The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-02-09
C0NSCIENTIOUSNESS.

CONSCIENTIOUSNESS.
John Winters sat at his desk. 1t was
haf-past five o'clock in the afternoon,
and he was supposed to leave off work
at six. But, in fact, he had already
left off; for, though he remained on his
seat, and even occasionally dipped his
pen in the ink, he had not written a
word for the last ten minutes. No one
was in the office but himself on this oc-
casion. So no one was watching John,
and he whistled softly to himself. Then,
with his pen, he idly drew some comic
figures on his waste paper. Then he
laid his head on his hands, feeling al
most inclined to go to sleep. And so
the time was idled away until, looking
at the clock, he saw with delight that
it was ten minutes to six So he cot
off the stool and closed the books for
the day, and locked them up. Having
done that, he did what, if he We're alone
at this time, he never omitted doing
ne looked carefully about the floor.
He found, lying among scraps of
paper, two bits of lead pencil, which he
carefully put into his own pocket He
also found three envelopes, which he
put into his pocket-book. Then he
searched again upon the floor and found
eight postage-stamps, and these also he
pocketed.
Was that right? l am sure you will
all decide that it was very wrong, in
deed.
Then John presented himself before
the manager. 'Shall be wanted again
this evening, STRIP
"No, Winters, think not; good
evening""
Good evening, SIR
John went down the street. Presently
he was accosted by a boy who lived near
him.
John, have you one or two good
lead pencils to sell?'
Eyes, have two bits" said John,
taking the pieces from his pocket.
GLOW much are they?''
81 want penny for the two.'
"DO you? Why, can get plenty of
lead pencils, whole and new, for half
penny each"
"Well, you shall have three envel-
opes as well, and am sure that alto
gether it is capital pennyworth.
"You will have to be a tradesman,
John, you know so well how to do bust
ness" said the boy as he gave John the
penny and received in exchange the
envelopes and pieces of pencil.
John went on until he saw boy who
was living away from his friends and
often wrote letters. ..#
DAN" said John, 81 have found
some postage-stamps; will you buy
them?''
"How many are there?''
Eight; and will let you have them
for sixpence." .
Every weI' ....... ...
The exchange was made at once and
Dan went on. But a lad who had
Witnessed the transaction stopped to
speak to John. LAD.
John, he said, gently, ''perhaps
you will say it is no business of mine,
but | cannot help thinking that you find
Il good many things"
"Well, what if do?" said John, feel
ing his face grow rather red.
"Why, John, don't want to make
you cross, but it seems strange that you
should find so many more things than
other people, hope you do honestly
find Them
''What do you mean?'' said John,
angrily 81 never offer to sell q thing
which | have not really found.n
But if you find it on the ground of
your employers premises it belongs to
him and not to you; and think it is
dishonest to take itn
do you mean to say that am a
theft" ......t ......'..
No, leave that for you to decide.
But if your conscience tells you that it
is not perfectly honest, leave off doing
it, John. 1t would be such pity for
you to be spoiled for the want of con-
scientiousness.n I.....-
Charles Norman spoke so frankly and
yet so gently that John could not speak
violently in return. As for John, he
looked as he felt, thoroughly uncomfort-
able. He hung his head, for he did not
care to meet the eyes of his friend.
That evening Johns mother noticed
that he was very quiet and thought he
was unusually tired. So she boiled
new-laid egg and put it before him.
"Here is treat for you, my boy"
she said. Never mind being tired.
Every one who does his work c0nscien-
tiously must be weary sometimes, but
you will feel better after you have had
your tea"
John felt as if he did not deserve the
egg, but he ate it and then went out
:" | am going across the fields for q
wall 1npthar ~ ha oaiI