The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1881-05-26

But mother ours Alone"
.~Lippineotts Magazine.
THE FIRST OFFENSE.
In the cheerful dining room of my
bachelor friend Stevenson select party
was assembled to celebrate his birthday.
A very animated discussion had been
carried on for some time as to whether
the first deviation from integrity should
be treated with severity or leniency
Various were the opinions aud numerous
the arguments brought forth to support
them. The majority appeared to lean
to the side of "crush all offenses in the
bud, when waru1-hearted gentleman
exclaimed:
"Depend upon 1t, more young people
are lost to society from a first offense
being treated with injudicious severity
than from the contrary extreme. Not
that would pass over even the slightest
deviation from integrity either in word
or deed-that would certainly be mis-
taken kindness. But, on the other
hand, neither would l punish with Sc
verify an offense committed, perhaps,
under the influence of temptation, too,
that we ourselves may have thoughtless.
ly placed in the way, in such manner
as to render it irresistible. For in
stance, lady requires servant; the
girl has hitherto borne good character,
but it is her first place; her honesty has
never yet been put to the test. Her
mistress, without thinking Of the temp
tations to which she is exposing fel-
low-creature, is in the habit of leaving
small sums of money, generally in cop
pers, lying about in her sitting-room.
After q while she begins to think that
these sums are not always found exactly
as she left them. Suspicion falls on the
girl, whose duty it is to clean the room
every morning. Her mistress, however,
thinks she will be quite convinced be-
fore she brings forward her accu-
sation. She counts the money care
fully at night, and the next morn
ing some is missing. No one has
been in the room but the girl her
guilt is evident. Well, what does her
mistress do? Why, she turns the girl
out Cf the house at all hours notice;
cannot, in conscience, give her charac-
ter; tells all her friends how dreadfully
distressed she is; declares there is moth.
ing but ingratitude to meet with among
servants; laments over the depravity OF
human nature, and never dreams Of
blaming herself for her wicked-yes, it is
Observation-Disclosures in thus con.
stantly exposing to temptation young,
ignorant girl; ole, most likely, whose
mind, if not enveloped in total darkness,
has only an imperfect twilight knowl-
edge, whereby to distinguish right from
wrong. At whose door, ask" contin-
ued he, growing warmer, twill the sin
lie if that girl sink into the lowest depths
of sin and misery? Why, at the door Of
her who, after placing temptation in her
very path, turned her into the pitiless
world, deprived OF that which constitut-
cd her only means OF obtaining her hon
est livelihood--her character; and that
without one effort to reclaim her; with
out affording single opportunity of re.
trieving the past, and regaining, by fu-
lure good conduct, the confidence OF
her employer"
"There is, I fear, too much truth in
what you say," remarked our benevolent
host, who had hitherto taken no part in
the conversation; "and it reminds me
Of q circumstance that occurred in the
earlier part of my life, which, as it may
serve to illustrate the subject you have
been discussing, will relate"
There was a general movement of at-
tention, for it was q well-known fact that
no manufacturer in the town was sur
rounded with SO many old and faithful
servants as our friend Stevenson.
"ln the outset of my business career"
said he, II took into my employment a
young man to fill the situation of under
clerk; and, according to rule which I
had laid down, whenever a stranger en-
tered my service his duties were Of
nature to involve as little responsibility
as possible, until a sufficient time had
elapsed to form correct estimate of his
character. This young man, whom I
shall call Smith, was of respectable
family. He had lost his father, and had
mother and sisters in some way de-
pendent upon him. After he had been
short time in my employment it hap
pened that my confidential clerk, whose
duty it was to receive the money from
the bank for the payment Of wages, be-
ing prevented by an unforeseen circum-
stance from attending at the proper
time, sent the sum required by Smith.
Ny confidence was so great in my head
clerk, who had been long known to me,
that was not in the habit of regularly
counting the money when brought to
me; but, as on this occasion it had
passed through other hands, I thought