Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1869-02-20

the lad felt sort OF modification nj bay
ing done what Mr.. Carman was pleased
TO cal u silly thing, and he made up hi.
mind that If they should ever oysrpay
him thousand dollars at the bank he
should bring the amount TO his emnIovcr
aud let him do as he pleased with tho
money,
Tet people look after their own mis-
takes" said Mr.. Carman.
James Lewis pondered those things in
his heart. The impression they mad,
was too strong ever to be forgotten. "It
MAY be right" he said, but lie did moi
feel altogether satisfied
A month or two after the occurrence
of the bank mistake, James counted over
his weekly wages, just received from Mr..
Carman, he discovered that lac was paid
half dollar too much.
The first impulse of his mind was to
return the half dollar TO his omplover.
and it was on his lips to say, "You have
given Inc half dollar too much, sir
when the urforgotten words, "Let peo-
pie look after their ewn mistakes" fash
ing upon his thoughts, made him hcsi-
tate. To hold parley with evil is to be
overcome.
81 must think about this" said James.
as he put the money into his pocket.
eff it is true in one case it is true i'm an
other. Mr.. Carman don't correct mis-
takes tfat people make in his favor, and
he can't complain when the rule works
against himself"
But the boy was far from being in n
comfortable state. He felt that to keep
half dollar would be dishonest act.
Still he could not ma ke 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 suddenly
into his head that Mr.. Carman had only
been trying him, and he was filled with
anxiety and ;.larm.
Not long after Mr.. Carman repeated
the same mistake. James kept the hall
dollar with less h,stitation.
'Let him correct his own mistakes"
said he, resolutcly; "lhat's the doctrine
he acts OH with other people, and he
can't complain if he gets paid back in
the same coin he puts in circulation.
just wanted half dollar"
From this time the fine moral sense of
danes Lewis was blunted. lie had taken
dn evil cOtinsclor into his heart, stimulated
q spirit of covctousmess-latsnt in almost
every mind-which caused him to desire
the possession Of things beyond his ability
to obtain.
James had good business qualifications,
and so pleased Mr.. Carman by his intclli-
gence, industry, and tact with customers,
that he advanced him rapidly, and gave
him, bo.ore lie was eighteen years old,
the most reliable position in the store.
But James had learned something more
from his employer than how to do bust
ness well. lie had learned to he dishon-
est. He had never forgotten the first
lesson he had received in this bad sci.
encc; he had acted not only in two in
s'anccs, but in i hundred, and always to
the injury of Mr.. Carman. lie had long
since given up waiting for mistakes TO he
made III his favor, but originated them
IL the varied and complicated transac-
tions of large business in which he was
trusted implicitly; for it had never oc-
cured to MIR. Carman that his failure to
be jn TO the letter might prove a snare
to this young man.
James grew sharp, cunning and skill
ful; always on the alert, always bright
and ready TO meet any approaches TO-
ward discovery of his wrong doing bv
his employer, who hold HIM in the highest
regard.
Thus it went on until James W as in his
twentieth year, when the merchant had
his spspicions aroused by letter which
spoke OF the young man as not keeping
The most respectable company, and as
spending money too freely for clerk on
a moderate salary.
Beforc this time James had removed
ils mother into pleasant house, for
which he paid rent of four hundred
tollars his salary was eight hundred,
'ut he deceived his mother by telling her
t was fifteen hundred. Every comfort
hat she needed was fully supplied, and
'he was beginning to think that after
ong and ainful struggle with the world
Ter happier days had come.
James was at his desk when the letter
vas received by Mr. Carman Ile look
ID at his employer and saw.him change
suddenly. He read it over
vice, and James saw that the contents
produced disturbance. Mr.. Carman
glanced toward the desk, and their eyes
net 1t was only for moment, but tho
ook that James received made his heart
top Boating.
There was something about the move
nents of Mr. Carman for the rest of the
lay that troubled the young man. 1t
vas plain to him that suspicion had been
reused by that letter. o, how bitterly
'ow did no repent, in dread of discovery
md punishment, the evil OF which he
ad been guilty! Exposure would dis
race and ruin mm, and bow the head of
lis widowed mother even to the grave.
''You are not well this evening"" said !
hrs. Lewis, as she looked at her sons
hanged face across the table, and notic-
d that he did not eat.
"My head aches"
"Perhaps the tea will make you feel
etter."
"Pll lie down on the sofa in the parlor
Or short time"
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