The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1873-07-02
MtslisteIIaneons. q



and patience arc euro TO be re-
wardcd, moro forcibly than that
great moral lesson could be i'm
pressed on our minds by II didatl-
cal discourse.
John Hetternan was q poor boy
when ho entered tho establish
ment Of Messrs. Goldsticlxs Il Mon
eybags; but he brought with him a
certificate from his Sunday school
teacher, saying that he was IN
honest lad, who could learn moro
verses and forget them quicllc..
than any othcr boy in tho class.
His employers were obliged to
test his honesty in various ways,
but he stood the test nobly.
When Mr.. Monoybags saw him
pick up pin from the floor he
was sweeping, he thought that
John might be guilty Of taking
things, and dropped ten cont
shinplastcr in tho same place; but
John honestly swept it out with
out noticing it and brushed it into
n corner, where he could pick it
up at his leisure. Then Mr.. Money.
bags ovcrpaid him his weekly sti-
pend by 81, and waited to SEQ
what the boy would do. At the
dead hour ofnight tho Moncybags
household was aroused by the flu
rious ringing of the bell. The old
gentleman put on his dressing
gown and descended to the door,
whero he found John Hoffcrnan
with tear in his oyc and a dollar
bill in his right hand. John de-
clared that he could not rest in
his virtuous couch, after discover
ing tho mistake, until il was rccti.
fed.
"Why didn't you keep it ?" ask
cd Mr.. Moneybags. IL would not
have known that ! had over paid
you."
"Kccpit?" exclaimed John. "IIit-
Ito do you Of the precepts that
were instillcd into my youthful
breast by my sainted grandmother.
Butt confess the temptation was
strong one. l was saving mon.
ey to buy II bible for my widowed
mother, and accumulated tho sum
of fifteen cents. With this dollar
l could have completed tho pnr.
chase, and | admit that 1 looked
ut it with longing eyes. But hon
esty triumphcd ovor temptation,
and virtue is its own reward"
"Koop the dollar for your hon.
csty," said the benevolent old gcn.
tlcman. "Buy your Bible, and DO
happy. would ask you to mar
ry my daughter, and would take
you into partnership in the usual
way; but it happens that my
daughters aro all sons, and you
must excuse me for tho present"
John went home, his heart swell.
ling with the consciousness of hav.
ing done his duty and made dol
lar clear. Tho next day ho invest
cd that money in a chucIsalucle
outfit Of tho bcnightcd young
heathcn in the next alley.
Young Hoffsrnon was then pro-
NOTED to desk, and Il fivc dollar
bill was once placed tcmptingly
within his reach; but John was Sc
euro in his honesty, and wasn't
certain that the b...l was n good ono.
Then ho was put in charge Of the
bank deposits and his character
for honesty was established.
One day when he was going to
tho bank, he looked at the ticket
rs usual aud discovered that he
was tho bearer Of $45, 900 in cur.
rency. Ho then know that tho
timo had como for honesty and pa.
tienco to be rewarded, and ho stuff
cd the bills into his pocket and
took tho first train for tho west.
Ho is now one of tho most promi-
ncnt residents Of tho Pacific Slope,
whore he hns already bought q
country seat on the coast, and OK.
poets to buy seat in tho Senate.
Bnt he still preserves tho chucka-
luck outfit that gave him his start
in life, and points with pride to the
bank ticket, which proves to his
childron that virtue is it's own re.