Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1865-05-25
One Kind of EmbezzIement.


company. twas morning and they were on their
way to business. Perkins was a youag man-per-
haps eight-and-twenty and Tower approach
Ing the middle age.
sAh." said Perkins. in tone of fretfulpcss,
"thcre comes Matthew Baldwin
| The person thus alluded to was at that moment
crossing the street. end as he reached the sidewalk
he stoppedn front of our friends. He was rough
clad, brown faced man, with frank, open counte-
lance, and he earned his bread by hard work from
day to day. y.s,1 - N@-&s
"Good morning. said Matthew Baldwin.
| Perkins and Tower returned the saIutaton.
! mir. Perkins," pursued the laborng man, with
a show of nervousness in his manner, "could you
make 1t convenient to let me have a little money
this morning7" rst
| 81 declare. Matthew, you have hit me in n most
unfortunate time" replied John Perkins laughing.
| His laugh was a business laugh.
81 am sorry, SIR" said the laboring man; "the
bill u only eight dollars, and need the money
very much II you could contrivc to sIare me
| "No, no, hold on a few days, Matthew, AMI YOU
shall. have the whole ~ H. have not got it now.
II don't see you whenI have it., I'll send it to
you."
Matthew Baldwin turned awav with a reluctant
step. and the two friends pursued their way
z Poor Matthew is disappointed, >, remarked Tower.
"Yes, suppose so,' responded Perkins.
81 had half a mind 20 lend you the money for
him."
"Oh have the money, but it makes no differ
ence." replied Perkins
"But, John. you surely would not keep the poor
man out of his money, if you could raise it for
him."
al don't like to pay myself short" was Perkins,
reply.
Sas Tower believed he knew hi' friends fault,
al think" he said in a careful considerate way.
"that you could have paid Matthew Baldwin eight
dollars. If you had SO wished Am I right'"
"If had wished to pay away all the money
had with me, suppose ] could. But don't like
TO do that"
"Why notl"
"Why not!' repeated Perkins, with elevated
brows. "Why. because l like to have a little
money by me-"
"For what1"
"For what's the echo. "Why. there mi cht
be thousand things for which might need mon
ey."
"And for what can you need money more than
to pay an honest debt to htrdworkinr, needy
mani Now, John, YOU must pardon me il speak
plainly"
rGo ahead" cried Perkins. with a light laugh.
"Then here il is," continued Slas Tower; ''f
Won had eight dollars in your pocket when Mat
thew Baldwin asked you to pty him that sum, the
money really belonged TO him. lie had worked
for it, and YOU had received the full value of his
keep that money than you have to embczzle a
like amount"
upon my life, Silas. you pat il strong; but |
don't see it. Do YOU like to be without money? -
mo, but would rather be without money than
to be in debt
"Do you mean to say that you would have paid
away your last dollar had YOU been in nv place a
few minutes ago7"
Cert iinly wouli, AMI why should wish to
keep III II have money in nv pocket which is
not already appropriated | use it to supply my
wants"
"And to meet emergencies" suggested Perkins.
"Yes, To meet emergencies" admitted Tower.
'And what greater emergency can arise than the
coming ri srch an application rs Baldwin made to
youl When friend wants to borrow money os
me, am apt to consider NV own convenience
first. but when man comes TO me for money
which owe him. piv il il have it in nv posses
sion. In the first place, the money is really and
truly his, and only have it in kecping for him.
Matthew Baldwin is poor min, working ,rd to
support himself and family: and when you hired
him, you know how he needed epay for work
| from day TO dly--or at least from week 10 week.
When he had done his work You owed him eight
dollars; ami YOU hld eight doar in your pocket,
the sum was his, not yours; and when he asked
YOU for it AMI You told him you coull not piy il.
you were acting out whit should call one kird of
emhczzlcment.''
John Perkins laughed.
"And," pursued Tower, taking no notice of the
interruption, "thcre ia another reason why you
should have paid him the money, even lift took
your last penny. You should have done IL for your
own good While MN is in debt he cannot
afford TO waste money; he needs to save il he CAR
ries money Just for the sake of spending it. Now
mark me. John, and see if do not speak the truth
&c YOU had made it the fixed rule of your life to
pay yoar debts soon as they were due, YOU would
never be spending money that yours.
This determination. put in Practice, would free YOU
from all embarrassment, and lead You into the con.
hlcnce of your fellows. In short. the nun who
never gets into debt or who, il debt must come,
holds the iquiiating of that debt as of tho chief
est necessity, will be pretty prosper; and,
in the end, be will not be likely to be called on to
ply away his last dollar. And now nv dear fel-
low. II you want nv advice, can give it to you"
| "Go ahcad.'
"Do you co b,ck and pay Matthew Baldwin wha,
you owe him. Go now, before you go to your work
Ii it takes the last dollar, go and do It. Or if YOU
have but eight dollars, 20 and tell him so, and ask
him 10 divide with YOU"
IL guess 1 must think of il awhile" said Per
| kns with an ther laugh
AT all events" added Tower "vou will allow
me to speak with you again on the subject1"
i "Cerfainly." III .#llaf3
At this juncture the two friends separated, Tow.
er going to lris store. while Perkins pursued his
"a' W VIC HftNtHuc siioD Wnefe ne earneu Two
dollars and a half a day. This was Monday
| morning.
On Tuesday morning, John Perkins saw Mat
thew Baldwin in the str .et, and he avoided him
shrank down narrow ly-way, so as not to NEE,
his poor creditor.
On Wednesday morning, John Perkins saw
Matthew Baldwin again; but he was not forced to
dodge out OF the way, for this time the poor labor
ing man was standing at the door Of physicians
Office.
On Thursday morning, rs John Perkins was 60.
ing to his work. he saw in the street ahead Of him
Matthew Baldwin and Silas Tower engaged in con-
versation. Directly Baldwin crossed the street and
went away. while Tower waited for Perkins to
come up. TIE two frien l. shook hands AMI pass
cd the compliments of the morning
"Poor Baldwin is in trouble" said Tower, as
\ they walked on.
"Ah. how so7'' asked Perkins 'f'E
"His wife is very sick--has been sick for over a
week; and two Of his children are down with the
Idptheria One of them, the doctor thinks. will
die Poor feliowI pity him. What with the nurs-
res to hire. and medicine to bay. and provssi ms
of all kinds so high, he finds ithard to get along
4 lent him FIVE dollars this. morning, or rather
paid him in advance for some work he has promised
70 do for me-"
John Perkins seemed little nervous
"By the way pursued Tower, after they had
walked on a lttic way in silence, shave you paid
Bald win that eight dollars yetl" ..,
| "No--I haven't replied John reluctantly.
"Have you money enough with you topay itr