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

amount to his employer, and let him do
as he pleased with the money.
Let people look after their own mis-.
takes" said Mr.. Carman.
James Lewis poudered these things
in his heart. The impression they made
was never to be forgotten.
1t may be right" he said, but he
did not feel altogether satisfied.
A month alter the occurrence of that
bank mistake, US James counted over
his weekly wages just received from
Mr.. Carman, he discovered that he was
paid half dollar too much.
The first impulse Of his mind was to
return the half dollar to his employer,
and it was on his lips to say, You gave
me half dollar too much, SIR" when
the unfortunate words, "I.et people
look after their own mistakes" flashing
upon his thoughts, made him hesitate.
To hold parley with this evil is to
be overcome.
"Imustthink about this" said James,
as be put the money in his pocket. "lf
it is true in one case, it is true in anoth.
er. Mr.. Carmau don't CORRECT mistakes
that people make in his favor, and he
cant complain when the rule works
against himself"
But the boy was very far from being
in comfortable state He felt that to
keep half dollar would be dishonest
act. Still he could not make up his
mind to return it, at least not then.
james did not return the half dollar,
but spent it for his own qualification
After he had done this it came sudden.
ly in his head that Mr. Cnrman had
only been trying him, aud he was filled
with anxiety and alarm.
Not long after, Mr.. Carman repeated
the same mistake. james kept the half
dollar with less hesitation.
"Let him correct his own mistakes"
said he, resolutely; that's the doctrine
he acts on with other people, aud he
cant complain if he gets paid in the
same coin he puts in circulation. / Just
wanted half dollar.
From this time the fine moral sense
of James Lewis was bluntad He had
taken an evil counsellor into his heart.
stimulated spirit Of covetousness-la
tent in almost every mind-which caus.
ed him to desire the possession of things
beyond his ability to obtain.
james had good business qialifica.
tions, and SO pleased Mr.. Carman by his
intelligence, industry, and tact with
customers, that he advanced him rapid.
ly, and gave him before he was eighteen
years Of age, the most reliable position
in the store. But James had learned
something more fron his employer than
how to do business we'll. He had leaan.
cd to be dishonest. He had never for.
gotten the first lesson he had received
in this bad science, he had acted not
ouly in two instances, but in hundred,
aud almost always to the injury of Mr..
Carman. He had long since given up
waiting for mistakes to be made in his
favor, but originated them in the varied
and complicated transactions in which
he was trusted implicitly, for it had
never occurred to Mr.. Carman that his
failure to be just to the letter might
prove snare to this young man.
James grew sharp, cunning, and
skillful; always on the alert; always
bright and ready to meet any approach.
es toward discovery Of his wrong doing
by his employer, who held him in the
highest regard.
Thus it went on until James was in
his twentieth year, when the merchant
had his suspicious aroused by letter
that spoke Of the young man as not
keeping the most respectable company,
as spending money too freely for clerk
on moderate salary.
Before this time James had removed
his mother into a pleasant house, for
which be paid rent Of four hundred
dollars, his salary was eight hundred,
but he deceived his mother by telling
her it was fifteen hundred. Every
comfort that she needed was fully sup.
piled, and she was beginning to feel that
after q long and painful struggle with
the world her happier days had come.
james was at his desk when the let.
ter was received by Mr.. Carmau. He
looked at his employer and saw him
change countenance suddenly. He
read it over twice, and james saw that
the contents produced disturbance. Mr..
Carman glanced toward the desk, and
their eyes met; it was only for a mo-
ment, but the look that james received
made his heart stop beating.
There was something about the move.
mepts of Mr.. Carman for the rest of
the day that troubled the young man.
1t was plain to him that spspiciop had
been aroused by that letter. o, how
bitterly now did he repent in dread Of
discovery and punishment, the evil Of
which he had been guilty.
"You are not well this evening""
said Mrs. Lewis, as she looked at her
sons changed face across the tea table.
any head aches."
"Perhaps the tea win make you feel
better.
"I'll lie down on the sofa in the par.
lor for short time"
Mrs. Lewis followed him into the
parlor in little while, and sitting down
on the sofa on which ho was lying,
placed her hand upon his head. The
touch of that pure hand increased the
pain to agony,
"Do you feol betteri" asked Mrs.
Lewis. He had remained sometime
with her hand on his forehead. ="
"Not much" he replied, and rising
as he spoke he added, II think walk