The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-05-30
4 LIFE LESSON.
BY T. S. ARTHUR.

! lic was hctplIl5 IL StVIe W iSiN
cd him comfortable living. As ~. Elliot
sons family increased, the dwelling which
he occupied became too small for i'm, ma
king removal or an addition to the hous'
necessary. Being good tenant, add a mar
well thought Of in the community, his land
/ lord was very ready to build him coupl;
, of additional rooms for an ncreas8 of rem
! equal to ten per cent. on the outlayS
Mr.. Gage, the carpenter, was employed
to make the required improvements, and he
forthwith went to work. 1t was not long
before suitable frame was crested ano
weather boarded in; and the plastsfer com
menced upon the interior. On the morning
that the plasterer was to go to work, Mr.
EIliotson, who was an early riser, walked
out into the yard to look around and see
how the new building was progressing
The first thing that met his eye was load
Of lime that had been thrown down, close
TO the gate, where the plaSterer had arrang-
ed his mortar troughs. 1t was in fine large
Jumps, fresh from the kiln. zs---ss>
Just the thing" said Mr.. Ehs.son,
STOPPING down and turning over several
large chunks with his hand. This will
save me from buying lime"
Mr. Elliotson looked about him, and see
ing that 10 one was near, stopped down
again, and selecting two of the largest Jumps
took them up and carried them away, re-
marking in low tone Of voice, to himself
as he did so,- Il
They will never be missed"
The lime was placed in an outbmlding,
and an old piece OF board thrown over it.
In day or two afterwards it was Stacked
and used in whitewashing the fences.
Now, the taking o: couple of pieces Of
lime by Mr. El.iotson was a little matter.
comparatively speaking, but from small
causes, important results often come. And
they came in this instance. 1t happened
that Mr. Gag, the carpenter, saw him take
the pieces Of lime, an act that surprised
him very much. lie could not have believed
El!iotsen gnlty Of such an act OF meanEeSs,
not to say dishonesty. Not willing TO con-
dcu.u a man III lis own mind, and especially
u man held in such high estimation by eve
~ one as Mr. E!liotson, without being very
sure that the lime had been taken for his
own private purposes, the carpenter, on
coming to work that day, and after Mr.. FL
liOtSon had gone to his store, searched about
to see if he could fiji the LINE. The search
discovered it concealed beneath an old board,
where it had been placed.
~ wouldn't have believed it if had not
- ga Il - sA.i III OhH IS Sdll NId-t iiutNC
cOnfoundcd by what had occurred "Some
people might call this honest, but don't, "
he continued. why, its downright steal
ing, What right had be TO take this lime
without the plastercrs consent: If he had
asked for it, he could no doubt have had
double the quantity, and welcome. But,
don't Ike this. 1t doesn't look well. | al
most wish hadn't seen it. | shall never
feel just right towards him again.
The carpenter was 4 strictly honest man,
and far above act Of ncanness. lie re
garded the rights Of every one, IN little as
- ell as in great things, and could not tClvr-
ate in others, any departure from rectitude.
VI bat he had seen troubled him. lie tried
to push the thought Of it out OF his mind,
but could not succeed in doing so. II haunt
Cd him for DAYS When he met Mr.. Elliot
son he felt like avoiding him, aud could
hardly bear 10 look IN ms face while he con
vcrsed with him.
Gage had a brother who owned large
farm in the fertile valley on the river whose
beautiful waters passed through the village
in which El:otson kept store. The village
was the depot for the RECEIPT Of nearly the
entire product Of this valley |; contained
three stores. ElliJ:son's was the largest,
and be received, as factor, at least two-lLiris
Of the produce that came down thc river.
The selling Of this was his chief business.
For several years, he had sold for NJ. Gage,
the farmer, the produce Of his land, con-
s.st!ug principally Of wheat, rye, corn, and
cats; making his returns according to the
uiiny market prices.
Shortly after the occurrences Of the little
circumstance just mentioned, the farmer
was in the village, and stayed, as usual with
his brother. While with him, the brother
ashed this question:
How does EIliotsen manage your sales
for you:'
Very WELL
care you always satisfied with the prices
he Gets:"
"Why, no, no: always. Bat tn en-, | sup
pose it isn't 5 fault. The markets are not
always as high as we farmers could wish.
"No, suppose not. But does he always
return you the highest market rates.
~ Not for every consignment. But quota
tons OF prices and actual sales do not al
ways correspond. Sometimes we send down
a lot Of grain and get more for it than we
expected, and sometimes less. 1t is just as
it happens. Why do you ask these ques-
tions: Isn't Mr.. Ellison the fair thing
" Not exactly; am sorry to say"
What the brother expressed strong
surprise.
q The fact is, Henry" said the carpenter,
81 have lost my good opinion of the man;
and will tell you the reason"
lie then related the story about the lime.
THAT was little business" remarked
the farmer after he had heard the relation.
Il could not have believed a man Of his
standiug would be guilty of such conduct"
"Nor I. It really confoundcd me. ! have
thought about you ever since, and how easy
il would be for him, in rendering account
sales Of your produce, to put the price down
a cent or two bushel less than what he
actually received. 1t would be a little mat,
ter in each particular, but quite ar item in
years business"
Indeed it would. But I can hardly be-
lieve that Mr.. Elliotson would do such
thing"
"Nor can I. And yet there is the fact of
the lime staring us in the face. That shows
what is in the man, and what is in is pretty
sure to come cut some time or other. 1t on
ly needs the opportunity When he took
the lime twas early in the morning, and
no one about as he thought He first turn
looked all around him carefully. After that
ne SlO9pcu ai'u piShcu up wv piSSNS anu
carried them away. 1t looks bad dosn't it ~
at certainly does. don't like the ap-
pearance at all"
81 don't know how you feel about it, ~
said the carpenter, but if l. were in your
place, would be loath to trust as much in
his hands as you do"
81 must think about it." remarked the
farmer. ~ should be sorry to break with
him, for our intercourse has been pleasant.
He has always made me prompt returns.
believe never had to write to him for mo-
ney in my life.'
$50 far so good but if the returns were
actually short, why"
'That's another consideration altogether
"Indeed it is.
| Now although the suspicions Of CAGE