The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1878-03-01
Jnckson's Conscientious Grocer.

A certain grocery firm in this city
had been missing little articles quite
frequently of late, and suspicion fixed
upon certain young man who visited
the store often, occasionally making
small purchases. They agreed to watch
him, one partner inside and ono outside.
One day last week the partner who was
watching from the outside pretended to
be reading newspaper, and, by look
ing over it, caught him in the act. The
inside partner collarcd him and led him
back to the rear.
"Now," said the merchant, "you
have been stealing from me for several
weeks, and want to know how much
| you think you owe me? he honest
about it; you have been both clerk and
customer"
The young man named the amount he
considered Justly due, and was anxious
to pay it.
The merchant said: "Well, sir, YOU
know the law don't allow man to steal,
and you must take your choice, to pay
me all you owe me and submit to a
whipping, or go the penitcntiary.
Which will you do? You are young
and may be reformed, and don't want
to disgrace you publicly, but feel that
L would do great wrong to let you go
without whipping to remind you of
it.n
The young man said he would pay up
but would like very much to have the
whipping omitted. The merchant in
vited him to walk down to the cellar
and see what fine stock was stored
there. When they reached the bottom
l,n n
said:
"You won't whip me, will your
The merchant said he certainly could
not do otherwise and satisfy his con-
| science.
"What are you going to whip me
with?'
"That piece of board" replied the
merchant, pointing to strip some three
inches wide.
"Buck yourself across that chicken
coop and I'll do my solemn duty, young
man. It's serious matter, and am
truly sorry to have to do it, but my con-
science requires it,"
The customers heard noise for about
minute that they mistook for some
one knocking the bung out of an empty
barrel, or splitting kindling. After ten
good, hearty strokes the merchant let
him up.
GLOW do you feel now, young man?'
81 feel very bad, sir; very sorry"
81, too; feel sorry and bad, and |
think you had better get down on your
knees and ask God to forgive You your
sins"
The young man made a feeling pray
er, and shed copious tears of repentance.
When he arose the merchant said,
GLOW do you feel nowW
"Awful," said the young man.
"TlIen, in order to impress this occa-
sion on your mind, and that YOU may
never forget the cause of it, Just bend
over that chicken coop again minute" )"
He bent over and the sound of split
ting stovcwood was heard again-ten
more.
Then when he got up he wanted to
cry, but the merchant insisted that il
was too serious case for that, and sug-
gestcd that he lead in prayer again. The
young man complied, and he had so
much improved in that style of compo-
sition that the merchant released him.
"Now," said he, "you are q young
man, you are respectable, and move in
respectable circles; you have kind and
honorable parents; this would disgrace
you and them if made public; you have
submitted to the chastisement and re-
pcnted; pay me what you owe, leave
off dishonesty, and I'll not molcst you."
lie went, but he hasn't paid the money
yet.-[From the Jackson (Miss.) Sun.