Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1844-11-14
From Chambers Journal.
THE GENEROUS HOST.
THE FIRST OFFENCE.

In the cheerful dining room Of my
bachelor friend Stevenson, select party
were assembled to celebrate his birthday
A very animated discussion had been cat
ried on for some time, as TO whether the hrsi
deviation from integrity should be treated
with severity or lrnry. Various were the
on;nions and numerous the arguments
brough, forward to support them The ma
jori,v appeared 10 lean TO the SIDE oil crush
all offences in the bud when a warm-hear''
ed old gentleman exclaimed, Depend upon
it, more Young people are lost 10 society
from frs, offence being treated with in]u-
dicious severity, than from the contrary ex'
,reme No, tina, | would pass over the
sliobtes, deviation from integrity either IN
word or deed: that would certainly be mis-
taken kindness; but on the other hand, Meth
er would punish with severity an offence
committed perhaps under the influence OF
Observation-Disclosures too, that we may
ourselves have though,lessly placed in
the way in such manner as 10 render II
irresistible. For instance, lady hires
servant the girl has hitherto borne good
character, but it is her FIRST place; her hon
es,y has never vet been put to the test. HeI
mistress without thinking OF the continual
temptation to which she is exposing fello"
creature. is in the habit Of leaving small
sums of money, generally copper, lying a
bout IN her usual suing room. Alier
time she begins 10 think that these sums arr
no, always found exactly as she LEFT them
Suspicion falls on the girl, whose duty Il
to clean the room every morning he
mistress. however, thinks she will be quit
convinced before she brings forward the &C
.u,at;oo She counts the money CAREFUL
a, night. and the next morning some is m''
SING No one has been in the room 81
abe GIRL. her gull, is evident Well, wit
does her mistress do
WHY, she turns the girl out OF her hou'
n, an hours eotiee: cannot in consc ,enc
give her character, tells all her ff,en'
how dreadfully distressed she Is; declar'
there is nothing but ngra,ilude to De m
with among servants; iaments over Tue
'pravi,y Of human nature add never dream
OF blaming herself for her-w'cked-yes,
iswicked- ,houg htlessness in this continue
" exposing to temptation young ignorn
girl, one mos, likely whose mind is not Q
'yeloped in total darkness, has but only an II
perlec, twilight knowledge whereby TO d
iinguish righ, from wrong At whose doc
| ask, continued he growing warmer. w
the sin lie, flha, girl sinks into the low
depth Of vice and misery2 Why, a, {,
door OF her who, after placing temptation
her very path, turned her into the p,,il,
world. deprived Of that which cons,iiu
her only means Of obtaining an honest Ii
ihood-her character and tina, wilhou, {
flor, 10 reclaim her without afiordLg
s;,cle opportunity for retrieving the n,
md reesining by future good conduct
-onsaence OF her employer
lThsre IS | lear, toa mach truth in w
~ remarked the beaevolen, h
q had hitherto taken 90 pau in the {
90 t;on; and i reminds me Of a ere,
ina, occurred 10 the earlier pau
g., YOU have been discussing, I
There was sener'.l movsme'
60. Tor il wa. we'll known ise''
,arac.urcr in the Town o. -.
"A with 50 many old aud fan
a. :. or friend s'sTeas'n-