Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1861-03-02
Interrogation words.
Have you examined that bill, james =
Yes. SIR


Yes, SIR
Anything wrongr
i find two errors
'Ah let me see.'
The lad handed bis employer n long bill
that had been placed on hts desk for exami'
nation.
Here is an error in the calculation Of ten
dollars, which they have made against them
selves aud another error Of ten dollars 10
the footing
Also against themselves ?
Yes, SIR
The merchant smiled in way that struck
the lad as peculiar.
Twenty dollars against themselves 7 he
remarked, in kind Of pleasant surprise
'Trusty clerks they must have z
Shall correct the figures 2 asked the
lad We don't examine bills for other peo-
pies benefit replied the merch0nt. 1t will
be time enough for us to rectify these errors
when they lind them. ALI SO much gain, as
it now stands
The boys delicate moral sense was shock
ed tso unexpected remark lie was the
son of poor widow, who had given him
good instruction and that to be just was the
duty Of all men, Mr. Carman, the merchant
10 whose employment he had been for only
few months, was on old friend Of his
fathers, and person 10 whom his mother
reposed the highest confidence. In fact
James had always looked upon him as kind
Of model man; and when Mr.. Carman sgreed
to take him into his store, he felt that great
good fortune was in his way.
Let them correct their own mistakes '
The words made a strong impression on the
mind Of james Lewis When first spoken
by Mr.. Carman, and with the meaning then
involved, he felt as we have said, shocked !;
but as be turned them over and over again
in his thoughts, and connected their utter
auce with a person who stood so high in
bis mothers estimation, he began to think
that perhaps the thing was fair enough in
business. Mr.. Carman was hardly the man
to do wrong.
In few days after james examined the
bill, clerk from the house by which it had
been rendered called for a settlement. The
lad who was present, waited with considera
BILE interest to see whether Mr.. Carman
would speak Of the error. But he made no
remark on that subject. A check for the
amount was filed up, and receipt taken
is that rightr James, asked himself
that question. His moral senses said No;
but the fact that Mr.. Carman had so acted
beWildered his mind.
1T may be the way in bnsiness'--so he
thought within himself--'but it don't looh
honest. / wouldn't have believed it of
him =
Mr.. Carman had kind way with him
THAT won upon the boys heart, and naturally
tended to make him judge whatever he
might do in the most favorable manner.
| 1 wish he had corrected that error he
said TO himself great many times when
thinking, 10 pleasant way, Of Mr.. Carman
and his own good fortune in having been re.
ceived into his employment. 1t don't look
right but may be its the way in business
One day he went to the bank and drew
the money for a check. In counting 1t over
he found that the teller had paid him fifty
dollars too much. So he went back to the
counter and told him of the mistake. The
teller thanked him, and he returned to the
store, with the pleasant consciousness in his
mind of having done right.
The teller overpaid me by fifty dollars,
he said to Carman, as he handed him the
money.
Indeed !" replied the latter, light break.
ing over his cOunteuance. And be hastily
counted the pankblls.
The light faded as the last bill left his
fingers
There's no mistake James A tone OF
disappointment was in his voice.
oh ? gave him back the fifty dollars.
Wasn't that right p
You simplton I exclaimed Mr.. Carmsn.
Don't you know that bank mistakes are
never corrected? If the teller had paid
you fifty dollars short he would not have
made it right
The warm blood stained the cheeks of
James under this reproof tits often the
case that more shame is felt for q blunder
than crime. In this instance the lad felt
q sence Of modification at having done what
Mr.. Carman was pleased to ca a silly thing
aud be made up bis mind that ifthey should
oyerpay him a thousand dollars at the bank
he would bring the amount to bis employer,
and let him do as be pleased with the mon.
ey
Let people look after their own mistakes, ,
said Mr.. Carman.
James Lewis poudered these things Id his
heart. The impression they made was too
strong ever to be forgotten, 1t may be
right be said to himself, but be did not feel
altogether satisfied.
A month or two after the occurrence of
that bank mistake, as james counted over
bis weekly wages, just received from Mr..
Carman, he discovered that he had been
paid half dollar too much. The first im.
pulse Of his mind was to return the amount
to his employer, and it was on his lips TO
say You have given me to much, sir 7
when the unforgotton words, Let people
look after their own mistakes flashed upon
bis thoughts and made him hesitate. To
hold PaFley with evil isiu most cases TO be
overcome.
Il must think about this said James, as
he put the money into his pocket. III it is
true in one case, 1t is true 10 another. Mr..
Carrhan don't correct any mistakes that
people make in his favor; and he Cart CON.
plain when the rule works against him.
self
But the boy was very far from being ID