Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-07-05
CHII4DREN'S COLUMN.
Honesty is the Best
Policy.
BY REV. r. H. CRAIG.

Jamison, to his mother, as they sat a
supper in their humble, quiet home.
"Why, my son?'' said his mother
kindly, for she saw by his sad counte
nance that something was troubling his
mind very much; ''what is the reason
of that, Willie?''
ooh, nothing, Mother, only the bricks
are nearly all gone, there is but one LOT
left now, and they are to be taken away
in the morning. | feel really sorry to
think that l shall have nothing to do
through the winter, and then, of course,
there will be no more weekly wages COM
ing to our poor home."
"Well, my dear boy, You need not
distress wourself too much about that !;
l have no doubt but that some other
place will open up for yon in the win
ter, and | am certain that Mr.. Wood
will give you the same situation next
| spring, when their work commences.
| was talking to him few days ago, and
was glad and thankful to hear him
speak so well of you. He said that you
were in every way reliable, and that he
had found you perfectly honest. This is
what your mother always taught you,
my dear boy, and l am proud tonight
to have an honest son, though he may
he without q situation tomorrow even
ing"
| ayes, Mother, it is pleasant to be
honest, and to be we'll spoken of; but
then it looks to ME terrible thing to be
| idle, and | cannot bear the thought of
lying around home for six long months
| when ought to be working for you and
myself"
keep up heart, like man," kindly
answered his mother. 'sHow do YOU
think got along before you were ap-
! pointed to that Office? I had to trust in
God, and he brought me through; and
now .vou must do the very same, and he
will give yoa enough to do and content
| ment, too"
Poor Willie gave long. deep sigh,
| but answered not word; he had not
learned to commit his way to God as
4 confidently as his mother had, and could
| at present see nothing before him but a
long, idle winter, and that, in his esti-
nation, was a thing absolutely intoler-
able.
He had cheered up somewhat next
morning, however, and was promptly in
his place at the proper time. Engrossed
in checking the books and balancing the
different accounts, he had entirely for
gotten the dOleful prospects of the even
| ing before, when his employer sudden
| ly entered tie office, and. hastily OPEN
ing his poeket-book, said. ''Take this
ten. dollar bill, Willie, run to town as
quickly as you can, pay two dollars to
Smith, and three to Yonng, and bring
back the change to me in single bills.
L want to pay it out as soon as you re-
turn"
! And Willie, examining the money in
his pocket, without even looking at it,
snatched up his hat and was gone in the
| twinkling of All eye. He had almost
| reached town when it occurred to him
that he had not looked at the money,
and pulling it out at the moment what
was his surprise to find, instead of the
ten, hundred dollar bill. "Ah, he has
made a mistake; but it is no matter,
will take it down to the bank and then
carry back the change" murmured Will
lie to himself, as he replaced the valu-
able bill in his pocket, and walking the
faster with proud and dignified ster
at the recollection of having so much
money in his pocket, and then the hap
py thought flashed upon his mind that
he had one more opportunity before he
left the employment of Mr.. Wood to
show him that he was truly honest. He
had now reached the town, and was
walking down the principal street lead
ing to the bank, when he suddenly mel
a former school mate, Henry Edison
The boys were pleased to see each other
and Willie paused moment to speak t.
his old friend.
"Guess how much money have got,
whispered Willie, after a minutes con
versation.
'-I don't know" said Harry. "Hov
much ?"
ssOnly hundred dollarsr' proudl!
answered Willie.
F GAN your own? Has Mr.. Wood pai'
you off?''
ssNo, it's mistake :"-and Willie toll
, him how he came by SO much.
. Surely, you don't intend to return il
, do you?''
= "Of course don' promptly answere
Willie.
"But you say Mr.. Wood made a mis-
take when he gave you so much; if 81
> [ would keep the balance. He may thin
some one else got it, or perhaps he wi
, never miss it all !: and if he does you ca
: tell him that he must have given it t
+ some one else."
q "But it is not my money, Harry, an
! besides cannot tell him Il lie. He ofte
o gave me charge of more than this j
q the office, and l would not take a cer
q for all the world; and he knows tha
a too.''
"Then he will not suspect you; an
besides you tell me that this is your las
i day in his office. Itmay be good Ion
time before you get another situation
and longer time before you have
in youI.s power again to make ninet
dollars so easily. Mr.. Wood is ricl
and you are poor; and | think you al
u very foolish if you take it back
. him."
). Willie's pride was hurt a little at Il
u thought that he was "pOor," and |
promptly replied: cit is very true l ma
/ not get situation for 4 long time, but
= can't help that; and have not earn'
Is ninety dollars; besides am not so po
l. but can't get along. Mother and nj
Wood both think me honest, and wou
$ not deceive them for thousand dc
81 lars"
is 81 am sorry you are so foolish" Ha
u Try answered, with sarcastic smil
ie "You will probably regret your no
~ esty about Christmas, when you fiji
yourself without situation or a cen
ie Good bye"
Now, Harry was boy of seyentee
and more than three years Willie
senior, and ought to have known bette
=. but honesty does not always go by nc
os and knowing and doing are.two ditfere
of things.
VI Willie had the money changed at &
| Ddnk. up
=, carefully, and placed it an inside pock
!, ~ of his vest, and then walked off to ma
!. the required payments. No one else W
hc in the bank at the time, and the bank
~ le was not little surprised to see so SIN;
a boy with so much money, and W
~ lust half afraid that the lad helped hil
-, self from some mans drawer. vii
=, paid the bills to Smith and Young, n
~. was almost back again when, comi
''o round n curve of the road, he saw n
Wood driving toward him very fast.
"Willie." he called aloud as soon
he saw linn, "did you see anything
those two men who We're in my Ollie
little before you left?"
90 "No, sir; has there anything SO
all wrong?"
all eyes, enough is wrong; must hs
Wo given one of them hundred dollar |
Dy In mistake for u ten. | a,n sure | Il
on and If SO, am never likely To recciy,
oil back. They are both strangers to 1
&c and they have gone some time"
ies Willie knew the secret well, and W
nto an arch smile he quietly said:
en-, "Why, you gave me hundred dol
lio bill instead of ten," and pulling his |,
purse out of his inside pocket handed
the money with an air of triumph.