Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 December 1876 — Romance of a Poor Young Man. [ARTICLE]

Romance of a Poor Young Man.

We are willing to bet three cents that three men out of four who read it will doubt it. But it is positively true. It shows that all the virtue in the world isn’t in the grave-yard yet. About three months ago a young Frenchman entered a Burlington wholesale store, and accosted the proprietor. He said he was a marble sculptor, seeking work. He could not find it here, and wanted to be directed to some other town. He had no money and no friends. The gentleman advised him to go to Mount Pleasant, where there are marble works, which might have work for him. “ How much will it cost?” said the young man. “About seventy-five cents,” said the merchant, “ How far is it?” “ Twenty-eight miles.” “ Oh, I can walk that far, ana so I don’t need any money.” The merchant, however, said there was no necessity for his walking, and gave him seventy-five cents to pay his fare. The same day the young man came back, saying that he had found a job in Burlington, but would like to use that money to buy a chisel that he needed. Certainly said the merchant, use it. The young man went away, and the merchant thought no more of it. After many days thfe Frenchman came back to pay the six bits. He had been at work, had received some wages, and wanted to pay his debt. The knowledge that he had assisted a worthy man gave the merchant much more pleasure than an hundred fold the little amount of money could have done. The conscientious honesty of the young stranger shows him to be a most worthy man. The merchant does not even know his name or where he is working. His conduct is an instance of honest principle which deserves to be put on record. And we record it here. — Burlington Hawk-Eye.