The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-08-05

gard. All, slr,.-in the trial OF your in. |
tegrity, honor failed. In the hour Of
you fell. Is this gain or loss ?
Are you richer, or poorer, by the net %
The merchants head sank low upon his
breast, in shame and lf-condemnation,- -
1t was all too true. lie had knowingly, |
omitted to pay a tax bill that was Justly
due. Had failed that much in one Of his
higher obligations to society, and for tho
paltry gain Of few dollars. In all his
public walk before men, he had main.
tanned an upright stature but he stopped
to n petty fraud in secret.
" 4 fearful loss" said the visitor, "tor
it is a loss Of just SO much Of the property
that goes 10 make up Il mans riches in
heaven. | said you were poorer now than
Mt this time last year and so you arc BY
this large item. And you have lost be.
sides, pearl of inestimabe value one
that you could have taken with you as a
rich inheritance into the other life. God
gave you the opportunity to help broth
er in need, one who came TO you in sore
distress and tried TO awaken your sympa-
thy. But YOU heard him only in part,
and turned him aside with cold and cut.
ling words. 1t was not enough thai you
saw the struggles of manly pride in his
face, and the pale anguish of features not
enough that he was weak and in sore
troube-you must add rebuke TO denial,
rs ii misfortune were crime. AS mer-
chant, you had prospered in every ven
ture-you were at case and in comfort
and SO God sent to You this mau, that YOU
might help him in his need, and thus add
to your heavenly riches. But love Of self
triumphed over love Of the neighbour
you preferred gold to good. The treasure
tha! moth and rust corrupt, to that which
is enduring as eternity. The pure pearl
OF tender compassion was offered for your
acceptance, but your eyes were too dim to
see its priceless value. God did not for
get his needy child. The good deed you
failed to do, another performed, and to
him heaven sent the blessing that might
have been yours. And SO there is more
lost treasure TO be taken into account"
"Spare ME :" cried the merchant, raj s.
log his hands with depIecating gesture.
Oh, spare me ~
d" Not yet" said the visitor. Money
gave you power, and you used that power
TO wrong thousands Of your weaker fellow
men"
81 have wronged no one," answered
the merchant boldly. All my dealings
have been in justice between man and
man."
"You deceive yourself" returned the
visitor. "ls mere speculation honest
Is it just TO monopolize an article that the
poorest mechanic and humblesl day la
borer must have, and SO enhance its price
that many comforts must be given up in
order to procure the needed supply =
You have not been just between man and
man, for you have done this, and done il
ut the peril Of your soul for loss o.
neighbory regard, and honest principles
were involved in the act. Gold gainet
by fair trading did rot come in fast
enough TO satisfy your thirst for riches
and so you laid plans, that were too sue.
cesslui, for detrauding your weaker breth
ren. Yon diminished the supply of bread
in the mouths of hungry children, and
made the poor mans burdens heavier
that you might add TO the wealth already
increased beyond your power 10 enjoy"
Again the head Of Mr.. Stephens sanl
upon his breast, and he was covered will
shame and confusion.
is there cause for self-congratulatior
in this ? Are you really richer mar
than you were at the years beginning?'
Leave me !" said the merchant will
groan Of anguish.
nj pnic ia inp nln '
answered the beautiful monitor. " 1t i
said that Mr.. Stephens is a high minded
honorable merchant. Everywhere, il
: business circles, men bear this testimon,
in his favor"
: The merchant began recovering him
5 self a glow of pride warmed his heart
. "Men can say nothing less" he mad
answer,
"Let your own heart Judge. villa
! better are you than the thief who unlaw
fully appropriaes the goods of another
! Or what honor is there in taking, by con
s straint, q dollar from the earnings of ten
thousand different men, in order that yo
>. may add ten-thousand 10 your heaped.u
n store OF wealth? This you have done i
single act of unrighteous speculation
e What would you think Of the morality c
l. a newsboy who should, by some adroi
piece of petty circumvention, succeed
IS extracting a sixpence from the pockets c
each of dozen ragged companions, thi
he might be possessor of the most money
a or secure the means of enjoyment whic
e poverty denied 10 them? You woul
consider him a sharper; perhaps, sty
l. him rogue. Covetousness was indeed
K the spring Of action in your case, as
would be in his; and selfish disregar
of the neghbor led on to the committin
" Of wrong.
in "High.minded and houorable!" The
ID was an almost withering contempt in Il
ID monitors voice. 'If il would not be
IS all honorable in the newsboy 10 get, wit
+; out any return Of benefits, the sixpenc
or OF his humble companions, ii cannot
ID honorable in the scheming merchant
it, wrong his neighbors on broader SC al
,rt Take n thousand dollars of your mon
". and place it here on this table--lhe mon,
ly you gained in that nice speculation,
sh which so many shrewd and unscrupuo
ur men praised your boldness and sagOci
er. Count it over, and as you look upon ea