Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1871-12-14
Fireside Department.
Three Cents Worth of Con-
scious.


John said l to the waiter the
other morning. 81 am going to
makret, and shall buy q basket of
peaches: and 1 want you to pay for
them when they are sent to the
house"
On returning home, / inquired of
John if the peaches had been sent.
He said they had, and that he paid
the boy who brought them seven
shillings,which was the price he ask
ed.
Seven shillingsr / answered. /
engaged them for six, and / know
that the man whom / bought them
was not a man Of two prices. 1 am
afraid the boy who brought them
added the other shilling, that he
might make something for himself
A few days after, 1 told John the
same-that ! should send home a
basket of peachers, and l wished
him to pay for them. When 1 en-
gagged the peaches for six shillings,I
asked the man if he delivered them
free Of charge, and he answered, he
did, he kept a boy on purpose to
run errands. -rF ave
When l came home, / inquired of
John if the peaches and been sent.
He said they had. tAnd, what was
very curious, the boy said they were
six shillings and sixpence. l took
the basket in to empty it, and get
him the money, and, when 1 hand
ed him his changu,he gave me three
cents back, and said, Three cents
will do
Then you mean the other three
cents for yourself, ,do?' 1 said to him.
'Does not the man who sent you
here with the peaches pay your
Yes, he pays me little, but / al
ways like to get little more when l
cam
1 then said.
The boy who brought a basket
of peaches here the other day ask
ed shilling more than the price, 1
suppose, then, kept the extra shil-
ling for himself
'Oh, that is too muchr answered
the boy, feeling, undoubtedly, very
honest. Il won't take but three
cents"
All! dear children, that boys con-
science had been strugglin
with him all the way up the street,
nor did its voice cease even after he
had silenced it, and boldly demand
ed six shillings and sixpence forthe
peaches, instead Of six shillings.
How loudly must it have rebuked
him while John went in to get the
money and yet he made a bargain
with his conscience for three cents.
BE honest, be honestr said con-
science. "Your master pays you a
fair price for your work. Be con-
tented always with fair price, aud
never obtain penny dishonesty"
Other boys charge extra for their
errands, and make great deal in |
that way said George to himself |
"Why should not 1? No one will |
be any the wiser for it,
'.Have conscience of your own
George, answered the monitor with
in: never use another boys. Every
one must bear his own burden OIL
good or bad deeds at the last judg-
ment."
"Sixpence is very little for
Judge Parker to pay extra for his
peaches. He is rich man, but a
sixpence is of some importance to a
poor boy like me- argued George.
'Sixpence is small sum in the
hand, said conscience, but dishon
est sixpence is hundred pounds
weight upon the soul.' |
What fool 1 am,' said George,
TO hesitate about taking few pen-j
nies when l get chance. l shall
never be rich man at this rate
But conscience will not let him
rest here, but pleads and pleads for
honesty and truth. But George
feels now ashamed to deduct the
sixpence, and, as conscience still
pleads, he tries to quiet it for a sea-
by returning three cents,and laughs
at the goose of waiter as he call
ed him, for letting him have it at all
when he found out he intended |
keeping it himself. 5f
Children, George found it hard to |
obtain dishonesty the first cents:
but it will be easier for him the
next time, and the next time, and
the next, for, when the first tempta-
tlon is not strongly resisted, the
conscience becomes less earnest,and
It's voice less distinct.
Beware of the first wrong step.
Hhen the temptation comes, lift up
the prayer, Lord, held me- and the
great Hearer efprayer will give you
strength to resist, and keep YOU in
tue right way.-Weuspring.