The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-05-02


Perhaps he thought it paid to cheat his
employer; but possibly his views on
that subject would be changed on the
following day. Mr.. Osgood was very
indignant, and justly so.
That evening, while the merchant
was vainly endeavoring to crowd this
affair from his mind, and trying to fix
his attention on his paper, there came
q ring at the door-bell, and shortly af.
ter the servant ushered the clerk into
the presence of his employer. The lat.
ter, by strong effort, controlled his
feelings, and greeted him as pleasantly
as he could, directing him TO be seated,
curious to know what had brought him
there at that time.
"Shal1 we be alOne?" asked the clerk,
soberly.
"Then. sir, l will disclose my errand
here" said he, nervously. "For about
nine months before You engaged me
was out of employment, and after
spending all my money was obliged to
borrow money ut different times,
amounting in all to over fifty dollars,
in order to get along. Since then,
have been able to save very little, and
! the debt has been on my mind con.
stantly. l could not bear to be indebt.
ed to anyone, and could see no means
of paying it. This morning Mr.. Blair
came in and paid his note. This after.
noon l commenced to tell you of the
fact, and was about to hand you the
money, when you told me of his note.
and now you did not expect ever to be
paid. Then you asked me what
would give for the note. l knew you
meant it for a jest, but was tempt.
ed. In an instant l saw how could
manage it, and l yielded. 1 bought
the note of you, when l had the seventy
five dollars and half in my pocket,
that belonged to you by right! But
when was alone, and thought it all
over, l began to realize what l had
done.
Il think l never did anything DELHI
erately mean or dishonest before, and
l saw this was dishonest, for had
cheated you out of fifty dollars. ItOok
out the money and counted it over; but
it did not satisfy me. 1t came over me
more and more that I could not keep it;
that must undo the wrong had done;
that the knowledge of having cheated
you would be more uncomfortable than
being in debt. 1t was to clear up the
debt that I wanted the money.
"Then l began to plan how to set the
matter right. The idea came into my
head to make over the note to you in
the morning, pretending that l dared
not risk my money on it; and in a day
or two, give you your money as if it
had just been paid. But l saw that
such course would lead me deeper and
deeper into deceit, and after much un-
happy thinking, concluded to tell you
the whole, as l have done. Of course
do not expect to remain in your employ
any longer; and cannot ask you for a
recommendation; but it will be my own
fault. Here is the money. Good night,
sir, and good byc.'' And he turned to-
ward the door.
Hold. Georger' exclaimed Mr.. Os-
good, with some emotion.
"Come back here and sit down. I've
got something to say to YOU"
He obeyed, wondering.
"You did wrong, George" continued
his employer, kindly, all his resentment
having vanished. "But l presume
you would not have done 80 had not
unconsciously tempted you. You have
given me the money and disclosed the
whole affair, expecting to lose your sit
uation and thereby your means of liv-
ing. The fact of your confessing it so
soon strengthens my confidence in you.
On my way home this afternoon dis
covered that the note had been paid to
you, and had fully decided to
discharge you in disgrace tomorrow,
and should have done so had you not
done as you have this evening. Take
your place in the counting-room as
usual. Your salary shall be made suf-
ficient for your needs"
The clerks heart was light again as
he walked home The merchant kept
his word; the increase of salary enabled
George to pay his debt speedily. But
he never desired to repeat the expert
ment of appropriating another mans
money for his own needs.-C. Il. Hiq-
gins, tn Chicago Standard.