. In a few days little Peleg was re gularly installed, assistant clerk, with the duties of an errand boy, in the store of Pridore & Co. ills salary was a meager one, but he was aceus toned to frugalily. Ile performed his duties for near ly a year, with such strict assiduity and excellent judgment, that lie was more rapidly protnoted than boys of his age usually are in extensive stores and before the end of the first quar ter of the second year, he was con sidered one of the most trustworthy sales men of thi: establishment. le had not been in the employment of Pridore & Co. a year and a half, when he was matde assistant book keeper, with an increased salary. Jane had watched the promotions of her little friend with much inter est, but, that lie might hild her fa ther's favor, she said nothing about him, unless spoken to :u reference to his conduct. 'eleg often wondered why Jane was not as familiar with him, as she had been when he was a wood-saw yer, but as lie grew older, he felt that they could not be brother and sister, except in such circumstances as placed them socially for ever apart, and whenever he had reason to rejoice over prosperity, lie 'v6uld i>to hiis in;tiifht ~6gDn o' nute, which had been most carefully treasured, he would again peruse it with a heating heart and glistening eve, and say as tie had said to his 1 mother, when he read this uoto for the first time. ' 1 will be rich--I know I will.' One afternoon, Peleg was arrang ing some accounts i a private roomu, wien Frank P'ridore paid him a visit. * Come little Brow in,' said he. 'lu never have been one of us, but you mtust come out to-iiight, this is my twenty-first birth-daye. After the party at father's to-night, where vou will be. (f cour(', the boys in the store m ill adjourn down town for a grand spree. You will join us this once. You shan't back out.' You will excuse me, Mr. Pri dore,' sail Peleg, mildly. No, I ieon't excuso yon,' an swered Frank shortly, ' I wun't do ang such thing.' ' I have never been on a spret,' said J'eleg. -ou needni't Spree, if you don't wallt to,' rettin ieil Frank, but you shall go.' ' I cannot go,' returned 'eleg, lirndy, ' I would not counte namice a spree by my presenlce.' 'Ah ! I remiemble r,' said Franik, you are iec of those timid fools of' winie, aif'aid ef being a dimmiailrd I'm not ; .1 need not ge't drunik uin less I wanit to. My father did not die a dlrukard.' 'These are hard words, Mr. Prmi dore,' answered Peleg, with a t rem hiing voice ; ' itf you live imny years you will relent then ; but I forgive yo inow, for you sister's sake.' 'Poohm !' erled Friaink with a sineer. 'S/' another of' yourim cantei s, who think there's (leathi ini a social glass of woe. Weo wanited no emipty ebairis at ouii least to-i ghit ,but em ipty chairis are bet ter th an can tin g fellows, who have no sociability. (Good day, ir. T1i emance P reaebeii.' ]Peleg-s heart was heavy when Frank left hiimi, b ut associations were awvakenued, which ever. carry a bitter sting to the senisitive heart. Hie ude termini ed thant lie would not attend the birthu-night. hartyV at Mm . Pridore's, anl in vitation to whli ch hiad beeni given hiim by F"rank, at .1ane 's solici tation Whlen he left thme store a fter the day was over, lhe despatced a noute t'o Janei, ini LheIse wordsl: .\I iss Pr' idore-,---A. conveirsationm w .chi your hrothiel' thuis at flrooli, ill whlieb my ifaVLtherI's miisftort unes were the subject of ridicule, will umaho it liecessary forin me tio foirego the 1pleas tine of' seinig youi at hlis birth-idght, parity. Your friend, P'ii.x- im UowN.' .1a ie di iot m'ecei ve this niote uii ii she ha heen emeenuimi Pcee for some time. She flew to F.braiik for an explanation. 'Bravo!' he answered, when he had read the note. 'Bravo ! I like tl.e fellow's spunk. Ile forgives the inestimadble pleasure of seeing you, Jane, because when he refused to join the boys in a jubilee after the party, I told him he was afraid of be ing a drunkard, like his father.' 'You were naughty,' said Jane, in a tone which, had not the brother been flushed with wine, he would long have remembered. 'It was un wot thy of my brother ; I would not have come here to-night, if I had been in Mr. Brown's place.' 'To be sure you would not; you and he would make a good match. But yonder's a party drinking bump ers to le; I cannot waste time with you, Jabe.' Frank was gone to join his wine drinking companions. As she saw him drink glass after glass, Jane thought of what she had once said to Peleg about doing something for her folks some day, and she pressed clo ser the little note she had that even ing received, andnished . When Peleg had taken supper with his mother, and many times re fused to.confimle to her the cause of a manifest depression of spirits he walked down into the village, found his way to his little room back of the store, and, taking up an engaging book, read and thought, and calcula ted, till a late hour. It was after midnight when he began to retrace his steps to the cottage. As he sauntered slowly through a portion of the village sparsely inhabited, he obsei ved a man lying across the di lapidated steps of an untenated build ing. Ile stooped to look at the un Wi'tdnifte l s diitWn-heth er he was ricated, or had been physically L by ruffians, when something, fa n mit the dress arrested his atte ' dragged the apparently life . iody towai ds a hotel a few rois distant, and by the light reflected from the bar-room, was able to discover that he had found--as it were, dead in the street --the only son of his employer. His birth-night spree had been too much for Frank Pridore he had entered mad/ly upon the year of his majori ty. Peleg was grieved and bewildered --grieved to find young Pridore in such a situation, and bewildered in respect to his duty towards him and the family. IIe forgot all the harsh words Frank had said to him, and determined that he would endeavor to get him to his father's houso with out calling such assistance as might make public the young mnan's degra dation. iHe applied at the hotel, and succeeded in arousing the ostler, who. for half a week's wages, con sented to assist Peleg. Frank was borne hone. When they approach ed the Priidore mansion, Peleg dis missed his 'help,' and knowing the aplpointmeiitnts of the house, ie awa kented a servant witout ar'onsintg the to see MN r. P'ridhore on impotant busi ntess, and that he must be awiakented withou t alarmning anyv other miember of the htousehld Th''le servant was faithtful--he lad often diseharged such dumties-andt Mr. Pidore soon met Peleg, who conducted him to Frank, andu explained the c~ircum stances unider w~hich lie had been foun rd. Tlho 'services of the servant wh~o had awakened Mr. P'ridlore, were furthmer req uired1, andu Frank was se cretly con veyed into thle house, and silenatly placed ini his own bed. When l'eleg dleparted from Mr'. Pridore, the latter said: 'I am deeply inidebted to you for y'our' discretion; neither Miss or Mrs. Pridor e mxust kr:ow a wotrd otf this.' 'I have only lonte mxy duty, sir,' returtned Pele'g; 'I should respect Mr~t. Pr'idore wishced Frank hadl( falleii intto the care of any y'oungr i,an of' thte v'iage, rather' than Peleg Browvn. As lhe stood by the bedside of~ his drunken son, lie thought of the timie when lie kntew Johin Brown, wh Io died a drunikardh, to be a wealthy anid respect ablo man; heo thought of the Christmcas day Peleg sawed wood in his yard, and~ he r efleeted on the encouragement he then gave his~ now dru'mnkeni hoy, to take freely of that which had degraded him. Thmese wei'e litter thoughts for an over-indulgenit fatheri. CIAPT ER IL Rewards and Punlshudenij. Five years had elapsed sineBanka& Pridore celebt ated his twe4'-$rs birth-night. Peleg Brown aii 'Irst clerk in the extensive store of .Pjdoro & Co. Mr. Pridore had- treat d iu with distant, but marked respecteVr since the night on which. hinsudgia t was so nicely exercised for the rep naa. tion of the heir apparent to the-ri dore station and importance. But there were now no occasions for ths exerrcise of nice discrimination .wnzfi subject. Frank Pridore was ageeeet sot, and he was so regarded in th il lage generally ; not that a man eantbe genteel mid be a sot-but Froink- . dore's sottishness was genteel ebm pared w'tli that of many drinkingdan in the village. lie was never 'sees drunk in the streets-he was never e gaged in drunken brawls-his fatier kept the strictest watch upon himos Little Brown's mother had been Jin the land of Spirits two years. aPle'g had, through life, loved. his mother with that child-like fondness' .hrub ever regards mother the dearest of naimies, and lie mourned her deeply. The first clerk- in the store of;PI': dore & Co. knew well that for. atjepst three years the capital of the firnshad not been augmented, and- he - e.W. kn. w also that in the last year it had very materially decreased, and he be lieved that something of this stateef allhirs was owing to the insidion;sin luence of the 'siren foe,' that ha4 sad dened his earlier years and emnbitt'ered, for life, the recollections of his hild hood. At the beginning of the sixth tear of little Brown's clerkship he was en gaged to take an inventory of the (stock in trade' of Pridore & Co. When the work was completed to the satisfactipn >f his employers, he was informed that it was the intention of the junior partner of the firm to reti4and that ie was desirous of findin som pe. son who would pu this f , called at the Pridore iaa sion and begged an hours conversation with the proprietor. Supposing that something imp6'tiint in reference to business wasa to. be communicated, Mr. Pridore promptly invited little Brown to his privAto room. When they had talked togeth er on 'general matters for a few mo menits, Mr. Pridore said : 'You have something important to communicate, I understand.' 'I amm inforned,' replied Peleg, 'that Mr. I lanks is desirous offinding some one who will purchase his interest in the store.' 'Such is the fact,' said Mr. Pridore, 'and I wish that I knew of sonie nian IcI1uainted with our business who could take his place since it is forbid denie togive it to my son;for whom I had intended it. Pridore & SonI should have rejoiced to see that name in guilt letters over the doorof theotore, but-but, it is past. I speak freely to you, sir. You respect my feelings. For that reason I have called upoan you. I have had some intention 'or making Mr. Hanks a proposition, andi before doing so, I wished to consult you,' replied Peleg. *You,' exelaimed Mr. Pridore. 'You, iw ake Mr. I hunks ia proposition. Vier in the name of Ileaven did you get money enough to talk of buying an in terest in the business of Pridore and compijany T -' 'V When myi mother died the cottage anid lot was5 inie, sir, I soldI them for lifteeni hundred dol lars. I invested the mioniey ini property on the Creek, which hams miore thani doubled in vialte; and besides, sir, I have saved nearly two thousand dollars out of mn wag since I have been in your enmp oyA'~ ' Yes ! yes!' said Mr. Pridore:'M I had irgottenm. You h are been a saving boy-but Ill think of this. It is tr expectedl. I'll see Mr. Ranks. Le.vs W heni Peleg was gonei, Mr. Pridore had sorarowlhl reflect ions, Ie review ed'i his life, lHe thought of the time wheni lie and Johnb Brown, Peleg's fat ther, drank wine together-he thought of. Leleg the littlo wood-sawyerct dJolin Brown's awfud death--th ioughit of his ownr habits, and th duial enecroachimeuurs upon)1 his irde dlouce, of' the love of what had:inu his hoy--whom he had regardhe~ his youth with so muclk pridt-aie. I roachi to his famnilyv-and~ when he Ilhouight of /his boy, thon Peleg iheo dl runkard's son camne up in eniwat,'m source of miost poigniant represeh, hauniting him, lie threw himself uyona a couch, andl conjured to- himselftha remar ks of his correspondents in-AtisiL ness, when they learned that j.tleI llonwas the junior partner of" thta firm of Pridore &t Co. The 'tAs' had deeed. 1I~eg Bro wn took Mr. Hafunks' place in tlho hirim of Pidi~ore & Co.. Le and Jg~ny Pi 'dore had beeni distant acquaiv3.tappes durinag the whole periodl of his elkrk shiip, bunt ms lie was no0w ai h-equenit<iis'i tter at the Pridore numision. on tt-ina