The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1879-09-27

Two country lads came at an early hour
to country town, and arranging their
little stands, sat down to wait for c,lstom-
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 pleasi,re
his stores steadily decreasing, and an
equivalent in shining silver in his little
money cup. The last melon Law on Har-
ry's stand, when gentleman came by.
and placing his hand upon it, said:
aWhat fac, large melon What do
you ask for it, my boy ?''
THE melon is the last / have. sir: and
though it looks very fair, there is an un.
sound spot in 1t, said the boy, turning it
over.
$50 there is,n said the man; aI think I
will not take it. But" he added. looking
into the boys fine open countenance. dis
it very business like to point ont the de.
fects of your fruit to the customers p,
Tt is better than being dishonest said
the boy, modestly.
"Yon are right, little fellow; always re-
member that principle, and you will find
favor with God and man also. I shall re-.
member your little stand in the future.
Are those Holsters fresh ?n he continued,
turning to Ben Williams.
"Yes, sir, fresh this morning; I caught
them myself" was the reply, and a 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 / caught yesterday
G<,II &l,esx, fer fhx, r Il Il
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 ! have gained customer and you
have lost one.n
The next market day Ben and Harry
were on hand again, one with his fruit
and vegetables, the other with fish, lob
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.n
Il am going to be honest and trua, If
never make any morey." said Harry.
just then they espied their customer of
the preceding day approaching, accom-
panied by tall, dignifed, benevolent
ioOAtuS Ludu, Will gray uaiT anu wearing
gold spectacles, and carrying gold
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 p
"No. indeedi / bought some Holsters
of him, on his word that they were fresh,
and they were not fit to eat. This is the
honest boy lpointing 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 be
made his way by his faithfuIness 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 of
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 q
| day, will, in little while, have very few
left, and they will soon find him out and
| leave him.