Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1877-04-05
can be honest in little things who can.
not be so in great matters"

not be 80 in great matters.'
"When he had grown up to be a
young man of seventeen his father
sent him away two hundred miles from
home to attend school. He never had
been in so large city before, and.
having arrived by night, was anxious
next morning to see the splendors of
the city. Walking along a crowded
street, imagine his surprise to see at
his foot a large, well-filled purse. He
picked it up very quickly and succeed
ed in putting it into his pocket without
being noticed.'
"Did he want to keep it," inter.
ruped Arthur.
"Wait, my son, and you shall hear
the end. He feared some persons
might claim it who had no better right
to it than himself. But,after putting it
in his pocket, he walked several times
along the same street, backward and
forward, to see if anyone would seem
to have lost it !; but, no one appearing.
he went to school with the purse in
his pocket
"Then, suppose, he was free to
keep it." remarked Arthur.
$50 thought young man at the
school, to whom he communicated the
fact, and of whom he sought counsel.
That friend assured him that he was
perfectly justifiable in using the $3.50
which the purse contained in promot.
ing his education; 'besides,' said he,
the owner was probably some rich per-
son, and would never miss it, But,
said this honest boy, suppose the own
er be very poor, or clerk merely car.
rying the money for his employer, and
suppose he lose his situation on ac-
count of this misfortune? That is
and if it should be even so, you would
not be responsible for his fault when
you would know nothing of it, But
to keep myself in willful ignorance of
what is right, in order to excuse N.Y.
self in doing wrong, would itself be as
great if not a greater sin. think it is
my duty to try and find the owner even
| though it cost me some trouble to do
so. If he thinks it is right Of me to
keep the purse 1 am content 1T is
possible to be Over-honest,' said his
| friend, 'and think you are so just
now. If you need the money as much
as do you would not hesitate to look
upon it as providentially sent your
way Being in need does not make
| it right to keep it. I would rather
! possess clear conscience and fear.
less heart than get all the money in
| the city by unlawful MEANS The
schoolmate was greatly disgusted with
his scrupulousness and walked off, say
ing something about his seeing the
day he would be glad he had kept the
money. Next morning his surprise
was great to see in the
daily paper a description of the purse
he had found, with a promise that
the finder would be well rewarded on
returning it.
Did he return it?" asked Arthur.
:Certainly he did
"Probably he was rich and did not
want it much, !" thought Arthur.
"He was just the opposite. He had
buta few dollars in his pocket at the
time, and it took him.
self and his father doing their best
to pay his way at school. / need not
tell you how much he was thought of
and how kindly treated by the family.
During all his time at school he was
welcome as one of their own children
and the kindness and attention shown
to him were worth far more than $3.50.
Then he saw the providence. This
purse introduction made him intimate
with good family, which proved a
great blessing to him.
Ibid he become great man?' ask.
ed Arthur.
"He did not become wealthy man,
though that is the usual test of great.
ness; but he possessed the riches of a
good name and an approving con-
science; these are better than any sum
of money. lie lives now and is honor.
ed by all who know him. His truth
fulness is equal to his honesty, so that
even the most tritlirg promise
which he makes is looked upon as sa-
cred, and never left unfu!(illed'