The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-02-23


Ofcourse, he for the moment forgot
all about the borrowed quarter. Con-
scious of "good intentions" he felt no
anxiety about the matter.
"Isn't it too bad, Will, that our new
cook, who makes such nice cake and pie,
is not honest, and mammals got to dis
charge her ?" said his sister Jennie the
next morning
Yes, it is pity. What has she
taken?'
"Not very much; but, as mamma says,
it shows that her principles are not good.
She or some fairy Qor there was not a
person but her in the room from the
time you went there until mamma went
in and discovered it) took quarter out
of Aunt Mary's room. You put the
change on her bureau2'
:" Yes, on a little blue mat"
THAT was where saw it, said Mrs.
Farnham.
Then it was lucky for your purse,
Aunt Mary, said Will, with a laugh,
that had borrowed quarter of you,
or you would be fifty cents poorer instead
of twenty-five
What do you mean? lent you no
quarter y was. the surprised reply.
No. but borrowed it.
Did you then lay but one quarter on
the bureau ?" asked his mother.
Eyes, ma am l borrowed the other. "
COIL" exclaimed Mrs. Farnham, with
sigh of relief. There the cook is not
dishonest and have unjustly suspected
her"
81 am very sorry that did not ex-
plain sooner" said Will, earnestly.
so you ought to be But suppose
you explain now" interposed his father,
a little sternly.
And VIII told the whole story; adding,
"You see, Aunt Mary, didn't know
that grandma was going away, and I
thought could get the money at once. "
oh, it is all right. You were well
Il disagree with you, Mary exclaim-
ed Mr.. Farnham quickly. 81 think
there is a great principle at stake, and
that WIZ did not do. right. There is
but one step, one very little STEP between
borrowing thing without its owners
permission and stealing"
20 papa" cried Jennie, Mortified at
the word, "our Will wouldn't stealI'
81 sincerely hope and firmly believe
that he would not; but no one can tell
what he may do under strong temptation.
The clerk who borrows his employer
funds fully intends to restore them. Yet
how often we read of clerk or cashier
involving himself beyond recall, just by
borrowing few thousands to speculate
with. l once knew gentleman, highly
educated and very intelligent, whom l
would have trusted with my whole for
tune, such implicit confidence did 1 and
all who knew him have in his thorough
invested in real estate, and felt himself
honest Gas our Will did) when he bor-
rowed less sum from his employers
funds to invest in some stock that was
sure to sell at high price Even if he
lost all, he knew he could repay it in a
day or two, long before his employer
needed it. Unluckily, he did not lose
So he borrowed again, and won and
yet again. And so On, until one fine
morning the tables turned, and he lost
lost seven thousand dollars''
Poor man what did he do?'
What could he do? He confessed
his dishonesty, but he could not make
restitution. So he was sent to State
prisol. and died there, overcome with
humiliation and contrition You see,
Will, what an honest man may be led
into by borrowing another's goods with
out permission"
Father, 1 am very sorry 1 did it,
felt SO sure of being able to pay it at
oncel But l can understand now why
you say there is snch little step between
borrowing without leave and stealing.
o mamma, did you accuse cook?"
No, 1 only suspected her. I waited
to be very sure.
There it is, Will You came very
near being an innocent cause of great
injustice to cook and of great trouble to
your mother. 1t is easy to commit an
apparently trifing fault but difficult,
nay, impossible, to foresee what calamities
may result from it. Abstain from all
appearance of evil, is good motto for
boys as well as men. - Christian Register.
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