Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-11-27

: across some old letters from friend |
J South Carolina. One Of these recoe
: nized by the superscription, and as
, took it apart from It's fellows, I foun,
, that another letter adhered to it. Il
fact. SO tightly did the two letters sticl
, together, that / was forced to tear th,
J paper in separating them. As this Sc
cond letter was turned to light, 1 recog
nized in the superscription the hand o
my agent. Gibson. 1 opened it snt
found something more. I found fv'
hundred dollars-6ve one hundred dol
lar bank notesl The letter bore th'
postmank of Montpelier, and by tn,
post mark Of the letter which had beer
sticking to it, l knew that both haC
been received at our Office the sam,
day.
4 "At first Twas thunderstruck; and
then followed season of bewiIderment
but gradually the light broke. in upor
me. In little while was able tc
read the whole story. l remembered
that afternoon when I came up from the
mill, and found the batch Of letters up,
on nv desk. ] remembered how l had
found two private letters, and that this
letter from my friend in South Carolina,
was one of them. also remembered
that this letter from my agent | bad
opened. Furthermore, remembered
that on that occasion, ! had a pot Of
varnish with me. 1t was With dab Of
varnish that the two letters we're stuck
together. When l picked up those two
private letters, and put them away in
the pigeon hole, l had unwittingly laid
the remittance from Gibson away with
them; and in my hurry, as placed the
remaining letters beneath the ruler up
on the desk, did not notice what l had
done.
"What should be my next step? l
knew now that George Sayers was in
nocent, and that had wronged him
/ must see him and acknowledge the
error; and the sooner il was done the
better. l arose and put away the uc
less letters. I went directly to the Wid-
ow's dwelling. The family bad retired,
but called them up, and when they
admitted me, | told George what I had
discovered. There was a fash in his
eye, but I did not yet allow him to
speak. caught his hand and acknowl-
edged that had done him wrong; and
then asked him to forgive me. l told
him would make the same acknowl-
edgment to all his friends, and that if
he would come once more into my en-
ploy, I would make ample amends for
the mistake Of the past.
"The youth did not resist my appeal.
He gladly accepted my terms; he for
gave me what l had done; and the
mother and the sister sank down upon
their knees in happy thanksgiving.
"On the following day, George an
peared at my store and helped me ar
range my affairs; and before another
night it was known all through the town
that the dark cloud had been lifted
Ny brother.in law entered into partner
ship with me; and at the end OF two
years ! retired to my mill and gave up
my interest in the store to George Say
ers. He married the daughter of his
partner, and is. to-day. one of the most
honored men in our State. 1 tremble,
even now, when think how very near
a mistake Of mine came to consigning
that fair youth to destruction. anc bring
ing his mother and sister down to NOR.
tai sorrow. There is lesson 10 the sto-
ry which every employer should heed
and understand"