True Riches; Or, Wealth Without Wings

ning, soon after he came to the store, "Wa

lieve

ds or relatives to be thought of or consulted. I wish you would take the forenoon to see about this troublesome matter.

rtaker came in to make inquiry as to t

" asked Jasper, in a

" was t

? Did you see to he

matters. Nothing remains but to fix

house this mornin

w

you fin

f the neighbo

atives of th

my kno

about the time for

, I suppose, wil

eason for delay," said Ja

it is over

uppose we say

five. The graveyard is not very dista

not be much left, I presume; therefore, the lighter the funeral expenses the

, s

as, in all probab

It is a beau

ty," was Jasper'

e! But these things will happen. So, you decid

know of, interferes to prevent. The quic

Very

see to eve

usiness. Will you be at

ime of th

es

t. I can't

r the looks

heartless indifference of Jasper, and his last re

any service, I will be there-but, if not, not. I'm a righ

, saying that all sh

hild. If a neighbour has taken her home, make inquiry as to whether she will be retained in the family; or, better still, adopted. You can hint, in a casual way, you know, that her parents

property left?"

doubt, mortgaged within a trifle of their value. Still, it's property you kno

welled in the young man's heart, but he gua

agreeably affected, as the lady approached him, to see in her the person from whom he had taken ten dollars on t

s she leaned upon the counter, and fixed her mi

plied Claire, forcing

you a lot of go

did,

Well, ma'am, there was an err

should

rge of fiv

rd the woman and spoke in a low tone of voice. Inwardly, he was t

is due you; or shall I hand

e, I may as well take goods," was repl

reached the attentive ears of Jasper, who had been wondering t

and, in a little while, another

after Claire had told her how much the articles came to.

am," answer

y-drawer, and stood some time fingering over the change and small bills. Then, with his back turned toward Jasper, he slipped a five dol

sper and his clerk were kept busy for the next h

l the old lady from the count

s seven dollar

she said tw

, and I only took three from t

u gave her a

in the drawer," was

ustomer entered, thus putting an end to

e named for the goods, and that he had seen a gold coin offered in change. And he took occasion to refer to it at the n

lars in his possession that were not rightfully his own. It was by no means probable that a similar opportunity to the one just embraced woul

years, was in the same business with Jasper. He was known as a strictly upright dealer-"Too honest to get along in this world," as some said. "Old Stick-in-the-mud," others called him. "A man behind the

day?" said Mr. Melleville, kin

mind," was the frank reply, as he took

ut the worst kind of sickness I k

o talk with you a littl

at once to

you will find in me, at least, a sincere friend

present situation

uble? Have you and Jasper

nough together. But I don't think its a g

y n

sper is not an honest dealer; and he expect

shook his head

ly, into his way of doing business, until I have become an absolute cheat-taking, somet

, an expression of painful surp

all too true. And I don't think it g

s he give

first. Five hu

is head and though

oward his customers is your pri

think and care for nothing but money-getting. In his mind, gold is the highest good. To a far greater extent than I was, until very recently, aware, have I fallen, by slow degrees, into his way of thinking and feeling; u

id Mr. Melleville, visibly

n scarcely realize th

so exhibit

at least, is plain. Better, far better, to subsist on bread and wa

lved to seek for another place. Did you not say, when we parted two years ago,

of my young men is going to leave me for a higher salary

hat, Mr. M

e only four hundre

pect no mor

five hundred dollars, and that your wants have been graduated by your ra

thi

lt to fall back upon a reduced salary. How f

suggested to her the change, and she de

he ground of this prop

lev

ear

ven a humbler sphere, so that her husband be removed

as she does. That I could see as clearly-that I could gather, as sh

h more than the wealth of the Indies. With such an

a situation, the

d," replied

and enter your service on the first of the comi

d hurried

urial-ground-so late that he concluded not to return, on that evening, to the store. In the carriage in which he rode, was the clergyman who officiated, and the orphan child who, though but half comprehending her loss, was yet overwhelmed with sorrow. On their way back

tered the house with her. Two persons only were within, the domestic and the woman who, on the day previous, had spoken of ta

e this child here

r. "Would you like to go home with me, Fanny?" addre

dward, and looked up into his face with a si

t trouble you to do that. I will take her to my own ho

l look, as she lifted her bea

ward Claire locked up the house, and taking the willing c

his nature quickened into active life. A beautiful humanity was rising up to fill t