Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-03-19
fur the Auute Cirfle.
nE1IVERANcE IN TEMPTATION.

DELIvERANCE IN TEMPTATION.
James was q clerk in New York bank
- He had been connected with it for som'
time. He was very faithful and skillful
. and was highly esteemed by the officers o
= the bank. One Saturday afternoon, at
time when alarge amount Of business, re
curing much writing, had accumulated
and it was very desirable to have it attend
led to at the earliest moment, the President
of the bank came to James and said,
81 want you to come down to the bank
tomorrow. We must get our work up
Of course, we shall be generous in our pay
for this extra work.
"But," said James, cit is the Sabbath
, tomorrow.
II know it," answered the president,
ssbut it is an extraordinary time; the work
must be done, and you must come to the
bank"
81 never work on the Sabbath" was the
answer.
"Of course, you do not usually; but this
must be an exception"
81 have been taught to honor the day,
and it would 90 against my conscience to
come to my desk tomorrow. am really
sorry to disoblige you, but couldnot con-
scientiously break the Sabbath. y
81 must insist upon my request, and if
you cannot grant it shall be obliged to
supply your place with another clerk, and
dismiss you from my service. shall do
this with reluctance, for YOU have been q
faithful young man."
think this man could not have believed
that the youth would stand firmly by his
principles. He wanted to gain his object,
and he did not stop to think Of the mean
ness and cruelty, as well as wickedness of
the course he was taking. He supposed
the young man would certainly yield, when
his failing to do SO would cost him his place.
What lesson James was enabled, by the
grace of God, to teach him!
But it was an iron gate. He had good
position. 1t might be very difficult to find
another.
A mother may have depended upon the
young mans salary for her support
Whittier could he turn? If he left the
bank, under these circumstances, the presi-
dent would not give him recommendation,
or permit him to use his name as a refer
ence. These thoughts must have passed
rapidly through his mind, as the gate SEEM
ed to close upon him. He offered silent
prayer and said,
II shall be sorry to lose my place. I do
mt know where I can find another: but
cannot break the Sabbath. I shall not en-
ter upon my work tomorrow, even if I lose
my position
every well," was the short, unfeeling
answer; II will hand you what is your due
up to tonight. We shall not require your
services at this bank any longer"
James went home somewhat despondent,
but still confident that he had done right.
1t was an uncommonly interesting Sabbath
upon which he entered the next day; for
to keep its hours sacred had cost him a
great price. He placed his case in the
hands of his heavenly Father, and patient
ly waited for the opening of his Providence.
But what an impression had been made
upon the mind of this president! What a
rebuke he had received! What an invalu-
able clerk, after all, he had lost! A man
so true to his God, would not be unfaithful
to his employers. His conscience troubled
him on account of his unhandsome conduct
towards his dependent clerk, as well as for
his readiness to break the commands OF
God. 1t was only few days after, that
he attended the meeting of the directors
of large, new bank, just ready to 60 into
operation. They met to elect cashier
The inquiry, around the board, was for
trustworthy man, as there had been so many
who had been unable to resist the tempta-
ton of appropriating the moneys coming
into their hands to their own uses. A
number of banks had suffered in this way.
Cashiers had fallen into dissipated habits,
and to meet the expenses of their dissolute
courses, had taken the funds of the banks.
These directors wanted man that they
could rely upon, if such an one could be
found, and they were ready to pay him a
high salary.
Now the president that had just dismiss
ed his clerk offered to name man. eff
they wished" he said, "a truly faithful and
capable young man, who would place hon
esty above wealth, and rather loose his
place than to sin against God, they could
not do better than to offer the position to
James" He then frankly told the story.
!. He assured them that James had no idea of
this recommendation. He had left the
bank rather than break the Sabbath, hav-
ing no other position in view. His noble
step, which at first had irritated him into
doing very unmanly thing, had fully con-
vinced him of the sterling honesty of his
character. The nomination was immedi-
ately and unanimously accepted, and to the
astonishment of James, the next morning
he received the offer of this high position
with large increase of salary. Thus,
without hands, when he stood before the
iron gate of temptation, having lifted up
his prayer for help from on high, it swung
wide open before him.-Seq'sel to Stories
from Life.
A SEVERE PuN1sHMENT.-A gentleman
had talk with wicked man. "You dc
not look as if you had prospered by your
wickedness," said the gentleman.
i 81 hau'n mt prospered at it, cried the man
feelingly. 1T is business that don't pay
If had given half the time and energy to
some honest calling which have spent in