Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-07-19
THE FIRST OFFENCE.

In the cheerful dinng-roOm Of my hache-
Tor friend Stevenson, "A select party was as
semhed to celebrate his birthday. A very
animated discussion had been carried on for
some time, as to whether the FIRST deviation
from integrity should be treated with sever
itv or eniency. Various were the opinions
aud numerous the arguments brought for
ward to support them. The majority APP
peared to lean to the side Of " crush all Of
fences in the bud" when IA wa,m-hearled
old gentleman exclaimed, " cpcnd upon
it, more young people are los, to society
from first offence being treated with inin-
dcions severity. than from The contrary cx-
trcme. Not that would pass over even the
slightest deviation from INTEGRITY. either in
word or deed ; that would certainly be mis-
taken kindness; bat on the other hand,
neither would punish with severity an Of
fence committed, perhaps, under the inhn
ence off,rmplat OF, -,'mpialion, too, that
we ourselves have thoughllcssly placed in the
wav, in such "A manner as to render it IRE
sistiblp. For Instance, a lady hires II SER
want, the girl has hitherto borne good char
acter, but it is her first place; her honesty
has never yet been put to the test. Her
mistress, without thinking Of the continual
temptation to which she is exposing fellow
creature, is in the habit Of leaving small
sums of money, generally copper, lying
about in her siItng-room. After time,
she begins TO think that these sums are not
always found exactly as she left them. Sus-
picnn falls upon the eitl, whose duty ii is to
to clean the room every morning. Her mis-
tress, however, thinks she will he quite con-
WINGED before she brings forward her acru-
satiOn. She counts the money carefully a
night, and the next morning some is missing
No one has been in the room bu, the girl
her guilt is evident. Well, what does he
mistress do? Why, she turns the girl out o
her house at at an honr's notice cannot, il
conscience, give her IA character tells al
her friends how dreadfully distressed she is
declares there is nothing bu, ingralitnle I
he met with among servants laments ov,
the drpravitv of human nature and neye
dreams of blaming herself for her wicked
yes, il is wicked ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS in thu
constantly exposing to temptation a young
ignorant girl one, most likely, whose minr
if not enveloped in total darkness, has onl
an imperfect twilight knowledge whereby
distinguish light from wrnng. At who,
door, ask continued he, growing warme
'w,ll the sin lie. if that girl sink into Il
lowest depths of vice and misery! VIII
at the door of her who, after placing tenn
talon in her very path, turned her into Il
pililess world. deprived Of lha, which cons
tu,ed her only means of obtaining an honc
lvelihood-her character; and that wrho
one effort TO reclaim her-wilhoul adordi
single opportunity of retrieving the pa
and rreaining hv future good conduct t
confluence OF her employer
There is, fear, too mnch truth in wi
yon saw remarked orr benevolent host, W
had hitherto taken n part in the cOnvrrs
ton; and 1t reminds me of a circumstan
that occurred in the earlier part of nv Ii
which, as il may serve to illustrate the $,
ject you have been discussing, ! will rela
There was general movement Of aleu,l
for it was a well known fact, that no m,
faclurer in the town of - was snrrol
ded with so old and faithful servants as
friend Stevenson.
In the outset of my business career S
he, Il took into employment "A young MAJ
ill the situation of under-c clerk and acco
ing to a rule had laid down, wheneve
stranger entered my service, his duties W
of nature TO involve as little responsible
as possible, until sufficient time had b
given to form correct estimate of his cl
acter. This young man, whom | shall
Smith, was of "A respectable family. lie
lost his father, and had "A mother and sis
IN some measure dependent upon him.
ter no had been shor, time in my empl
men', it happened that my confidential cl'
whose duty it was to receive money Fl
the bank for the payment of wages, be
prevented by an unforeseen circumsta
from attending at the proper time, sent
sum required by Smith. My con6da
was so great in my head clerk, who
been long known TO me, that was no
the hahn Of regularly counting The me