The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-10-03
The Young Merchants.

Two country lads came at an early houl
to a country town, and arranging thell
flittle stands, sat down to wait for custom.
ers. One was furnished with fruit and
vegetables Of the boys own cultivation
and the other supplied with Holsters and
fish. The market hours passed along, and
| each little merchant saw with pleasure
his stores steadily decreasing, and an
equivalent in shining silver in his little
money cup. The last melon lay on Har-
ry's stand, when gentleman came by,
and placing his hand upon it, said:
"What fine, large melon! What do
you ask for it, my boy ?"
"The melon is the last I have, sir; and
though it looks very fair, there is an un-
sound spot in it," said the boy, turning it
over.
$50 there is," said the man; ST think l
will not take it. But" he added, looking
it very business like to point out the de-
fects of your fruit to the customers ?"
"It is better than being dishonest" said
the boy, modestly.
"You are right, little fellow; always re-
member that principle, and you will find
favor with God and man also. / shall re-
member your little stand in the future.
Are those Holsters fresh ?' he continued,
turning to Ben Williams.
eyes, sir, fresh this morning; I caught
them myself" was the reply, and pur-
chase being made, the gentleman went
away.
"Harry, what fool you were to show
the gentleman that spot in the melon.
Now you can take it home for your pains,
or throw it away. How much wiser is he
about those Holsters l caught yesterday
Sold them for the same price | did the
fresh ones. He would never have looked
at the melon until he had gone away"
"Ben, would not tell lie, or act one,
either, for twice what earned this morn.
ing. Besides / shall be better off in the
end, for I have gained customer and you
have lost one."
The next market day Ben and Harry
were on hand again, one with his fruit
sters, etc.
Harry" said Ben, "don't be such fool
to-day as you was last time. Let custo-
mers find out the bad spots themselves.
You'll never make any money that way"
II am going to be honest and true, if
never make any money" said Harry.
just then they espied their customer of
the preceding day approaching, accom-
panied by tall, dignifed, benevolent
looking man, with gray hair and wearing
gold spectacles, and carrying gold-headed
cane.
"These are the boys,'' said the custo-
mer as they drew near the boys stand.
(Which is the honest one," said the
benevolent looking man. ''This one ?"
"No, indeed! 1 bought some Holsters
of him, on his word that they were fresh,
and they were not fit to eat. This is the
honest boy (pointing to Harry, and he
shows it in his face"
The upshot of this affair was that Harry
was then and there engaged to be Office
boy in the First National Bank, and he
made his way by his faithfulness and hon.
esty. from Office boy to cashier, and is
now filling that position at salary Of
$4,000 year.
All boys cannot become cashiers ot
banks and make lots of money, but they
can all grow up to be useful, honored
citizens, respected by all, which alone is
reward enough.
Ben is a poor, worthless, drunken
hanger. on at the market still, and there
is no prospect of anything better for him
in the future. A man who by lying and
cheating, drives away one customer a
day, will, in little while, have very few
left, and they will soon find him out and