The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-08-12
Selstt Storu.
UNF0RGOTTEN WORDS.

Have you examined the bill, james,"
"Ycs, sir"
Anything wroug?"
| tind two errors"
"Ah, let me see"
The lad handed his employer a long
bill that had been placed on his desk
for examination.
Here is an error in the calculation
of ten dollars, which they have made
against themselves, and another of ten
dollars in the footing"
Also against themselves ?"
"Yes, sir"
The merchant smiled in a way that
struck the lad as peculiar.
Twenty dollars against themselves, "
he remarked in kind of pleasant sur.
prise. "Trusty clerks they must have" "
Shall | correct the figures 7"
No, let them correct their own mis-.
takes. We don't examine bills for 9th
er peoples benefit" replied the mer.
chant. at will be time to rectify those
errors when they find them out. All
SO much gain as it now stands"
The boys delicate moral sense was
shocked at so unexpected q remark
lie was the son of poor widow, who
had given him to understand that to be
just was the duty Of man.
Mr.. Carman, the merchant in whose
employment he had been for only few
months, was an old friend of his father,
and person in whom he reposed the
highest confidence. In fact James had
always looked upon him as kind Of
model man; aud when Mr. Carman
agreed to take him in his store, he felt
that great fortune was 10 his way.
"Let them correct their own mis-.
takes"
These words made a strong impres.
sion on the mind of James Lewis When
first spoken by Mr.. Carnlan, and with
the meaning then involved, he felt, as
we have said, shocked but as he turn.
ed them over again in his thoughts, and
connected their utterance with person
who stood so high in his mothers esti.
nation, he began to think that perhaps
the thing was fair enough in business.
Mr.. Carman was hardly the man to do
wrong.
A few days after James had cxamiu.
ed the bill, clerk from the house by
which it had been rendered, called for
settlement. The lad, who was present,
waited to see whether Mr.. Carman
would speak Of the error. But he made
no remark. A check for the amount of
the bill as rendered, was filed up and
u receipt taken.
!" Is that right I" james asked him.
sell the question. His moral sense said
no; but the fact that Mr.. Carman had
done SO bewildered his mind.
1t may be the way in business" so
he thought to himself-"but it don't
look honest. | wouldn't have believed
it of him."
Mr.. Carman had kind Of way with
him which won the boys heart, and
naturally tended to make him Judge
what ever he might do in most favor.
able manner.
81 wish he had corrected that error
he said to himself great many times
when thinking ip pleasant way Of Mr..
oarman, and his own good fortune in
having been received into his employ.
ment. at don't look right, but il may
be in the way of business"
One day he went to the bank and
drew the money on check. In count.
ing it over he found that the teller had
paid him fifty dollars too much, so he
went back to the counter and told him
OF his mistake. The teller thauk ed him.
aud be returned to the store with the
Consciousness in his mind Of having
done right.
"The teller overpaid me fifty dollars"
he said to Mr.. Carman, as he handed
him the money.
Indeed" replied the latter, a light
breaking over his couutenance, and he
hastily counted the bank bills. The
light faded as the last bill left his finger.
There's no mistake, James,"
A tone of disappointment was in his
voice. &4
20, gave bin back the fifty dollars.
Wasn't that right ~ : "
"You simpletou Y exclaimed Mr..
Carman, "don't you know that bank
mistakes are never correctedf IL the
teller had paid yoa City dollars short he
would not have made it right. I'll
The warm blood mantled the cheek
Of James qnder this reproof.
1t is often the case that more shame
IL foit fn, n bl,,,dor tI,, . cr;o.. T..