The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1868-01-30
The New York Clerk, or Honesty the
Best Policy.


4 young man, by the name of Amcs,
was clerk for merchant in New York,
aud was entrusted with bills of account
TO collect, which he performed honestly
so far as his employer could discover but
Mr. Smith-that was the name of the
mcrchant-was g very cautious man and
tftsn laid craps" to catch his clerks in
deiraudiug him, if any Of them were not
proof agsiust dishonesty. In this wsy he
ascertained which Of them could be trust
ed. aud when he found one to be dishon-
est, he would discharge him.
aIr. Smith kept a Wholesale and retail
dry goods store, doiug an immense busi
ness and after he had accumulated
fortune, and had begun to think of retir
ing from busidess, be said, "Now | am
soipg to give up my business to such Of
NV clerks as ! know TO be honest. | shall
test them one by one, and to morrow | an
going to see what Ames i,-an honest
young man, or rascal.
The next morning he called friend.
whose son was intimate with young Ames,
and arranged ''trap' to tess his honesty
A large number of accounts was given
him to collect that day, and Robert L
(Mr. Smiths friends SOM was to meet
him as if by accident, and propose to him
10 spend some of the money collected, for
nuts, oranges, ice cream, &c.
Well, Robert managed to meet Ames
just as be had completed his collections,
and had large roll of bills in his pock-
cts and "lots" of fractional currency,
when the following conversation ensued:
Rojert-"Good morning, Ames-been
out collecting? Got lots Of money, !
suppose ?"
Ames-''Yes, I've got over a thousand
.dollars, and | must hurry it back to the
store, as m afraid / may get robbed
One don't known who may be dogging
his steps, in such city as New York, to
rob him even in the Gay time"
R05crt-"Don't be in a hurry. Let's
90 into Taylor's and get some ice cream,
&c III pay the bill"
So into Taylor's they went and sat down
to a beautiful marble table.
Now. Ames." said Robert, "you have
q pocket full Of money, and [ am rather
short, just take dollar out Of the roll OF
'greenbacks, and pay the bill. Nobody
need know. ! on can turn over the money
To the cashier, and if be discovers it short
one dollar, you can say you cane account
for it-some mistake somewhere" Such |
errors occur often you know, and nobody
thinks one is dishonest. tell you, Auies, |
such chaps as you. don't get more than
half paid for their services, and it would |
not be wrong occasionally, to take q few
shillings, when it is done without being
detected. | know young fellow who
pays all his small bills, such as for fu-
leps, segars, and going to the theaters, in
that way, and has done so for years, and
his employer never suspected him of dis
honesty"
"No, sir" replied Ames." II cannot
comply with your request. A dollar short
IN my cash might be considered an error
and overlooked but there would come
settlement with my conscience, (which
could not be got over so easily. My faith
er used to say to me, johnny when you
grow up to be a man, remember that
honesty as the best policy He's dead
and gone now, but his words will never
be forgotten. l know | am working for
low wages, but | agreed to work for what
L receive, and l have no right to use my
employers money on that account. No,
Robert, ] refuse your request with scorn
and indignation ; | am, poor, thank God,
j have never yet taken money that did
not belong to NE, and | trust / never
shall; and if this is the way you seek to
turn young men from the path of recitude
i desire never TO meet you again"
4 MES then arose and left Rohsrt seat {
ed, and returned to the store.
The next day Mr.. Smith called his
clerks into his private Office, and told
them to be seated, They stared at each
other in wonder, one and all, expecting
to be discharged.
"Boys," said he, 81 am going to retire
from business. j have made fortune
here, and now | propose 80 loan my entire
stock in trade-some $3.50 600 in amount
and the good will Of my customers to
such of you as feel that | can trust |
have my own opinions on that score
Ames, StanteD, and Understanding a
document to Ames-here is bill of sale.
You will, if agreeable, take immediate
possession, aud payments may be made at
your convenience. l have tested yourl
honor, each OF you, no matter hole, and
have no doubt that you all believe thati !
'honesty as the best policy.' Good morn {
ing, gentlemen"-taking up bis hat-"I a
gish you prosperity in trade" In
Jlp firm of Amos Stanton & Danf fo.J i,