Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1875-03-27
BUTTER TUr er:


pleased way, of Mr.. Carman, an'
his own good fortune in havini
been received into his employment
"It don't look right, but may be it,
the way Of business"
One day he went to the bank an,
drew the money for check. II
counting it over he found that tn.
teller had paid him fifty dollars tot
much. SO he went back to th'
counter and told him of his mistake
The teller thanked him, and he re
turned to the store with the con
seriousness of having done right.
"The teller overpaid me fifty dol
lars" he said to Mr.. Carman as h'
handed him the money.
"Indeed," replied the latter, :
light breaking over his counte
nance; and he hastily counted tn,
bank bills.
The light faded as the last bill
left his fingers.
"These's no mistake, James," A
tone of disappointment was in his
voice.
"Oh, l gave him back the fifty
dollars. Wasn't that right :"
"You simpleton y exclaimed Mr..
Carman, "don't you know that bank
mistakes are never corrected II
the teller had paid you fifty dollars
short he would not have made ii
right
The warm blood stained the
cheeks Of James under the repr oof.
1t is ofen the case that more shame
is felt for blunder than crime.
In this instance the lad felt a sort
of modification at having done
what Mr.. Carman was pleased to
call silly thing; and he made up
his mind that if they should over
pay him a thousand dollars at the
bank, he would bring the amount
to his employer, and let him do as
he pleased with the money.
"Let people look after their own
Mistakes" said Mr.. Carman.
James Lewis pondered these
things in his heart. The impressions
they made were too strong ever to
be forgotten, "It may be right,'
he said, but he did not feel altogeth-
er satisfied.
A month or two after the occur
renee of that bank mistake,as James
counted over his weekly wages, just
received from Mr.. Carman, he dis
covered that he was paid half a dol
lar too much. The first impulse of
his mind was to return the half dol
lar to his employer, and it was on
his lips to say, "You have given
me half a dollar too much, sir" when
the unforgotten words, "Let people
look after their own mistakes,"
flashing upon his thoughts, made
him hesitate. To hold parley with
evil is to be overcome.
III must think about this" said
James, as he put the money in his
pocket. eff it is true in one case,
it is in another. Mr.. Carman don't
correct mistakes that people make
in his favor. and he can't complain
when the rule works against him
self"
But the boy was very far from be.
ing in comfortable state. He felt
that to keep half dollar would be
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 graft
fcation. After he had done this it
came suddenly into his head that
Mr.. Carman had only ,been trying
him, and lie was filed with anxiety
and alarm.
Not long after that Mr.. Carman
repeated the same mistake. James
kept the half dollar with less hesi-
tatiOn.
"Let him correct his own mis-
takes" said he resolutely; "that's
the doctrine he acts on with other
people, and he can't complain if he
gets paid In the same coin he puts
in circulation. 4 just wanted half
dollar"