Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1852-12-22
-arENCE.


lor r-trlend Stevenson, a select party was as
sembled to celebrate his birthday. A very
animated discussion had been carried on for
some time, as to whether the first deviation
from integrity should be treated with sever
ity or lenlency. Various were the opinions,
and numerous the arguments brought for
ward to support them. The majority ap-
peared t. lean to the side Of "crush all
offences IN the bud" when warm ke1rted
od gentleman exclaimed, depend uron it,
more young people ere lost to society from
l. trst offence being treated with mind cious
severity, 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, 1ether
would punish with severity and clfence
committed, perhaps, under the influence of
emptaton--temptation too, that W. our-
selves may have thoughtlessly placelin the
way, III such manner as to render it ire
slstible. For instance, lady hires a ser
want; the girl has hitherto born good
character, but it is her first place her hon
esty has never yet been putto the test. Her
mistress, without thinking of the continual
temptation to which she is exposing afellow-
creature,.ls In the habit of leaving small
sums OF money! generally coppel lying
about in her usual sitting-room. After
time, she begins to think that these sums are
not always found exactly as she lett them.
Suspicion falls uFon the girl, whose duty is
to clean the room every morning. Her mis-
tress, however, thinks she will be quite con.
vinced before she brings forward Ter accu-
satlon. She Counts the money carefully at
night, and the next morning some j; missing
No one has been in the room but the Girl:
her guilt is evident. Well, what does her
mistress do? Why. she turns tie girl out
of her house at an hours notice ;cannot in
conscience, give her character; tells all
her friends how dreadfully distressed she is:
declares there is nothing but ing,atitule to
be met with among servants; lanents over
the deprayity of human nature and never
dreams of blaming herself for he. wicked
yes it is -thoughtlessne in thus
constantly exposing to temptation young
ignorant girl; enc most likely whose mind.
if not enveloped in total darkness, has only
an imperfect twilight knowledge whereby to
to distinguish right from wrong At whose
door, [ ask" continued he, growing warmer.
= will the sin lie, if that girl link into the
lowest depths Of vice and mise,y? Why, at
the door Of her who, after pla:ing tempta-
ton in her very path, turned her into the
pitiless world, deprived of tina; which con-
stituted her only means Of obtaining an hon.
est livelihood her characte; and that
without one effort to reclaim her-without
afording single opportunity of retrieving
the past, and regaining by fuure good con- !
duct the confdenc Of her employer"
"There is, fear, too mucl truth in what !:
you say" remarked our hnevolent host. |
who had hitherto taken no.part in the con-
versation; "and it remindeme of circum-
stance that occurred in tin earlier part of
my life, which, as it may srve to illustrate
the subject you have been discussing, will
relate" There was gentral movement of
attention; for it was wellknown fact, that
no manufacturer in the town of was
surrounded with SO many old and faithful
servants as our friend Ste-enson.
"In the outset of my business career"
said he, 81 took into my employment young
man to fill the situation ofunder clerk; and
according to rule [ had laid down, when
ever stranger entered ny service, his du-
ties were of nature b involve as little
responsibility as possible, until sufficient
time had been given to brm a correct esti-
mate of his character. This young man,
whom shall call Smith, was of a respecta-
BILE family. He had list his father, and
had a mother and sisters in some measure
dependent upon him. after he had been
short time in my employment, it happened
that my confidential cerk, whose duty it
was to receive the none from the bank for
the payment of wages being prevented by
an unforeseen circumstance from attending
at the proper time, sen the sum required