Litchfield enquirer., 1857-03-19

The Generous Host.
THE FIRST OFFENCE.


 fficLd Stevenson, select party were assembled to celebrate lis birthday. \ very animated dlscu@slon had betn carried on for some time S to whethcs the first deviation from integrity should be treated with severity or lenity. Va rious were the opinions and Eumt rous the ar ruments brought forward to support them The majority appeared to lean to the side tc crush al. offences iu tic bud, when a warm hearted old gentleman exclaimed, Depend up on it, more young people are lest to soc ely from first oif,.ncc Icing treated with inju'!ic ious severity, than from the contrary extreme Not that would pass over even the slightest deviation from integrity either in word or deed that would certainly be mistaken kindness but Oil tlic other hand either would 1 punish With severtty an offence committed under t,mp- tatioi-ttmptat too, that we ourselves may thougitlessly have placed in the way in such a niaincr as to render it irresistible For n. stance, a lady hires q servant the girl has hitherto borne q good character but it is her first place her honesty has never vet been put to thc test Her mistress, without thinking o the continual temptation to which she is cx- posing fellow creature, is n the habit of lcav- ing small sums of money, generally copper, ly- l ing about ill her usual stiiig-roon After a
 
 not always found exactly as she left thenl Suspicion falls upon the girl, whose duty it is fo civan tue room every morning. Her miStres however thinks she will be quite convinced be- fore sl:c brings forward her accusation. She counts the rloEey carefully at night, and the next morning stElc is missing No one has been in the room but the girl her guilt is evident We'll, what do4s her mistress do? Why, she turns the girl out of her house at an hours no tee cailiiot in conscience give her character tells all her friends how drcadfulIy distressed she Is declares there is nothing Eut irgrati- tude to be met with among servants hmerts over the drlravity of human nature a, d ncv- yes, 1t is wckcd--tl.ouglt gltlcssncss in exposing to temptation young ignorant girl one most likely whose mind if not enveloped in otal dark ness, has only all imperfect twighlight khowl edge whereby to distinguish right or wrong girl sinks into the lowest depth of vice and mis- cry? Why, at the door of her, who after pla- clng temptation in her rely path, turned her nto the ptilcss world, deprived of that which 1 constitutes her only means of surport-her character and that without any cfiort 10 re- claim llcr--without afiiordirg a single opportu- ! future good colduct the confidence of her en- p!oycr
 There is fear, too much truth in wl:at YOU say. remarked the benevolent host, who had llil.crto taken no p It in the convers;;toa; ;n1 | It rciulnds me Of q circumstance that occurrt d in the earlier part of my life which as it may serve to illustrate the subject you have been 1 discussing, l will relate, There was a gcncr- al movement of attention for it was we'll known that no manufacturer in the town Of 1 Was surrounded with so many old ai.d faithful 1 servants as our friend Stevenson.
 In the onset of my business career, took into ny employment a young man to fill the situation of under clerk and recording to q law had laid down when stranger entered ! my service, his duties were of q nature to involve as little responsibility as nossi!ie Iii t.l sufficient time had been given to form a correct estimate o! his character. This youug man whom shall call Smith, was of d reSpt ctabc family 1 He had lost his father, and mother and sis ter were ,tepcndtnt upon him. Alter lie had /, been short time a my employ, it happened that my co:lictln'ia! cl,lk, VI oSc duty it was ! to rcccye the mon,y from the halk, for the 1 pay Tcnt of wages, being prev, utrd by an un- seen circumstance from attending at tlle prop CT time sent the >uu required, by Smith. My confidence in my head clerk wto had been ! long known to mo, was so great, that I was 1 not in the halit of regularly counting the mol,- cy when brought to me, but as on this occi- l son, t passed through other hand I thought fit so to io Therefore calling Smith back, as he was leaving the counting loom, 1 desired him to wait q few minutes and proceeded to ascertain whether it was quite correct Great Was my surprise and comccru to Gud there Was a considerable deficiency.
 From whom,' said 1, did you receive this moneyT
 | He replied, From Mr--,' naming m, confidential clerk.
 It is strange said l, looking steadily at him. But this money is incorrect, and it I. the first time have found it so' He changed couutcnance. and his eye fell before mine but he answered with toerable compoSure, that i, was as he received it.
 It is in vain,, replied to attempt to i'm pose upon me- or cndeavor to cast suspc. CHS on any one whose character for the str;ctest honesty and undertaking integrity is so well es tablishcd. Now am perfectly convinced that } ycu have taken this money, and that it is thi: : moment iu your possession and think thai : the evidence against you would be thought sui . ficent to justify me in immediately dsm;ss;ie you from my service: but you are Q young man, and more than that. your conduct ha' !. been, beeivc, hitherto, perfectly correct, an, l am wiling to afford you an opportunity c + redeeming the past All knowledge of thi n matter rests between ourselves. Candidly con Il tess, therefore, the error of which you hay, t been guilty i; restore what you have dishonest t ly taken cndeavor by your future good con Q duct, to deScrvs my conf ;,oncs and respect i and this circunstanea sbalI never transpirs |,