The Sumter banner. (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, June 29, 1852, Image 1
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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