The Arizona sentinel. [volume] (Arizona City [Yuma], Yuma County, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1872-1911, 1888-11-24
THE SOUL OF HONOR.

Built Up of Little Things.
There is a certain quality of the
moral nature which is called honor
The dictionary defines it as "true
nobleness of mind, springing from
probity, principle, or moral rectitude, ~
and calls it "a distinguishing char
acteristic of good men," Such a quail
ty will bear thinking about a little.
The other day certain wealthy
gentleman, speaking of a young man
in his employ said: II would trust
him with every dollar l possess. He
is the soul of honor"
These are not idle words, for knew
he was in the habit of confding to
that young man large business inter
ests which involved great deal of
capital, knew, too, that he had no
security for his money, for, as he said,
he simply trusted him."
Once in large boys school a dis
turbance occurred which involved
nearly a whole class. The master
sent for the principal of the school.
He entered the room and listened to
the teachers account of the trouble;
then, glancing around at the pupils he
said: II should like to know exactly
how this happened, so 1 will ask Fred
B. to tell me-"
Fred stood up and related the occur
renee from beginning to end, clearly
and fairly, naming no names, but TAX
ing his share of the blame and then
sat down.
Now" said the principal, II should
like the other boys who have been i'm
plicated in this trouble to follow Fred's
example, and acknowledge it as he
has done" And the other lads arose
and owned up also.
Afterwards in speaking of the affair
the principal said: II knew l could
rely upon Fred to tell me the exact
truth without fear or favor, for though
he may be led astray in a moment of
excitement, he is always willing to
acknowledge when he has done wrong.
There is nothing rnderhanded or
mean about him. l have tried him
and tested him often, and he is re-
garded by both his classmates and
teachers as the soul of honor"
1t Is somewhat rare, and it certainly |
is very beautiful thing to have rep
utation such as these young men pos
sessed, and it is something worth striv-
ing ones whole life long to win; and
yet such a character is built of very |
little things. Many people who would
Indignantly deny that they ever told a
falsehOod, nevertheless seem quite in
capable of relating thing exactly as it
occurred. They will either enlarge or
detract, or vary the statement in some
way, so that their words are not relia-
BILE. And many a lad in business who
would not take dollar from his firm
unlawfully, will yet take that firms
stamps and 1etter-paper for his private
correspondence. The firm will never
feel it, it is true, but that lads charac-
ter will feel it, and the boy who habit
TALLY does such things will in the end
find his conscience so blunted
that dishonesty will come easy to
him, and he will not be able
to withstand some sudden, sharp
temptation, and he will fall. Those
who do not know him we'll will be sur
prised; but those who know his real
life will know that for years his char
acter has been undermined by triiing
deceptions and dishonesties, just as the
ocean slowly encroaches upon a sandy
shore, and at last, during some terrible
storm, when the wind is raging, it will
gather itself in it's might and wash in
land, bearing devastation and death,
and changing the whole face of the
The lad who cheats little in his
games or remains silent while others
cheat, he who learns his lessons with
q ''crib," or takes his diagrams or
dates into class upon his cuffs, or gets
his answers from his neighbor, yes,
and the boys who gives such unlawful
help, too, they are dishOnorable
boys; and it would be better
'or them if they had neveri
been born, than to live on and
grow up and carry into life such prin-
,iples as these. But no boy means to
10 that. He means to do it 'just !
once'' because he is hard pressed for
some reason. Think a minute Did
you never do it but once? The boy
Who does it once is very apt to do it
again, and to go on doing such things
Until they become the habit and prac-
ice of his life. Therefore a boy should
De very watchful that no petty deceit
,r dishonesty ever stains his life, and
% behave in all things so truly and so
lobly that those who know him best
md love him dearest can proudly and
gladly say of him: He is the Soul of