Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1877-04-05
The Honest Boy Makes the Honest Man.

care all these stories true, that We
read in papers, of poor boys who were
very honest and good and then became
great menu asked Master Arthur For
syth of his father as he finished read
ing story in a religious paper.
swell, my son, replied Mr.. Forsyth,
"that is rather comprehensive ques
tion, and requires more than know
to answer but 1 can assure you that
a good many of them are quite true.
Besides, do not see why they may not
be true and there is nothing inconsis-
tent in an honest boys getting along
in the world better than a dishonest
one, any more than it is expected that
an industrious scholar will learn more
at school than a lazy, idle one. In
deed, l have known boys who bore
just such a character as those of whom
you read. One in particular remcm-
ber, who was a noOle example of hon.
esty."
"Well, papa, won't you tell me about
him Z" said Arthur cit satisfies me
so much more when know that it is
true.'
"This, can assure you, is true for
I was myself witness of many instan-
ces of his honesty. lie was a school.
mate of mine when I was a boy, and
remember him making diligent inqui-
ry to find the owner Of a top which he
had found on the playground, and
when he knew the loser returned it
to him with great satisfaction"
"But papa,'' SAID Arthur, that was
not much honesty
"How much more honesty would you
want him to have He had enough for
tho occasion, and that was to find the
owner and give up plaything which
he had found and might have kept to
himself. Besides, it shows the good
principle which he cultivated even
when a child. On one occasion
he went into a statiOners, to purchase
some pens, and when he got home he
found that The man had given him a
penny too much in change ; he went
back the very next day and returned
the penny.
"That was very little; besides, the
man might never have missed it, said
Arthur.
II think it was a great deal; and
suppose it had never been missed, it
might have proved the commence.
ment of dishonest course to the
young man, encouraging covetousness
and leading to theft; do you not think
stealing is dishonest On another oc-
casion, having made a purchase, after
he left the store, in large city where
he was perfect stranger, he found
that one of the bills received in change
was a good deal larger than was in.
tended. He had got away some dis
tance and was in haste, but took pains
to walk back and return the money
"And what good did it do him 2
asked Arthur.
"Why, it did him great good to hear
one clerk say TO another who was pres
ent, That IS an honest boy Once
he found two dollars on the floor of q
Large store ; no one saw him pick il
up; but that was no matter to thi:
truly honest boy. He carried the
money to the desk to see if it belonged
there. They thought not, but he Left
it, saying he would call again, and. il
they had not found the owner hi
would claim it,
"Did they find the owner!" inquired
Il Arthur.
'No; no one claimed it,
''Then he got it, of course, said Ar
thur.
"No; he asked for it, but the cashier
said they must have lost it themselves
J and refused to give it up"
''That WASH t very honest in the cash
ier," said Arthur.
"Not very; but he acted as hOnestl.
, as a great many persons do who TAX
t to themselves credit for being strict
ly honest. When travelling in a rail
way car, on one occasion, the cOnduct0
, Overlooked him in taking up the tick
{ ets."
i. "Then he could travel on the sam
!. ticket again." interrupted Arthur.
$50 he could. if he had not bee
0 honest but he chose rather to han
D over his ticket as he stepped off tn
;. ca=."
z "Well in order to act honestly, mus
J, one give up his ticket whether aske
;, for it or not !" inquired Arthur.
e IF he never travels on that ticke
8 again, nor gives it to anyone else t
use, then it may make no differenc
;. whether he gives it up or not; but
d he uses it again he is simply takin
= twice as much as he has paid for, an
that is not honest
j.. "But shall rather hear Of his d,
d ing something that would be re,
81 u