Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1853-11-12
nli51rll ON s.
A Dollar on the Conscience,

'Tifty-five cents yard, believe you said 2
The customer was opening her purse.
Now fifty cents yard was the price of the
goods and 50 Mr., lowering had informed the
lady. She misunderstood him however.
In the community, Mr.. Leverng had tie
reputation of being conscientious. high mind
cd man. lie knew that he was thus eStima-
ted, and self compacently appropriated the
good opinion his due.
1t came instantly to the lip OF Mr., Levcring
t, saY, Yes, ffty-i,e.' The love of gain was
s,rohg in his mind, and ever ready to accrdr
10 new plans for adding dollar to dollar But
ere the words were uttered, disturbing per-
ccption of something wrong restrained him.
81 wish twenty yards said the customer,
taking it for granted that ffty-hve was the
price Of the goods.
Mr.. Lavering was silent; though he com
menced promptly to measure oil the goods.
Not dear at that price remarked the la
dy.
81 think not said the storckeeper | bought
the case Of goods from which that was taken
IHw'
Twenty yards at fifty-fve cents! Just elev-
en- dollars" The customer opened her purse
as she spoke, and counted out the sum in gilt
tering gold dollars. That is right, believe,
and She rushed The money towards Mr. Lev
erinr, who with kind OF automatic move
ment of his hand drew forward The coin anC
swcptit intu the till
"Send the bundle TO No 800. Argyle stree
said the lady, with bland smile as she turn
ed f. ON lhe counter and the half bewilderet
storekeeper.
"otay madam there is slight mistake :
The words were in Mr.. Levering's thoughts
and on the point of gaining utterance, bat h'
| had not the power to speak. He had gaineC
dollar in the transaction beyond Lis due, anC
already it was lying heavily on his conscience
Willingly would he have thrown it of, but
when about to do 80, the quick suggestion
came, that in acknowledging 10 the lady thu
fact of her having paid i've cents yard to
much, he might lalter in his explanation ant
thus betrsy his attempts to do her wrong
And SO he kept silent and let her depart be
yond recall
Anything gained at the price Of virtuou
self respect is required at too large cost
4 single dollar on the conscience may pres
so heavily as to bear down a mans spirits
and rob him of all the delights life. 1t wa
so in the present case. Vain was it that Mr.
Levering sought selfjurisdicIion. Argue ih'
matter as he would, he found it impossible t,
escape the smarling conviction lhet he hat
unjusdy exacted dollar from one Of his Gus
toners. Many times through the day h,
found himself in a musing, abstracted state
aud OF rousing himself therefrom, became con
scious in his external thought that it was lh,
dollar by which he was troubled.
"I'm very FOOLISH said he mentally, as h,
walked homeward, after closing his store 70
the evening-"Very foolish to worry mysel
about trihe like this The goods were cheaI
enough at ifly-f cents, and she is quite a
well contented with her bargain as if she hat
only paid irly."
But il would not do. The dollar was OIL
his conscience and he sought in vain TO remov
it by efforts of this kind.
Mr. Levering had wife and three pleas
ant children. They were the sunlight Of hi