The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1854-08-04

practice to be sociabe with his customers
but he could not be so now He dared no
, trust himself to speak--he dared not NEE
the eye Of the man with whom he had ius
traded.
1t was five dollar bill that the gentleman
rendered in payment, and as he passed il owe
he remarked:
Il suppose that is the lowest you will take
'It is the lowest ought to take,' returne,
Arthur, trying to hide his tremulousness.
Very WELL said the stranger. i Away,
wish to pay fair lining price to every one
with whom dsal--always trusting he adde,
with smile, pha; shall be treated honest,
in return
He took his change and left the store -
Arthur took down his blotter and thought tr
enter the sale he had just made; but hesitat
ed. lie dared not place there the record o
the first dishonest deed he had ever done! o
how he wished that his customer had no,
come--how he wished he could recall the
thing he had done. But twas too late. lie
had tried the experiment.
'Why--what's the matter, Arthur asked
Mrs. Leeman, as her husband drew back
from the supper table that evening. you
look unhappy
'And | am unhappy, Sarah, family return
ed Arthur; for he had determined to tell his
bitter experience.
| What is it!' anxiousy uttered the hall
! frightened wife, moving TO her husbands side
and placing her arm about his neck.
'Sit down, sit down, Sarah and | will tell
you.'
The woman sat down, but still kept her
arm about her husbands neck.
Sarah said he with painful effort, Il
have done that to-day which never did be-
fore in my life. have been dishonest! |
have lied and cheated!
LIED! You, my husband--cheated %,
no, no, Arthur
'Yes IA man came into my store-he was
slranger--a new conner iu town.--lIe trus-
ted to my honesty, and--I liedt 10 him and
cheated him. o, Sarah, wish had not done
it,
But you did not do it--you could not
Listen 20 me, my wife. thought would
try to make money as fast as VIM. Sharp
ing does. Last evening | was in his store,
and discovered his secret.--If disclose il
to you. you will not tell of it,
Sarah promised and Arthur related to her
ali that had passed. He told her of Sharp
ing's mode of dealing, and he described his
own experiment that afternoon.
Il have beer dishonest and am unhappy, >
he said in conclusion. Il don't feel like the
same man that did before, for there is one
man in the world toward whom | have done
I
his tace.'
For some time Sarah Leeman was silent
AT length she raised her lips to her husbands
face and kissed him.
Forgive me- she whispered, 'for it was |
who did this wrong. Oh, forgive me. Ar
thur, was bnd--foolish. was envious
Oh, would rather live in the meanest rags
of penury and want,--to live on the wages o
my husbands dishonesty will never think
of bartering away sweet Content for the de-
sire of my neighbor's Plenty. Forgive me
1t was scene of mutual forgiveness thai
followed, and that night both husband ant
wife prayed that they might never heed the
voice of the the tempter again.
On the next morning the first person who
came into the store after Arthur arrived, was
the man to whom the cloth had been sold the
day before. The young merchant felt sud
den trembling coming to his limbs, and the
worst fears sprang to his Elind. He feared
that his wickedness had been detected anc
that he shouldn't have it in his power 10 make
Tree restitution. But he was mistaken. The
gentleman had only come for some stuff fol
Innings and facings to the pants he was going
to have made. Arthur's heart leaped again
for now he should have the opportunity he
had hoped for.
'Oh, sir he said, after the articles just callet
for had been rol led up, Il fear there was
small mistake made yesterday, and am glat
you have called, for l wish it rectifed.'
/ Il was not aware of any, returned the
stranger, wonderingly
Step this way sir Arthur led the way t.
the counter where the sale the day before haC
been made, and laying his hand upon tht
piece of cloth from which he had cut the three
yards he continues
you took pattern from this piece
/ yes sir,
'And paid me one dollar per yard
'Yes sir
w Gil W 40 WI hClfouS--'Ciy uI
| comfortable at the time, and made IA sad mis-
take. ] should have asked you but forty-tw,
cents per yard for it. 1t is part cotton. Yo'
may return it and take another piece, or
will pay you back the difference, just as yol
please.
The gentleman chose to keep the cloth
and Arthur paid him back the dollar and sev
enty -four cents. He was very thankful TO
the restitution thus made, and he remained
long while and chatted with the merchant
often making a remark upon the charm whicl
he always experienced when doing busincs
with one in whose honor he could conlide. Ii
proved afterwards to be not only good Gus
toner, but available friend to the young mer
chant
That night, Arthur Leeman was happy
pnd his sw Get wife was never happier in he
life, for she had learned the real value of tn
blessings she possessed, and which she ha
we'll nigh thrown from her-the sweet trea
sure of life-CoNTEET.
Time sped on. Arthur Leeman RENAME
strict in his integrity. One by one the Gus
of William, Sharnipr drnnnnd int