Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1853-11-17
A DOLLAR ON THE CONSCIENCE.

hOh my WINS a oA0 "oS Wiz PAASS
of the goods, and SO Mr.. Levering had
informed the lady. She misunderstood
him, however.
In the community, Mr.. Levering
had the reputation of being a conscien-
tious, high-minded man. He knew
that he was thus estimated, and self
complacently appropriated the good
opinion as clearly his due.
1t came instantly to the lip of Mr..
Levering to say, "Yes, ffty-fve. y
The love of gain was strong in his
mind, and ever ready to accede to new
plans for adding dollar to dollar. But,
ere the words were uttered, a disturbing
perception of something wrong re-
strained him.
'1 wish twenty yards" said the Gus
toner, taking it for granted that fifty
five cents was the price of the goods.
Mr.. LeVering was still silent; though
he commenced promptly to measure off
the goods.
"Not dear at that price" remarked
the lady.
"I think not" said the storekeeper.
81 bought the case of goods, from which
the piece was taken, low"
Twenty yards at ffty-fve centsl
Just eleven dollars" The customer
opened her purse as she thus spoke,
and counted out the sum in glittering
gold dollars. That is right, l believe,
and she pushed the money towards Mr..
Levering, who, with a kind of au-
tomato movement of his hand, drew
forward the coin and swept it into the
| till.
''Send the bundle to No. 800, Argyle
street." said the lady, with a bland
smile, as she turned from the counter
and the half-bewildered storekeeper.
"Stay, madam! thereis a slight mis-
take" The words were in Mr.. Lever
ing's thoughts, and on the point of
gaining utterance, but he had not the
courage to speak. He had gained a
dollar in the transaction beyond his due,
and already it was lying heavily on his
conscience. Willingly would he have
thrown it off; but, when about to do so,
the quick suggestion came, that in
acknowledging to the lady the fact of
her having paid five cents yard too
much, he might falter in his explana-
ton and thus betray his attempts to do
her wrong. And so he kept silence,
and let her depart beyond recall.
Anything gained at the price of vir-
tuous self-respect is required at too
large cost. A single dollar on the
conscience may press so heavily as to
bear down mans spirits, and rob him
of all the delights of life. 1t was so
in the present case. Vain was it that
Mr.. Levering sought self jurisdiction.
Argue the matter as he would, he found
it impossible to escape the smarting con-
viction that he had unjustly exacted a
dollar from one of his customers
Many times through the day he found
himself in a musing, distracted state,
and, on rousing himself therefrom, be-
came conscious in his external thoughts
that it was the dollar by which he was
troubled.
"I'm very foolish" said he, mental
| ly, as he walked homeward, after closing
his store for the evening. every fool
ish to worry myself about a trife like
this. The goods were cheap enough at
ffty-fve cents, and she is quite as well
contented with her bargain as if she had
only paid fifty"
But it would not do. The dollar
was on his conscience and he sought in
vain to remove it by efforts of this kind.
Mr.. Levering had a wife and three
pleasant children. They were the sun
light of his home. When the business
of the day was over, he usually re-
turned to his own freside with buoyant
feeling 1t was not so on this occasion.
There was a pressure on his bosom-a
want of self-satisfaction. The kiss of
his wife, and the clinging arms of his
children, as they were twined around
his neck, did not bring the old delight.
"What is the matter with you this
evening, dear9 Are you not well?" in
quired Mrs. Levering, breaking in upon
| the thoughtful mood of her husband,
as he sat in unwonted silence.
"I'm perfectly well," he replied,
rousing himself, and forcing smile.
"You look sober"
"Do u" another forced smile.
Something troubles you, I'm afraid. +"
"ono; it's all your imagination"
care you sick, papa?" now asks a
bright little fellow, clambering upon his
knee.
"Why, no, love, I'm not sick. Why
did you think so?''
|. Because you don't play horse with
me-"
'sOh dearl Is that the ground Of
yonr suspicions?" replied the father
laughing. "Comel wen soon scatter
them to the Winds"
And Mr.. Levering commenced a
game of romps with the children. But
he tired long before they grew weary,
nor did he, from the beginning, enter
! into this sport with his usual zest.
"Does your head ache, pa?" in
I quired the child who had previously
suggested sickness, as he saw his father
leave the floor, and seat himself with
5 some gravity of manner, on chair.
sNot this evening, DEAR" answered
: Mr.. Levering.
o.