Blue hen's chicken. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1848-1854, 1851-05-09
WHOLE NO. 2ee.


One morning as James Morgan was going
into school. after the other scholars had taken
their places, he found shilling by the door
His eyes sparkled with joy as he picked it up,
for his mother was a widow and very pnor,
and he had never had SO much money bef ore
! in his life.
I His first thought was, what he should buy
with it, To get toys was alto rether out oil the
question, when his mother and sisters W ere
suffering at home, for both food and cloth ng,
: and he thought Of a thousand things which
they needed
But suddenly the thought came into his mind
whether the money was his. He siaried at
the idea, and said to himself, 'Why, certainly,
it's mine, for found it,
1 But there was little busy-body in his m ind
: that told him the money was not his: that some
: of the scholars had probably dropped it, npd
that he mad no claim 10 it.
} Reason as he would he could not feel sa lis
fed to keep it, and yet 1t seemed very bad to
1 give it up when he so much needed it,.
mo one will know it il | keep it, thought
he, and if any one asks for it | need say no.
thing. No one saw me pick il up
Thou God, seest me- whispered the busy
body; and James actually started, for he thought
some one spoke to him, but the little voice was
felt, not heard.
He leaned his head against the school-house
and thought for long time what he should do.
1t was hard struggle. If | was going to
spend it for playlhings,' said he; but little
Mary wants shoes, and last night the children
cried for bread
Now, little children, whit would YOU have
done in such easel You will say YOU would
not have kept the money; but hope none of
you Will everb be so tempted as poor lit g James
was.
His little brothers and sisters cried for bread
and he had found money so buy it. Would YOU
blame him il he had kept iti'
1t is mine,' he said; but busy little con-
science whispered, Thou shalt no, covet thy
nelghbor's goods;' and James felt that because
he very much wanted the money he tried to
believe that it was his
No, no. said he, am very poor, but
will be honesi;' and pressing his lips firmly
together, and closing his eyes to keep back his
tears that would come in spite Of his efforts,
he called the teacher 10 the. door and TELLING
him that he had found the money, gave il 10,
him quickly. as If he was afraid his good reso-
luton would fail.
And why did you not keep it = asked tbs
teacher, pleased at his honesty.
1t was hard, very hard, to give il up,' said
James, but could not be dishonest; and he
burst into tears.
The teacher told him that such stric, honesty
should not go unrewarded, and that he was
much happier than he would have been had he
kept the money. And so kindly and soothinv-
ly did he talk, that Janes soon diied his tears
and smiled again.
When the teacher gave the money TO tbe lit
tie girl who had lost it, and who had prieyed
sadly that she could not buy an orange ior her
sick brother, there were few happier boys than
James.
That night the teacher went home with James.
and then went around the neighborhood and
told the rich people the story Of his poverty
and honesty, and in less than a week there w.re
found In his mothers dwelling, bags of -four.
rolls OF butter, and other food, and nice warm
clothing for the children, whose cries for bread
had so nearly tempted their brother to do
wrong.
Every one was willing to take James to
work, for his name as an honest boy, won the
hearts of every one, and he found what all chill
dfen will find, that in every case, and ia all
circumstances, honesty is the best policy.'
Whenever he was tempted to do wrong, that
shilling came into his mind, and again hi, bet
ter feelings lriumphed.
When he became a man, his character for
honesty brought him many customers, and the
store of James Morgan was called the best in
town, 'ior we can believe what he tells us.
people would say.