The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1870-02-02
The Now York Clerlx,
OR HONESTY THE BEST POLICY.

AmcS was u clerk Tor II merchant
in Now York, and was entrusted
with tho bills Of account TO collect,
which service ho performed hon
cstly 30 fur rs his employer could
discover, but Mr. Smith, CHAT WAS
tho name OF tho morchnnt,) was II
very cautious man, and oltcn Iaid
"trnps" to catch his cIorks in do
trauding him. Somo Of them
wcro not proof against dishonesty.
In this way asccrlaincd which OF
them could DO trusted, and WHOM
TIC found ono Of them to 10 dishon-
cst, he would discharge him.
Mr.. Smith kept wholcsaIe and
rotail dry goods store, doing an
immense business; and after ho
had accumulated II fortune, and
had began to think OF retiring
from business, ho said "Now am
going TO give mp my business To
such Of my clerks rs know to TIC
honest. / shall test them ono by
one, and tomorrow | am going to
sec what Amcs is -:.n honest
young man, VNa rascal.
The next morning he callrd on
II friend whose son was intimate
with young Amcs, and arranged
u strap to Test his honesty. 4
large number Of accounts wore to
| bc given TO him to collect that
day, and Robert E-------, (Mr.
Smiths friends son. WAS To meet
him us if by accident, and propose
to him to spend some OF tho mon
cy collected, for nuts, oranges, leo
cream, DC.
"Wcll, Robert managed to mcct
Amcs just as ho had completed
his collections, aud had IL large
roll Of bills in his pocket, and lots
OF fractional currency" when tho
following conversation cnsucd:
Robcrt-"Good morning Amcs,
boon out collccting2 Got lots Of
money, l suppose :"
Amcs-"Ycs, Two got over II
thousand dollars, and / must hur-
ry back to the storo, I'm atraid |
may get robbed. Ono donLlinow
who may bo dogging his steps in
such IL city rs Now York TO rob
him, even in day time"
RobcrJ-"Don't bo in hurry.
Lots 80 into Taylor's and get
some icc.crcam, &c. III pay tho
bill"
So into Taylor's thoy wont, and
sat down to II beautiful marble tn
bio. "Now Amcs," snid Robert,
"you have pocket full Of money,
aud l Mn rather short, Just tako n
dollar out Of that roll Of grcon
backs and pay tho bill. Nobody
need know it. You can turn over
your money to tho cashicr, and if
ho discovers it short one dollar
you can say you emit account for
it---somo mistake somcwhcrc.-
Such errors otton occur, aud no.
body thinks ono dishonest. | tell
you Amcs, such chaps nsyou dou'L
get half paid for their services,
and it would not DO wrong, occ:.-
sionaIly, to tako II few shiIIings,
when il can't DO detected. know
a young fellow who pays all his
small bills, such as for ,iulcps, ci-
gars and going to tho theatres, in
that way, and has douo 80 for
years, and his employer never sus-
pccLcd him Of his honesty. Come
pay the bill this time, and I'll pay
tho next ono"
"No, sir" replied Amcs, ri can
not comply with your rcqucst.-
a dollar short in my cash might
DC considered an error and over.
looked but there would como u
settlement with my conscience
which could not bo got over 80
easily. My father used to say to
nc, Johnny, when you grow up
to be II man, remember that hon
osty is tho best policy lies dead
and gono now, but his words will
never be forgotten. / know am
working"tor low wages, but l a.
grccd to work for what [ receive,
and / havo no right to rccoivo my
employers money on that account.
No, Robert, [ refuse your request
with scorn and indignation; / am
poor, / know, but thank God
have never taken money that did
not belong TO mo, and | trust !
mover shall and If tins is tho way
you sock to turn young mon from
tho path Of rcctitudc, | dosiro nov
or to moot you again"
Amos then roso and loft Robert
seated, and returned to tho store.
Tho ncxt day Mr.. Smith called
his clorts into his private Office
and told thom to DO seated. They
stared at each othcr in wondor,
expecting one and all to bo dis
charged.
"Boys," ST.. ho, "I am going to
rctiro from b.sincss. / havo made
fortune horo, and now propose
to loan my entire stock in Trade
somc $3.50, 900 in amount--apd tho
goodwill Of my customers, TO such
Of x.n,t % I flint n,,,l e., al J., 80 7 <,..