The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-10-08

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would be thong ht sufficient to justify me in
/ Immediately dismissing ou from my service.
But you are a very young man your con-
duct has, l believe, been hitherto perfectly
correct, and am willing to afford you an
| opportunity of redeeming the past. All
knowledge of this matter rests between our
| selves. CandidlY confess therefore, the er-
ror Of which you have been guilty; restore
what you have so dishonesty taken: en-
deavor by your future good conduct to de
serve my confidence and respect, and this cir
cumstance shall neyertranspire toinjure you
''The poor fellow was deeply affected. In
voice almost inarticulate with emotion he
acknowledged his guilt, and said that, hay
ing frequently seen me receive the money
without counting it, on being trusted with it
himself the idea had flashed across his mind
that he might easily abstract some without
incuTring suspicion, or at all events without
there being sufficient evidence to justify it /;
that being in distress, the temptation had
proved stronger than his power of resistance
and he had Welded
81 cannot now he continued, prove how
deeply your fOrbearance has touched NE /:
time alone can show that it has not been
misplaced lie left me to resume his duties.
''Days, weeks and months passed away,
during which scrutinized his conduct with
the greatest anxiety, while at the same time
1 carefully guarded against any appearance
of suspicious watchfulneSs, and with delight
l observed that so far my experiment had
succeeded. The greatest regularity and at
tention--the utmost devotion to my interests
marked his business habits, and this with
out display for his quiet and humble de
pertinent was from that time remarkable.
"At length, finding his conduct invariably
marked by the utmost opennesS and plain
dealing. my confidence in him was so far re-
stored that, on n vacancy occurring in a sit
uation of greater trust and emolument than
the one he had hitherto filed, I placed him
in it, and never had 1 the slightest reason to
repent of the part had acted toward him
Not only had the pleasure of rejecting that
had, in all probability, saved fellow-crea-
tare from 4 continued course of vice and
consequent misery, and afforded him the op
portunity of becoming respectable and use
ful member of society, but had gained for
my self an indefatigable servant-a faithful
and constant friend. For years he served me
with the greatest fidelity and devotion. His
, character for rigid, nay even scrupulous hon
esty, was so well known that 'as honest as
Smith became proverb among his acquaint-
ances. One morning missed him from his
accustomed place, and upon inquiry learned
thai lie was detained at home by indiSposi-
tion. Several days elapsed, and still he was
absent and upon calling at his house to in
quire after him, found the family in great
distress on his account. His complaint had
proved typhus fever of a malignant kind.
From almost the commencement of his attack
he had as his wife (fOr he had been some
time married) informed me, lain in state of
total UncOnsciousness, from which he had
reused only to the rawlings of delirium, and
that the physician gave little hope of his re-
coyery. For some days he continued in the
same state at length a message was brought
me, saying that Mr. Smith wished to see me,
the messenger adding that Mrs. Smith hoped
l would come as soon as possible, for she
feared her husband was dying. 1 immedi-
ately obeyed the summons.
'On entering his chamber ! found the
whole Of his family assembled to take fare
well of him they so tenderly loved. As soon
as he perceived me, he motiOned for me tC
approach near to him, and taking my hand
in both of his, he turned towards me his dy
ing countenance, full Of gratitude and affec
ton, and said, My dearest master, my bes
earthly friend, l have sent for you, that
may give you the thanks and blessing of G
dying man for all your goodness to me. To
your generosity and mercy | owe it that
leave to my children name unsullied 10y
crime, that in after years the blush of shame
shall never tinge their cheeks at the memory
of their father oh Cod he continued
thou who hast meted unto others, do thoJ
mete unto him. Then turning to his family
he said My beloved wife and children,
entrust you without fear to the care of thai
Heavenly parent who hast said, Leave the
fatherless children unto me, and ] will pre-
serve them alive, and let thy widows trust il
me-" And You, my dear master, will know
be to them as you have to me-a guide, pro
tector and friend That continued the ol,
man, looking on us with glistening eyes
though mixed with sorrow, was one of IT,
happiest moments of my life. As ] stood b!
the bedside of the dying man. and locke,
around upon his children growing up yirtu
Gus, intelligent and upright, respecting anC
honoring, as much as they loved, their faith
er; when ! saw his wife, though overcOm
with grief for the loss of a tender and believe,
husband, yet sorrowing not as one withou
hope, but even in that moment of agony de
irving comfort in the belief that she shoul,
meet him again in that world where
"Adeus and farewells are a sound unknowa-
, when | listened to his fervent expression o
gratitude, and saw him calmly awaiting tn
inevitable stroke, trusting in the mercy o
God, and at peace with his fellow men an,
when / thought what the reverse of all thi
= might have been-crime, misery, disgrace
full and diShcnoTed life, perhaps a shameful
4 and violent death, had / yielded to the frs
: impulses of III lignation, / felt happines
which no words can express. We are toll
E that there is more joy among the angels @
5 God over one sinner that repenteth than owe
Z ninety and nine just persons that need II
T repentance. With such a joy as we may III
agine theirs did / rejoice over poor Smith, a
I l closed his eyes, and heard the a.tendaT
, minister in fervent tones, eXcaim, 'Blessc
, are the dead that die in the Lord yea, salt
D the Spirit, for they rest from their labOrs an
: their works DO follow them
I "My friends, am an old man. During
[ long and eventful career in business l hay
had intercourse with almost every variety
o temper and disposition, and with many 1t
grees of talent, but have never found re.
son to swerve from the princip e with which
: set out in life, to'jemper justice with mercy.
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