Chapter XVII: Willie's Confession

BEFORE I close my little book, I must tell you, my young reader, what effect Arthur's letter had on his old friend, Willie Irvington. We have seen where idleness and lying had led Joseph Hickie, a child of poverty, and in the history of Willie we have seen that the children of the rich as well as of the poor are liable to be led into ruin by bad companions.

It was a sad, sad story which the sobbing youth told his parents the day following Munger's sudden departure. Before this, though he greatly desired it, fear of this wicked man had withheld him from telling his parents how deeply he had been led into sin.

At first he had only sought Munger, because he was amused by his ready wit; then he was persuaded to accompany his tempter to the theatre and the gambling-saloon. This he knew was contrary to his parents' wishes, and though conscience at first tormented him with reproaches, the specious arguments of Munger soon taught him to disregard the silent monitor.

He was now entirely in the power of the clerk, and cruelly did the tyrant rule his poor trembling subject.

"I tried to think I was happy," Willie said with tears and sobs, laying his aching head on his mother's knee. "I used to laugh at the plays at the theatre. And when Munger praised me for being smart, and compared me with Arthur whom he called a sneaking saint, I tried to feel pleased. But all the time I knew Arthur was doing right, and that daring to refuse to yield to Manger's temptations was much braver than to be cheating my dear parents and stealing away from the house when they were in bed, as I did.

"One evening, long after office hours, I was down at the wharf, and under the curtain I saw a light in father's counting-room. I was curious to know who was there, and went cautiously to the window, standing on a pile of boards to look in. Munger was at the safe with his back to me. I saw him take out a roll of bills, count them carefully, then go back to the day-book on the desk, run his finger up and down the columns, take his knife and erase some figures putting others in their place.

"If I had only been like Arthur I should have gone to the door and told him what I had seen, demanding that he put back the money, and then have denounced him as a thief. I longed to do this, I hated him and began to see just where my own sins would lead me. While I was hesitating, he locked the door and came out. When he found me, he raved like a wild animal. He declared that if I did not promise never to reveal what I had seen, he would kill me on the spot. Oh dear, what a wretched, miserable night that was! The next day, I dared not look you in the face. I started with terror at every sound as if I had been the thief.

"The next morning Munger was so cordial and pleasant that I almost believed I had dreamed a bad dream, and had not really seen him in the office. He met me in the street and made me a present of a beautiful gold watch. I had always longed for a watch you know, mother; but I could not endure the sight of that. I told him I would rather not take it; but he insisted, and I dared not refuse.

"Afterward, he gave me money several times which I used for purposes, I knew you would disapprove, until you found me out and sent me away. Oh, I wish I had never come back! I was beginning to try and do better, and when I went to bed, I used to pray God to forgive me. Then his letters came telling me of the gay times he was having, and how much he missed me. At last, he proposed to me to run away, and come home. He was sure you would forgive all I had done.

"When I promised you I would be a good boy, I really wanted to be, and I meant to try. But I was restless unless I saw Manger and knew what was going on among the fellows. And then he persuaded me to do everything that he wished. The night Arthur saw me taking money from him, I had got into debt by gambling. He scolded me and said we should be found out, and then he asked me whether I could write my father's name to look like his penmanship. I didn't know what he meant.

"'If you go on much longer, you'll have to learn,' he said. He meant that I should have to forge your note to get money. The neat day, when I got Arthur's letter, I was so ashamed of my bad conduct, and so sorry on account of the grief I had caused you that it made me quite sick. When I showed you the note, I longed to throw myself at your feet, and confess everything; but I was afraid of my life. You can't imagine how happy I was when you told he was gone and never would dare to return."

From this time, Willie's conduct was changed. But he felt his own weakness, and pleaded so earnestly that his father would send him to the country to work on a farm where he should be away from all the temptations of the city, that at last, his request was granted. A place was secured for him in the family of a good Christian farmer, and he entered on his labors with the hope that, by the help of God, he might lead a new life.

At the request of Mr. Irvington, Arthur wrote him, and many good counsels did these letters contain.

Joseph Hickie served out his term in prison; but even this long confinement did not improve his morals. No sooner was he free than he joined a company of burglars, and made what he called successful strokes of fortune. But in one of these robberies, he was seized by a detective who had been watching him, and at his trial was condemned to hard labor for the rest of his life.

Arthur Thompson, in the meantime, grew every year in favor with God, and man. By his noble Christian integrity, his diligence in business, and his amiable disposition, he endeared himself to a large circle of friends. To his adopted parents, he exhibited all the love and confidence of a dutiful child, causing them to their dying day to bless the hour when he was brought under their roof.

By the decease of his father, Mrs. Olmstead having died a few months previous, he was left heir to a large and increasingly valuable property. Soon after he became of age, he was taken as partner into the firm of Irvington and Ross, where he continued to labor with the same diligence as during his clerkship. He remained in the same house, with Hepsah for his companion and housekeeper, until his twenty-third year, when he married a lovely Christian girl, and at her desire removed to a beautiful country-seat in the suburbs. The city house, with others that he owned in the block was converted into stores and let for a handsome sum.

In the midst of his prosperity, Arthur never forgot the low state from which by the blessing of God, on the kindness of Mrs. Irvington, he had been saved. The welfare of poor children, and providing them with suitable employment became a favorite mode of benevolence, and large sums were given by him for that purpose.