The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-09-21
LOUIS o. COWAN,
VOLUME XVI.


store, with the pleasant consciousness ofhavint
done right.
The teller overpaid me by fifty dollars h
said to Mr.. Carman, Us he handed him TIT
money.
.Indeed. replied the latter, a light break
ing over his countcnance. And he hastil,
counted the bank bills.
The light faded as the last bill lelt his lin
gers.
There's no mistake, James A tone o
disappointment was in his voice.
'0h gave back the Fifty dollars. WASH
that rightr
You simpleton = exclaimed Mr.. Carman
Don't you know that hank mistakes ar
never corrected? IL the teller had paid yor
fifty dollars short, he would not have made
il right
The warm blood stained the cheeks o.
James under this reproof. 1t Is often the
case that more shame is felt for q blundei
than a crime. In this instance the lad felt q
sense Of modification at having done what
Mr.. Carman was pleased to call silly thing;
and be made up his mind that ii they should
overpay him q thousand dollars at the bank
he would bring the amount to his employer,
and let him do Us he pleased with the money.
.Let people look after their own mistakes,
said Mr.. Carman.
James Lewis pondered these things in his
heart. The Impression they made was too
strong ever to DO forgotten. 1T may be right,
no said To himself, but he did not feel alto
gether satisfied.
A month or two after the occurrence OF
that bank mistake, rs James counted over his
weekly wages. Just received from Mr.. Carman,
he discovered that he had been paid half q
dollar too much. The first impulse of his
mind was TO return the amount TO his en-
ploycr, and it was ON his lips to say, you
have given me too much, SIR when the un-
forgotten words, let people correct their
own Mistakes flashed upon his thoughts,
and made him hesitate. To hold n parley
with evil is, in most cases, TO be overcome.
i must think about this, said James, as
he put the money into his pocket. III IT is
true in one case, ii is true IN another. Mr..
Carman don't correct any OF the mistakes that
people make in his favor; and he can't COM
plain when the rule works against him
self.
But the boy was very far from being in q
comfortable state. lie felt that to keep that
half-dollar would be a dishonest act. Still
ho could not make up his mind to return il (;
at least pot then. lie would retain il for
the present, and think the matter over more
carefully. lie could, il the case did not
prove clear on further reflection, make al
right with him and Mr.. Carman.
To hold parley with evil is, as we have
Just said, in most cases TO be overcome; and
II was unhappily so in the present case
James did not return the half-dOllar, but
spent it for his qualification. After he had
done this il came suddenly INTO his thought
that Mr.. Carman might only be trying him,
and he was flied with anxiety and alarm.
How bitterly did he regret having spent the
last halfdollar! For two or three days II
was much as he could do to keep from start.
ing when Mr.. Carman spoke to him or look
steadily into his face when receiving from
him any direction. IL was his first sad ex'
pcricncc in wrOng-doing. But rs no lack oi
confidence was exhibited, James felt reassur-
cd in few days.
Not long afterwards Mr.. Carman repeat
ed the same mistake. This time James kept
Ike half dollar with less hesitation.
Let him correct his own mistakes, said he,
rcsolutely; 'that's the doctrine hcacts on with
ether people, and he can't complain II he
gets paid in the coin he puts in circulation.
just wanted half dollar.
From this time the fine moral sense OF
James Lewis was blunted. lie had taken an
evil counsellor into his heart, who not only
dirkened his clear PERCEPTION OF right, but
stimulated spirit Of oyetousness-latent in
almost every mind-that caused him to desire
the possession Of things beyond his ability to
obtain.
James had good business qualities, and 50
pleased Nlr. Carman by his intelligence, in
lustry, and tact with customers. that he adj
yanced him rapidly, and gave him before he
was eighteen years of age the most respOnsi.
bic position in his store. But James had
learned something more from his employer
than how to do business. He had learned to
be dishoncst-that is the word. lie had
never forgotten the first lesson he received in
this bad science; and he had acted upon II
not only in two instances, but in a hundred,
and almost always to the injury OF Mr.. Car
man. lie had long since given up waiting
for mistakes TO be made in his favor, but
originated them in the varied and complici-
ted transactions of u large business in which
he was trusted implicitly; for strangely
enough, il had never for an instant occurred
to Mr.. Carman that his failure to be just to
the letter in dealing might prove snare to
this young man.
james grew sharp, cunning, and skillful ;
always ON the alert; always bright; always
prompt to meet any approaches toward a
discovery Of his wrong dealings towards his
employer, who held him in the highest re-
gard.
Thus Il went on until james Lewis was in
his twentieth year, when the merchant had
his suspicious aroused by letter that spoke
Of the young man as not keeping the most
respectable company, and Us spending money
too freely for clerk on moderate salary.
Before this time James had removed his
mother into pleasant house, for which he
paid rent OF four hundred dollars. His
salary was eight hundred dollars; but he
deceived his mother by telling her that he
received fifteen hundred; Every comfort
that she needed was fully supplied, and she
was beginning 20 feel that after a long and
often painful struggle with the world her
happier days had come.
James was at his desk when the letter just
referred to was received by Mr.. Carman =
Guilt Is always on the alert, and Suspicion.
oil every movement that may involve betrayal
orexposure. lie looked stealthily at his em.
picyer US he opened the letter, and observed
him change eountenance suddenly. lie read
IL over twice, and James saw that the con-
tents, whatever they were, produced disturb
ance. While he was yet Observing him, Mr..
Carman glanced towards his desk, and their
eyes met il was only for a moment. but the
look James received made his heart STOP
beating.
There was something about the movement.
Of Mr.. Carman for the rest Of this day that
troubled the young nan. Ii was plain tc
him that suspicion had been aroused by thai
letter. oh, how bitterly now did he repent
in dread Of discovery and punishment, th'
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