The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-05-21

over his weekly wages, just received
from Mr. Carman, he discovered that he
was paid half dollar too much.
The first impulse of his mind was to
return the halfdollar to his employer,
and it was on his lips to say, q You have
given me half dollar too much, sir"
when the unforgotten words, Let peo-
pie look after their own mistakes flash
ed upon his thoughts, made him hesitate.
To hold parley with evil is to be over
come.
must think about this" said James,
as he put the money into his pocket. If
it is true in one case, it is true in anoth-
er. Mr.. Carman don't correct mistakes
that people make in his favor, and he
can't complain when The rule works
against himself"
But the boy was far from being in a
comfortable state He felt that to keep
the half dollgr would be dishonest act.
Still he could not make up his mind 10
return it, at least not then.
james did not return The half dollar
but spent it for his own qualification.
After he had done this it came sudden
/ ly into his head that Mr.. Carman had
been trying him, and he was filed with
anxiety and alarm.
Not long after Mr.. C&rnan repe.t
! the same mistake. James kept the half
dollar with less hesitation.
Let him correct his own mistake"
said he, resolutely that's the doctrine
he acts on with other people, and he
can't complain if he gets paid back in the
same coin he puts in circulation. just
wanted half a dollar"
From this time the fine moral sense of
James Lewis was blunted. He had TAX
en- an evil counsellor into bis heart, stim-
ulated spirit of eovetousness-latent in
almost every mind-wbich caused him to
desire the possession Of things beyond
his ability to obtain.
James had good business qualifications
and so pleased Mr. Carman by his intel
ligence, industry and tact with custom
ers, that he advanced him rapidly, and
gave him, before he was eighteen years
old, the most responsible position in the
store. But James had learned some
thing more from his employer than how
to do business well he had learned to
be dishonest he had never forgotten the
first lesson he received in this bad sci
enee he had acted not only in two in
stances, but in hundred, and always to
the injury Of MIR. Carman he had long
since given up waiting for mistakes TO be
made in bis favor, but originated them in
the varied and complicated transaction Of
a large business, in which he was trusted
implicitly, for it never occurred 70 Mr.
Carman that his failure to be just to the
letter might prove snare TO this young
man.
James grew sharp, cunning and skill
ful always on the alert, always aeyight
and ready to meet any approaches to
wards discovery Of his wrong-doing by
his employer, VINO held him in the high
est regard.
Thus it went on until James was in
his twentieth year, when the merchants
suspicious were aroused bya letter which
spoke Of the young man as not keeping
the most respectable company, and as
spending money too freely for clerk on
moderate salary.
Before this. time James had removed
his mother into pleasant house, for
which he paid rent Of four hundred
dollars his salary was eight hundred,
but he deceived bis mother by telling her
it was fneen hundred Every comfort
she needed was fully supplied, and she
was beginning to think that after long
and painful struggle with the world, her
happier days had come.
James was at his desk when the letter
was received by Mr, Carman. He looked
at his employer, and saw him change
countenance suddenly. He read it over
twice, and james saw that the contents
produced disturbance. Mr. Carman CLAN
ced toward the desk, and their eyes met;
it was only for a moment, but the look
that Jamesireceived made his heart stop
beating.
There was something about the move
ments Of Mr.. Carman for the rest of the
day that troubled the young man. 1t
was plain to him that suspicion had been
aroused by the letter Oh, how bitterly
did he now repent, in dread Of discovery
and punishment the evil Of which he
had been guilty Exposure would dis
grace and ruin him, ,and bow the head of
his widowed mother close to the grave.
I" You are not we'll this evening" said
Mrs. Lewis, as she looked at her sons
changed face across the table, and MOTTO
ed that he did not eat.
4" My head aches"
Perhaps the tea will make you feel
better"
"Tll lie down on the sofa in the parlor
for a short time"
Ms. Lewis followed him into the par
lor in little while, and, sitting down on
the sofa on which he was lying, placed
her hand upon his head. All, it would
take more than the loving pressure of a
mothers hand TO ease the pain from
which he was suffering. The touch of
that pure hand increased the pain to
agony.
DO you feel better p asked Mrs. Lew
is. She had remained.some time with
her hand on his forehead.
"Not mueh," he replied, and, rising as
he spoke, he added, think a walk in
the open cir viii do me good"
"Don't go ont, James," said Mrs. Lew
is a troubled feeling coming into her
heart.
"I'll only walk few squares" And
James went from the parlor and passed
into the street.
There is something more than head
ache the matter with him." thought Mrs.
Lewis.
For half an hour James walked with
out any purpose in his mind beyond the
escape from the presence Of his mother.
At last his walk brought him near Mr..
Carman's store, and at passing he was
surprised at seeing light within.
4. ~, a. o.,. ou 10 ..l-aI