The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-07-16
The Young Merchants.

Two country lads came at an early hour
to a market town, and arranging their little
stands, sat down to wait for customers. One
was furnished with fruits and vegetables OF
the boys own cultivation, and the other
supplied with Holsters and fish. The mar
ket hours passed along, and each little mer-
chant saw with pleasure his stores steadily
decreasing, and an equivalent in silver
shining in his little money-cup. The last
melon Law on Harry's stand, when a gentle
man 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 l have, sir; and
though it looks very fair, there is an un-
sound spot in it, said the boy, turning it
over.
so there is" said the man: Il think I will
not take it, But" he added, looking into
the boys fine open countenance, sis it very
business-like to point out the defects OF
your fruit to the customers"
1T is better than being dishonest" said
| the boy modestly.
"You are right, little fellow; always re-
member that principle, and you will find IA
vor with God and man also. shall
remember your little stand in the future"
Are those Holsters fresh?" he continued,
turning to Ben Williams.
L
them myself" was the reply, and a purchase
being made, the gentleman went away. g
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 | caught yesterday?
Sold them for the same price l did the fresh
ones He would never have looked at the
melon until he had gone away"
s.Ben, I would not tell lie, or act one
either, for twice what / have earned thi:
morning. Besides, l shall be better off in
the end; for l have gained customer ano
you have lost one"
The next market day Ben and Harry
were on hand again, one with his fruit ane
vegetables, the other with fish, Holsters
etc.
..Harrv," said Ben, "don't be such foo
to-day as YOU was last time. Let customer
find out the bad spots themselves. You'll
never make any money that way.
81 am going to be honest and true, If
never make any money" said Harry. Jus
then they espied their customer of the pre-
ceding day approaching, accompanied by
tall dignifed, benevolent looking man, wit
gray hair, and wearing gold spectacles an
3 carving a gold-headed cane.
i ssThese are the boys" said the customer a
they drew near the boys stands.
(Which is the honest one, said the be
nevolent-looking man, this one?'
mo, indeed / bought some HOLSTERS {
s him, ON his word that they were fresh, an
s they were not fit to eat. This is the hone.
e boy (pointing to Harry, and he shows it /
: his face"
= The upshot of this affair was that Harr
= was then and there engaged to be office DC
n in the First National bank, and he mac
IS his way, by his faithfulness and honest
n from office boy to cashier and is now fililr
e that position at salary of $4,000 year
IS Ali boys cannot become cashiers of bank
c. and make lots of money, but they can 9
< grow up to be useful, honored citizens, T
- spected by all, which alone is rewa
a enough.
i; IS Ben is poor, worthless, drunken hange
1 on at the markets, still. and there is
,e prospect for anything better for him in t
is future. A man Who by lying and cheatin
a. drives away one customer a day, will in
~ little while have very few left and they W
soon find him out and leave him.