The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-07-09

Cleans from the inner gOYy.
Stream brightly through the azure vault afa-,
And half reveal the story.
Oh land unknown, Oh land OF love divine.
Father all wise, eternal,
Guide, guide these wandering way worr feet OF mine
Into those pastures vernal
THE LEFT HANDED THIEF.
"How many young mer have been injured and
perhaps ruined by false suspicion" remarked
my mercantile friend, as We we're conversing up
on the subject of the paaic, a few evenings
since. Suspicion is like an assassin in the dark
1t stabs its victim, and he know not whence the
blow cmes. Or Il may be more like the keen
frost which seizes upon the ears, cheeks or nose,
freezing the flesh and driving back the life blood
and yet the poor man is totally ignorant of his
situation till he comes in contact with the heat
and begins to feel the stinging pain. But / be-
lieve never told you of the only instance OF
suspicion Of evil being fastened upon me. Ii
has nothing to do with the subject under copsid.
GRAFTON, though it serves to show how merchants
sometimes lose money.
When mere youth was placed ir the store
of Jacob Wharton, q merchant doing a good
business. l was frugal, Industrious and faithful
and at the age of twenty one was advanced tc
the pest Of boOk.keeper, with q good salary.
tried to do my duty faithfully, and think, sue
cseded. Mr.. Wharton was a close methodica
man, with quick eye and ready understanding
OF business and a. l fancied he was satisfied
felt much pleased.
/ had be~n . book keeper for . year, when
thought my s~PIoycr's manner toward NE be
gan to change. He began to treat me more
coolly, and finally vas sure he watched my
movements with distrustful glances. l became
nervous aud uneasy, for l feared had offended
him. But the thiog came to a head at length
One evening when was alone in the store en-
gagged in making up my cash account, Mr. Whar
His voice WAS tremuloas, and l could see tha
he was deeply affected.
George" said he, 81 am sorry for the con
viction which has been forced upon mel fea
that you have not been treating me as yo,
should"
managed, in spite Of my astOnishment, Il
II fear that you are not honest" was hi
reply.
Had thunderbolt fallen upon me could no
have been more startled.
Not honest! And there had been for year
making it my chief aim and study how to serv
him most faithfully. do not remember wha
said frst-I only know that tears came into m
eyes-that my lips trembled-that my utteranc
was almost choked.
How long had he held such suspicious! ask
ed him, and he told me for two months.
''Heavene! you have suspected me thus an,
still left me in the darks After serving you g
long-after giving your interests all my energe
after striving for faith and honor that
might win your love and esteem-to suspect m
| in secret Ito look upon me as a thief, and ye
not tell me! Oh, would not have believed it +!
Let us talk this matter over camly," said tn
merchant, his old-kind tone coming back. II
was touched by my agony, and could see b
was wavering.
felt at first like telling him that he shoul
have done this before; but as be seemed ready
reason now, l could find no fault.
| "Yoa have spent considerable money Of late,
he began.
"How ?" asked.
| "Havs you not built house?''
"Yes, sir, and paid for it, too, and thus give
my mother comfortable home"
| Mr.. Wharton was staggered for a moment
my frank and feeling reply, but pretty soon
asked:
| "What did the house cost?"
| "Just lfteen hsnd,.J Lviiars. Nv moth,
owned the land. And supposed you wou
know where got the money. You, sir, Iearne
me how to save it. have been with you s.
years. The first year you paid me fifty dollar
and laid up twenty five of it. The secor
and third years you gave me hundred dollar
AID of that laid up sixty dollars a year. tt
fourth year you made me clerk, and gave n
five hundred. Ny mother was able to feed m
AID - our little cot answered for the time, 1 e
along upon seventy FIVE dollars. The next We
| az
would help keep your books. l saved FIVE hu
paid me one thousand dollars, and have on
spent the interss; OF what had previously
vested, 90 that the thousand was not touche
OF course my mother has worked, but 81
wished to do il. I have paid fifteen hundr
dsllars for my house and have Eve hundred
the savings bank. That is plain statement
sffairs."
My employer seemed more puzzled than
fore.
; ''Now," said l, 81 have given YOU an hone
statement, and will you be equally frank al
tell me al that has happened to excite this 81
picion?"
IL WILL" he replied, taking seat near me.
"Within the last year have lost two thou
and dollars! It must have been taken frc
the store. know this, for know the amou
, of goods that have been sold, and / know hs
much cash l have received. l began to
wstchful about feur months since. Two mont
, ago q man paid to me in an afternoon, $500.
put it in the drawer, and on the next morni
{ before you came in, looked at your cash
count and found only $500 of that set dow
Frem that time have been very watchful a
4 have detected dozen similar caees / have
e ticed every dollar that came in after the ba
+ account was made up, and have also taken .,
t OF the amount entered upon the book, and {
f ring that time there has been leakage of o,
500! Nov Who has access to that drawer a
to that safe?"
2 was astonished. Icould ONLY assure nv G
o ployer that knew nothing of il; and saw d
I be wanted 70 believe ue
J. l asked him if he had spoken to any one el
e Not to living soul but me. be replied. / p
dered few moments and then said:
Mr.. Wharton, could be made to belle
4 that even ignoranty, had wronged you to
amount Of Q dollar, should not feel the pert
il consciousness Of honor new feel There m
b thief somewhere. Some Of the clerks n
6nd access to the money. Bat are yeu viii
!, 70 let the matter rest for few dsya
!. strain every nerve 70 detect the evil doer."
% He finally consented TO let me try my hand
detecting the thief He promised not to lis
syllable upon the subject TO any one else, and
As % 70 leave the matter wholly in ny hands
N one week He gave ne . warm grasp when
separated, and eaid he hoped would succee