Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1890-05-30
UNF0RG0TTEN WORDS.

UNFORGUIIEN WORDS.
Have you examined that bill, Jamesl
Yes, sir"
Anything wrong"
''I find two errors"
"Ahl let me see.
The lad handed his employer long bill
that had been upon his desk for examina
tion.
"Here is an error in the calculation of
ten dollars which they have made against
themselves, and another ten dollars in the
footing
"Also against themselvesT
''Yes, sir"
The merchant smiled III way that
struck the lad as peculiar
Twenty dollars against themselves" he
remarked, in a kind of pleasant surprise.
''Trusty clerks they must have, indeedw
"Shall | correct the figuresl" asked the
lad.
No! let them correct their own mis-
takes; we don't examine bills for
other peoples benefit" replied the mer
chant at will be time to rectify those
errors when they find them out. All SO
much gain as it now stands"
The boys delicate moral sense was
shocked at SO unexpected remark. He
was the son Of a poor widow, who had
| given him to understand that to be just
was the duty of man.
Mr. Carman, the merchant, in whose en-
! ployment he had been for only few
months, was an old friend Of his fathers,
in whom he reposed the highest conf
dence. In fact, James had always looked
upon him as a hind Of model man, and
wien Mr.. CaTman agreed TO take him in
his store, t0 f~It +s.~t good fortur" asaa
| in his way.
"Let them correct their own mistakes,
These words made u strong impression on
the mind Of James Lewis. When first
| spoken by Mr.. Carnan, and with the mean
! ing then involved, lie felt, as we have said
shocked; but a. he turned them over again
/ in his thought, and connected their utter
ance with person who stood 80 high in
! his mothers estimation, be began to think
| that perhaps the thing was fair enough in
business. Mr.. Carman was hardly the man
to do wrong fow days after James had
/ examined the bill, a clerk from the house
| By which 1t had been rendered, called for
settlement. The lad, who was present,
waited with interest to see whether Mr..
| Carman would speak of the error. But he
made no mark, 4 check for the amount Of
the bill rendered was filled up, and re-
ceipt taken.
"ls that rightf"
james asked himself this question. His
moral sense said no; but the fact that Mr..
Carman had 50 acted bewildered his mind.
It may be the way in bpsiness"-so he
thought to himself-"but it. don't look
| honest wouldn't have believed it Of
| him"
Mr Carman had a kind Of way with him
that won the boys heart. and naturally
tended to make him judge whatever he
might do in a most favorable manner.
II wish he had corrected that error" he
said 10 himself great many times, when
thinking in a pleased way Of Mr. Carman,
and his own good fortune in having been
4 received into his employment 'Tt don't
look right, but maybe its the way Of bust
ness"
| ono day he went to the bank and drew
| the money on check In counting il
| over hc found that the teller had paid him
| fifty dollars too much, and hc went back
! 10 the counter and told him Of his mistake.
| The teller thanked him, and hc returned to
the store with the conaciousness in his
mind Of his having done right"
'Thc teller oyerpaid me fifty dollars"
he said to Mr. Carman, a. he handed him
the money.
"lndced'' replied the latter. light
breaking over his couatenance, as he
hastily cpauloI ,he bank bills
1he light faded M the last bill left his
fingers.
There's no mistake, James" A tone
Of disappointment was in his voice
ooh, gave him back the fifty dollars.
Wasa't that right'
"You simplctoul" exclaimed Mr. Car.
man, don't you know that bank mistakes
are never corrcctcdl If the teller had paid
| you fifty dollars short he would not have
made it right"
The warm blood mantlcd tbs cheeks Of
James under this rcproof IT is often the
case that more shame is felt for d blundcr
/ than crime In thiA instance the lad felt
a sort Of modification at having done what
Mr Carmnn wa5 pleased to call silly
thing, aud be made up his mind that
| it they rhould ever oyerpay him thousand
4 dollars at the bank be sbould bring the
amount 10 lib employer and let him do as
he pleased v ith the money
Let people look after their own uis
takes" said SIR. Carmon.
James lewis ppndcred these things in
Aio heart The impression they made was
too strong ever to be forgotten. at may
/ be- night, f." he-said, but he did not feel al
/ together satisfied.
A month or two after the occurrence Of
/ the bank mistake, as James counted over
/ his weekly wages, just received from Mr..
! Carmnn, he discovered that he was paid
] half dollar too much
The Grst impulse Of his mind was to re
/ turn the half dollar to hs employer, and II
was on his lips to say "Yog have given
me half dollar 100 mueh, sir," when the
/ lniorgotlen words, Let people look after
; their own mistakes" flashed upon his