Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-28
Did He Te,I lie.

powers.
Did He Tell n Lie?
The following story has run
through three generations, and has
been located at almost every large
seaport on both sides of the Allan
tic, but it will bear occasional rep
etition:
There was a merchant ship owner
of Liverpool "a Quaker, who prided
himself on his unimpeached and
unimpeachable honesty. He would
not have told a downright false
hood to save the value of his best
ship. Jacob suffered one of his
best ships TO set sail from Calcutta
for home without any insurance
upon either vessel or cargo. At
length he became uneasy. He was
confident his ship had encountered
bad weather, and he feared for her
safety. In this strait he went to
his friend Isaac. He called him
friend, though l am under the inn
preston that Isaac was one Of the
children Of Israel.
4" Friend Isaac," he said, 81
would like thee to insure my ship
which is at sea. ! should have
done it before, but have carelessly
neglected it. If thee canst have
the policy signed, all ready for de,
livery, at 3 o'clock on the after
noon of the morrow, / will send
and get it, and send thee the money
in full"
Isaac did not seem to be anxious
to insure the ship, but being assured
that no unfavorable intelligence
had been heard from her, he said hC
would have the policy made out tC
take effect on and after 8 o'clocl
the following day, but to cover th'
ship and cargo eeaafgg from the date of he
leaving India.
Early on the following morning
Jacob received message from thl
hand of a captain just arrived, t.
the effect that his ship was stranded
and her cargo lost. This was very
unfortunate. Should friend Isaac
happen TO hear the news before The
policy was made out he would moi
make it at all; or, if it was made
out and not signed, he would mo-
sign it. What would he do? HI
wanted to act honestly. 1t woulC
not be right to let Isaac 90 anG
make out that policy under such
circumstances. Finally he hit upon
a plan. He summoned his conf.
dental clerk and sent him with thi.
message:
"Tell friend Isaac that l have
heard from my ship, and if the
policy is not signed he need moi
sign it."
The clock was close upon the
stroke of three when the clerk ar.
rived. Friend Jacobs message wa,
delivered. The ship had beer
heard from, and if the policy was
not yet signed he need not sign it.
81 think | am in season to save
it" the clerk said.
"No, sir" Isaac answered prompt
ly and emphatically. Now, in truth,
the policy of the insurance had not
been signed, for the insurer had
been in doubt; but when he heard
the message be judged at once that
the ship was safe, and that Jacob
sought to save the heavy item ol
premium he had agreed to pay.
"No, sir" he said; "you are not
in time. 1t is past 3 o'clock; the
policy is signed. will go and get
it."
He slipped out aud hastily fn-
ished and signed the policy, and,
having dried the ink, he brought il
to the clerk, demanding in return
the sum which had been agreed
upon. The money was paid and
the policy was taken home to Friend
Jacob, who received it very gladly.
The end can easily be imagined,
and it is not difficult to Judge which
of the two felt most sore over the
matter.