Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-08-02

character ZOE tue SNllCl6Sl HOuGaty
integrity is 50 we'll established. Now am per-
fectly convinced that you have taken this money,
and that it is at this moment in your possession;
and think the evidence against you would be
thought sufficient to justify me in Immediately dis
missing you from my service. But you are
young man; your conduct has | believe, been nun
erto perfectly correct, and am willing TO afford
YOU an opnortunity of redeeming the past. All
IknowledGe of the matter rests between ourselves.
Candidly confess therefore, the error of which
Won have been guilty; restore what you have so
dishonesty taken; endcavor by your future good
Iconduct, to deserve my confluence and respect,
and this circumstance shall never transpire to in
lure YOU The poor fellow was deeply affected.
In voice almost inarticulate with emotion, he ac
knowIedged his guilt, and said that, having seen
me frequently receive the money without counting
it, on being entrusted with it himself, the idea
flashed across his mind that he might easily alb
stract some without mourning suspicion, or at all
events without there being sufficient evidence to
! Justify it: that being in distress, the temptation
had proved stronger than his power of resistance,
and he had yielded. 'Icannot now, he continued,
prove how deeply your forbearance has touched
me; time alone can show that it has not been mis-
placed He left me to return TO his duties.
Days, weeks and months passed away, during
which scrutinlzed his conduct with the greatest
IanXety, whilst at the same time carefully guard
ed against any appearance of suspicious WatChtul-
ness; and with delight observed that so far my
experiment had succeeded. The greatest regular
ity and atention-the utmost devotion to my in
terests-marked his business habits; and this with
out display for his quiet and humble department
was from that time remarkable. At length, finding
his conduct invariably marked by the utmost open
ness and plain dealing, my confidence in him was
so far restored, that on vacancy occurring in a
situation Of greater trust and increased emOlumen
than the one he had hitherto filled, placed him in
| it, and never had the slightest reason to repent
of the part had acted towards him. Not only
! had the pleasure of rejecting that had, in all
probability, saved fellow creature from conn
ucd course of vice and misery, and afford him the
opportunity of becoming a respectable and useful
member Of society, but gained for myself an in
Idefagable servant--a faithful and constant friend.
For years he served INC with the greatest fidelity
and devotion. His character for rigid, nay, even
scrupulous honesty, was SO well known, that cas-
honest as Smith, became a proverb amongst all
/ his acquaintance.
One morning missed him from his accustomed
place, and upon inquiry, learnt that he was detan
ed at home by ndspo5ition. Several days eaps
ed-stiIl he was absent; and upon calling at his
house to inquire after him, found the family in
great distress on his account. His complaint had
proved typhus fever of Il malig grant kind. From
almost the commencement Of his attack, lie had,
as his wife (for he had been some time married)
Informed me, lain in a state of total unconscious
ness, from which he had aroused only to the raw
ngs Of deleriuu, and that the physician gave little
hope of his recovery. For some days he continu
ed in the same state; at length a message was
brought me, saying that Mr.. Smith wished to see
me; the messenger adding, that Mrs. Smith hoped
Fl would come as soon as possible, for she feared
her husband was dying. | Immediately obeycd
the summons
On entering his chamber found the whole fam
lily assembled to take farewell Of him they so ten
derby loved AS soon as he perceived me- he mo-
toned for me to approach near him, and taking
my hand in both of his, he turned towards me his
dying countenance, full of gratitude and Affection
and said, my dear master, my hest earthly friend,
have sent for you that Imay give you the thanks
, and blessings of dying man for all your goodness
to me- 70 your generosity and mercy owe it
that ! have lived useful and respected, that die
lamented and HAPPY. To you owe it that leave
0 my children name msullied by crime, that in af-
ter years the blushof shame shall never tinge their
cheeks at the memory of their father.
go God!'' he continued, Chou who hast said ,
+ blessed are the merciful,' bless him. According
] to the measure he has meted unto others, do thou
n mete unto him. Then turning to his family he
r said, My beloved wife and children, entrust you
5 without fear, to the care Of that heavenly parent
who has said, Leave thy fatheress children to me
! and will preserve them alive, and let thy widows
f trust in me. And you, my dear master, will know
IS be to them you have been to nc, guide, protect
q or, and friend chat continued the kind old
+ man, looking around upon us with glistcning eyes
# though mixed with sorrow, was one Of the happi
If est moment of my life. As stood by the bedside
}, of the dying man, and looking around upon his
k children growing up virtuous, intelligent, and up.
:, right, respecting and honorng much as they
n loved their father; when saw his wife, though
d overcome with grief for the loss of tender an(
IS beloved husband yet sorrowlng not as one withou
. hope, but even in that moment of agony deriving
J., comfort from the belief that she should meet him
e again in that world where
e "Adieus and fareweIls are Il sound unknown;"
when listened to this fcrvcnt expression of graf
:" itude, and saw him calmly awaiting the inevitable
! stroke, trusting in the mercy of God, and at peace
: with his fellow men, and when | thought of wha
e the reverse of all this might have been-crime
% misery, Il disgraceful and dshonored life pcrhap,
= a shameful and violent death-had yielded to the
d first impulse of indignaton | felt a happines,
10 which words can express. We are told tina
q there is more JOY amongst the angels of God owe
III one sinner that repenteth, than over ninety ant
:, nine just persons who need no repentance. Will
! Il Joy as we might imagine theirs, did | rejoice
10 the attendant minister in iervent tones as ht
y exclaimed, "Bessed are the dead that die in tn,
Is Lord; yea, saith the spirit for they from the
le abors, and their works do follow them"
Is My friends, am an old man. During a lon!
! and eyentful career in business, have had inter
~ course with almost every variety of temper an,
a disposition, aud with many degrees of talent, bu
y have never found reason to sWerye from the prin
u ciple with which first Set'out in life, to tempe
he justice with mercy