Clayton herald. (Clayton, Del.) 1867-1870, 1869-07-24


look honest. I wouldn't have believed
it of him."
Mr.. Carman had kind of way with
him which won the boys heart, and nat
urally tended to make him judge what
ever he might do in most favorable
manner.
az wish he had corrected that error"
he said TO himself great many times
when thinking in pleasant way of Mr..
Carman, and his own good fortune in
having been received into his employ
ment. at don't look right, but it may
be in the way Of business
One day he went to tho 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 thanked him,
and he returned to the store with the
consciousness in his mind of having
dons right.
1.-THE teller overpaid me fifty dollars
he said to MIR. Carman, as he handed
HIM the money.
"lndced," replied the latter, light
breaking over his countenance, 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.
80, gave him back the fifty dollars
Wasn't that right ?"
You simp!etonr' exclaimed Mr.
Carman, "don't you know that bank
mistakes are never corrected? If thC
teller had paid you fifty dollars short he
would not have made it right"
The warm blood mantled tho cheek 0
lanes uuler this rcprpof
tits often the case that more shame is
felt for n blunder than Il crime. IN thi:
instance he had felt a sort of mortilica
ton at having done what Mr., Cnrmar
was pleased 10 call n silly thing, and h,
made up his mind that if they should
ever overpay him thousand dollars at
the bank he should bring the amount tc
| tiiS dINi lCI MN w 10 III
pleased with the money.
Let people look after their own mis-
tulles." said Mr.. Carman.
James Lewis pondered these thing in
his heart. The impression they'madc
was never to be forgotten.
1t may be right" he said, but he
did not feel altogether satisfied.
A month after the occurrence of thai
bank mistake, as James counted over
his weekly wages just received from
Mr.. Carman, he discovered that he was
paid half dollar too much.
Tho first impulse of his mind was tC
return the half dollar TO his employer
and it was on his lips to say, " "You gave
me half dollar too much, sir" wher
the unfortunate words, "Let people
look after their own mistakes flashing
upon his thoughts, made him hesitate.
To hold parley with this evil is to be
overcome.
II must think about this" said Jamos
as he put the money in his pocket. 81
it is true in one case, it is true i'm anoth.
er. Mr.. Carman don't correct mistake:
that people make in his favor, and hC
can't complnin when the rulo works
against himself.'
But the boy was very far from being
in comfortable state. lie felt that tc
keep half dollar would be a 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.. Carman had on
ly Leen trying him, and he was fillec
with anxiety and alarm.
Not long after, Mr.. Carman repeated
the same mistake. James kept the hal
dollar with less hesitation.
" Let him correct his. own mistakes, >
said he, resolutely; "that's the doctrine
he acts on with other people, and hC
can't complain if he gets paid in the
Same coin he puts in circulation. jus
wanted half dollar"
From this time the fine moral sense o
James Lewis was blunted. He had talk
en- 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 qualifica-
tiors, and so pleased Mr.. Carman by his
intelligence, industry, and tact with sue
toners, that he advanced him rapidly
and gave him before he was eighteen
years of age, the most reliable position
in the store. But James had learned
something more from his employer than
how to do business we'll. He had learn.
ed to be dishonest. He had never for
gotten the first lesson he had received in
this bad science, he had acted not only
in two instances, but in hundred, and
almost always to the injury of Mr.. Car
man. lie had long since given up wait
ing for mistakes to be made in his favor,
but originated them in the varied and