The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-07-01
CONSCIENCE! OR, HE MUST
HAVE MEANT ME-.
BY T. S. ARTHUR.


| BY T. S ARTHUR.
How do YOU like our new preacher 2 was
the question asked by one member of another
as they walked home from church.
'Only so so,' was replied.
He cuts close remarked the first speaker
Yes; a little too close
Il don't know about that. | like to see
the truth brought home to the heart and con
science
so Go l. But, object to personality
Personality
yes; object to personality
SO does every one. Was Mr.. c.
personally
| Il think So
That's hardly possible. He only arrived
last week and has not yet had time to become
familiar with facts in the life of any one
| here. Moreover, personal allusion in a
first sermon by stranger is something SO
out of place and indelieate that cannot f.l
a moment believe that your inference is cor
| rect
while have the best of reasons for be-
lieving that | complain OF him justly. He's
been long enough here to visit certain fam
| lily, fond Of tittletattle, that could name.
The Harrisons9
| YES
Il hope you are mistaken
No; | am not mistaken. c. was per
sonal, and distinctly SO. And the ltarrsons
are at the bottom of the matter. To say the
least, he has acted in very bad taste. Chari.
ty should bovo prnmptod hin, uo;t
| he could have heard both sides Of the story.
Il agree ~ith you, fully, if your allegation
De correct. But must hope that you are in
error.
No. have the best of reasons for what
l allege.'
TO whom did the personality apply?'
TO myself, if the truth must be spoken.
Is it posslble?' p
'Yes-to myself
That places the matter in rather a serious
light, Mr.. Grant
1T does. And I think l have reason to
complain
You ought to be certain about this mat
ter
I'm certain enough When man treads
OF your tee YOU are likely to know it,
1t is barely possible that Mr.. C did
not intend to designate you or any one, in
what he said
He must have meant me- replied Mr..
Grant, with emphasis. He couldn't have
said what he did unless he had been inform
eG of certain things that have happened in
this town. Had he not visited the Harrisons
III ght have doubted. But that places the
thing beyond question:
In what did the personality con>isl?'
did you not observe it?
NO.
Indeed!
Il perceived no allusion to any one
There are plenty Of others, no doubt, who
did. don't care to speak OF it just now.
Bat, you'll hear about it. noticed three or
four turn and look at he while he was speak
irg. Ii VII. he a pleasant piece of gossip
out if Mr.. c. doesn't take care I'll make
this place too hot 10 hold him. I'm not the
one to be set up as target tor any whlpper-
snapper to fire at
Don't get excited, Friend Grant. Wait
awhile. | still think there is some mistake
4 beg your pardon; there is 10 mistake
about it. He meant me Don't | know
Can't tell when man points his finger al
ne in public assembly"
In his opinion, Mr.. Grant was still further
confirmed, ERE he reached his home, bv the
peculiar way in which sundry members OF
the congregation looked at him. Oh course
he was considerably disturbed Oh the sub
iect and felt a reasonable share of lndlgna-
ton. In the evening he declined attending
worship as an indication OF his feelings on
the subject and he doubted not that the
new preacher would note his absence and ut.-
dersand the cause.
About year from this time Mr.. Grant,
who was manufacturing jewelIer, was call
ed upon by gentleman who desired him to
aiake solid gold wedding ring. Il was to
be CT the finest quality that could be work
ed, and to be unusual heavy. When The
price was mentioned the gentleman objected
TO it as nigh.
Your neighbor, over the way said the
gentleman, will make It fer dollar less
than you ask
Not Of solid gold, replied Mr.. Grant.
'Oh yes. | would have no other
Mr.. Grant knew that the ring could not
oe made of fine, solid gold for the price his
neighbor lad agreed to take. And he knew,
also, that in manufacturing it, his neishbor,
if he took the order, would fill up the centre
of the ring with solder-a common practice.
On the spur Of the moment be determined
to do the same thing, and therefore replied,-
'Well, suppose | must work as low as he
does
The ring must be Of solid gold, remem-
Der. l will have no other
That's understood, Of course replied the
jeweIer; adding 70 himself, as solid as any
ones makes thenl.'
The ring was manufactured at reasonable
profit, and the man got the fall worth Of his
money; but not Of solid gold. Silver solder
composed the centre. Dut as the baser met
al could not be detected by simple inspection
or weighing, Mr.. Grant felt secure in the
cheat he had plactised; and quieted his con-
science by assuming that he given full
eQuiva!en, for the money received.
He's just as well off as he would have
been if he rad gone to my neighbor over
tn, way, as he called him. said he to HIM
self, in the effort to quiet certain unpleasant
sensations. TO suppose that he was going
to get gold ring at such price. Does he
think We jewellers steal our gold? Men
will be humbugsed, and there is no help for
it,
Yet for al this, Mr.. Grant could not cast
out the unpleasant feeling. He had Gone a
so clearly wrong that no attempt at selfjus-
ll.icatioI gave his mind It's former Ca mness.
The ring is solid gold, said the man,
when he Game for it.
That was the contract, replied Mr. Grant
with halt offended air, at the iniimation
conveyed in the tone of voice, that all might