Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-02-14
Employers and Employees.

" tell John he's too honest"
"Ah, how So"
"Why he has lost me many n good bar.
gain because he will insist on telling every
thing he knows about the lot he's selling"
| "Thal's unucky."
"les--now when you arc putting Oh
| your bay, you don't feel yourself bound TO
tell just how il was cut and got in,--wheIh-
| er or not you had n little sprinkle OF rain
upon it, or whether the lot will run as well as
the sample"
"Certaiuy not"
"lfyou did you wouldn't get your price
for it,"
Returning to the city in one of our East
crn trains OF cars few mornings since after
q nights absence, we overheard two gentle
men on the seat behind us delivering with
grcnt energy the dialogue commenced above.
We felt under no obligation to put our fingers
in our ears, and so we were favored with
more of the same sort.
"Now," continued the first speaker,
tell John, when customer is looking ut
case of my boots, he isn't obliged TO dig up
every pair in the box and display TO him eve
ry flaw in the leather and every slip of the
kniie, and the quality of the thread and all
that. II he wants to make trade he must
put the best face on the article he can, aud
lie may be sure the purchaser will make al
lowunce enough for defects"
"Precisely."
" But can't make that boy understand the
matter. It's just so with all tha, family. 1t
runs in the blood. His father before hin had
the same falling, or he might have been q
rich man. John won't tell anything but
what is exactly true about the boots, aud he
,GW tell all that is true"
"What do you keep him for;"
"Well, I've thought good many times
should get rid of him, but you see ] can trnst
John myself don; have TO watch him in
anything between him and me. ! always
know what to depend upon where John is
concerned. He'd cut off his right hand do
verify believe, before he'd cheat me out of
mill. But have to take care how | leave
| customers in his hands. When am there |
attend to them myscf-but when am away
they iind out little more about the art
of boot-making than care TO have them
know"
"Thal's all nonsense. There's no Use in
setting up for such special honesty. II eve
rybody traded Oh such principles it would
do. Bnt If one man undertakes it alone he'll
go to the wall. The fact is if We tell the
worst about our goods we actually misre-
prescnt--ior the purchaser will suppose all
the while we are saying the best we can
ana that the actual worst is very far beyond
what we have admitted. Oh, il won't do AT
ALL"
"Just what I've told John over and over"
Honest John! brave John heroic John
Our heart warmed toward this unknown in
| corruplibe one that kept his integrity thro'
| such fiery ordeal. God bless him and
shield him, and deliver him out ofthe hands
Of the Phiistnes!
And this is the way, we thought that many
an employer sets about corrupling the unpro.
tected youth committed TO his care and train.
ing. This is the sort of nurture under which
many youthful aspirant fora business ca
reer is indoctrnated in The mercantile yir-
tues. These are the models and exnnplnrs
after which they are exhorted to pattern in
Their creed aud their practice if they would
win golden fortunes.
Would that we could blow a trllmpet of
warning for parents and guardians in the
country, who seek so earnestly pnces for
Their sons and wards in our mercantile hou-
ses III The city. Beware what snares YOU
spread for their unwary feet. Find out the
character of the men TO whom you entrust
the Keeping of such precious interest. Be
sure that they prize truth and honesty, not
only when these traits subserve directly their
own seli-interest, but when they sometimes
Interfere with ga good bUgain." Forti(y, es.
pecially, the hearts of those you send forth
on such perious venture, with an inAexi.
bic and steady attachment TO uprightness
which shall be proof against all threats and
6ribes--and then uphold and shield them on
these slippery heights of temptation by inter
cessions with Heaven.-.4griculi,ual
GO a late philosopher says that If any- |