Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1881-02-05


In the cheerful dining-ro0m 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 was the opinions and arguments
brought forward to support them. The
majority appeared to lean to the side70f
Crush all OffenseS in the bud" when
warm-hearted gentlemen exclaimed:
depend upon it, more young people
are lost to society from a first Otfense
being treated witht injudiciOus
severity thansfrOm the contrary extreme.
NOtithat would pass over even the
slightest deviation from integrity either
in word or deed; that would certainly be
mistaken kindness. But on the other
hand neither would punish with sever
ity an Offense committed, perhaps, under
the influence of temptatiOn-tem
too that we ourselves may have thought
lessly placed i'm the way, in such manner
as to render it irresistible. For instance,
a lady requires servant; the girl has
hitherto born a good character, but 1T is
her first place; her honesty has never yet
:. been put to the test. Her mistress, with
Outthinking of the temptations to which
she is exposing fellOw-creature, is in
the habit of leaving small sums of money
generally in cOppers, lying about in her
sitting room. After while she begins
to think that these sums are not always
found exactly as she left them. Suspic-
ion falls on the girl, whose duty it is to
clean the room every morning. Her mis-
tress, however, thinks she will be quite
convinced before she brings forward her
accusations. She counts the money care
full at night. and the next morning
some is missing. No one has been in
the room but the girl, her guilt is evil
dent. Well. what does the mistress do?
WHY, she turns the girl out of the house
at an hours notice; cannot, in conscience,
give her character; tells all her friends
how dreadfully distressed she is;declares
there is nothing but ingratitude to meet
with among servants; laments over the
depravlty of human nature; and never
dreams of blaming herself for her wick
ed-yes, it is wicked thOughtlessness in
thus constantly exposing to temptation
a young, ignorant, girl; one, most likely,
whose mind, if not envelOped in total
darkness, has only an imperfect twilight
knowledge, whereby to distinguish right
from wrong. At whose door, ask" con-
tinued he, growing warmer, will the
sin lie If that girl sink into the lowest
depths of vice and misery? Why, at the
door of her who, after placing tempta-
ton in her very path, turned her into
the pitiless world, deprived of that which
constituted her only means of obtaining
her honest livelihood character, and
xAo% off 70 0Iofy har
without affOrding single opportunity
of retrieving the past, and regaining by
future good conduct the confidence of
her employer"
There is, / fear, too much truth in
) what. you saw" remarked our benevolent
host, who had hitherto taken no part in
the conversations; land it reminds me of
circumstance that occurred in the earl
Ter 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
fentiOn;. for it was well-knOwn fact
that no MANUFACTURER in the town was
surrounded with so many old and faithful
servants as our friend Stevenson.
"In the outset of my business career
said he, Il took into my employment a
young man to fill the situation of under
CLERK; and according to a rule which
had laid down, whenever a stranger en-.
tered my service, his duties were of a
nature to involve as little responsibility
as possible, until sufficient time had
elapsed to form correct estimate of his
character. This young man, whom
shall call Smith, was of respectable
family, He had lost his father, and had
mother and sister in some way depend.
ent upon him. After he had been short
time in my employment, it happened
that my confidential clerk, whose duty il
was to receive the money from the banE
for the payment of wages, being prevent
ed by an unforeseen circumstance from
attending at. the proper time, sent thu
sum required by Smith. My confidence
was so great in my head clerk, who ha(
been long known to me, that / was moi
in the habit Of regularly counting The
money when brought to me, but as or
this OccasiOnYit passed through Other
hands, thought it right to do so. There
fore, calling Smith back as he was leav
ing my counting house, l desired him tt
wait few minutes and proceeded to
ascertain whether it was quite correct
Great was my surprise and concern on
finding that there was considerable
deficiency.
"'From whom said l. did you receive
this money!
He replied, From Mr.. naming
my confidential clerk. -.
ut is strange said [, looking steadily
at him. But this money is incorrect
and it is the first time have found i
so" He changed countenance, and hi
eye fell before mine; but he answered
with tOlerable .cOmpOsure, that it wa.
as he had receceived it,
1T is .vain,' 1 replied, to attempt tt
impose upon me, or to endeavOr to cas-
suspicion upon one whose character fol-
the strictest honesty and undertaking
integrity is so well established. Now,
am perfectly convinced that you have
taken the money, and at this moment i
is i'm your possession; and think the
evidence against you would be though
sufficient to justify me in dismissins
you from my service. But you are /;
very !yOung man; your conduct has,
believe, been hitherto perfectly correct
and am willing to afford you an OppOr
t1nity of redeeming the past. All knOwl
eige of this matter rests between our
selves. Candidly confess, therefore, tn
I error of which you have been guilty; re
store what you have so dishonesty taken
endeavor by your future good conduct t
deserve nv confidence and respect, an