Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-11-22
MISCELLANEOUS.
From Chambers Edinburgh Journal.
THE GENEROUS HOST.
By The Governor,
GEO. II. BEAMAN, Secretary.
THE FIRST OFFENCE.


THE FIRST OFFENCE.
In the cheerful dinng-room of my
bachelor friend Stevenson, a select party
were assembled to celebrate his birthday.
A very animated discussion had been car
ried on for some time, as to whether the
first deviation from integrity should be
treated with severity or lenity. Various
were the opinions and numerous the argu-
ments that were brought forward to sup
port them. The majority appeared to lean
to the side of "crush all offences in the
bud" when warm-hearted old gentle
man exclaimed, " Depend upon it, more
young people are lost to society from first
offence being treated with injudicious Sc
verify, than from the contrary extreme
Not that would pass over even the slight
est deviation from integrity either in word
or deed that would certainly be mistaken
kindness but on the other hand, neither
would punish with severity an offence
committed perhaps under the influence of
neutrality-suspicious. too, that we our
selves may have thoughtlessly placed in
the way in such manner as to render it
irresistible. For instance, lady hires a
servant the girl has hitherto borne good
character, but it is her first place; her
honesty has never yet been put to the test.
Her mistress without thinking of the con-
tinual temptation to which she is exposing
a fellow creature. is in the habit of leaving
small sums OF money, generally copper,
lying about in her usual sltting-room. AT
ter time she begins to think that these
sums are not always found exactly as she
left them. Suspicion falls upon the girl,
whose duty it is to clean the room every
morning. Her mistress, however, thinks
she will be quite convinced before she
brings forward her accusation. She counts
the money carefully at night, and the next
morning some is missing. No one has
been in the room but the girl her guilt is
evident. Well, what does her mistress
do?
Why she turns the girl out of her house
at an hours notice cannot in conscience
give her a character tells all her friends
how dreadlully distressed she is declares
there is nothing but ingratitude to be met
with among servants; laments over the
depravity of human nature and never
dreams of blaming herself for her-wicked
yes, it is Observation-Disclosures in
thus continually exposing to temptation a
; young ignorant girl one most likely whose
mind if not enveloped in total darkness
has only an imperfect twilight knowledge
. whereby to distinguish right from wrong.
Atwhose door, | ask" continued lie grow.
!, ing warmer, twill the sin lie, if that CIR
sinks into the lowest depth Of vice and
misery? Why, at the door of her who
; after placing temptation in her very path.
turned her into the pitiless world, deprived
; of that which constitutes her only means
of obtaining an honest livelihood-he
;, character; and that without one effort t.
u reclaim her-without affording a single
T opportunity for retrieving the past, and re
- gaining by future good conduct the conf
70 dence of her employer"
20 "There is, fear, too much truth il
- =, what you say,' remarked the bencvolen
= host, who had hitherto taken no part i
: the conversation and ii reminds me of
- circumstance that occurred in the earle
70 p' part of my life which as it may serve t
~ illustrate the subject you have been dis
>. cussing, l will relate" There was a gen
D. eral movement of attention for it was
: wel-known fact that no manufacturer i
= the town of was surrounded by S
" many old and and faithful servants as GU
=; :. friend Stevenson.
r "ln the onset of my business career,
said he, 81 took into my employment
le young man to fill the situation of unde
a. clerk; and according 10 a rule had lai
rs down whenever stranger entered my sci
us vice, his duties were of nature TO involv
n as little responsibility as possible, unit
nr sufficient time had been given to form
IS correct estimate of his character. TIL
O. young man whom | shall call Smith, wa
p of respectable family. He had lost h
to father and had a mother and sisters
ne some measure dependent upon him. A
nd ter he had been short time in my emplo
TO it happened that my confidential clerl
We whose duty it was 10 receive the none