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


Mr.. Carman don't correct mistakes that
people make in his favor, and he can't
complain when the rule works against him
self"
But the bog was far from being in a com
Portable state He felt that to keep the
half dollar would be a dishonest act. Still
he could not make up his mind to 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 suddenly
into his head that Mr. Carmdn had been
trying him, and he was filled with anxiety
and alarm.
Not long after Mr.. Carman repeated the
same mistake James kept the half dollar
with less hesitation.
Let him correct his own mistake said
he, resolutely; chats the doctrine he acts
on with other people, and he can't com
plain 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 taken
an evil counsellor into his heart, stimulated
a spirit of covetouSneSs-latent in almost
every mind-which caused him to desire
the possession VI tnlngs beyond his ability
| to obtain.
James had good business qualifications
and so pleased Mr.. Carman By his intel
ligence, industry and tact with customers,
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 something 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 science; he had acted not only
in two instances, but in a hundred, and
always to the injury of Mr.. Carman; he had
long since given up waiting for mistakes to
be made in his favor, but originated them
in the varied and complicated transaction
of large business, in which he was trust
| ed implicitly, for it never occurred to Mr..
Carman that his failure to be just to the
letter might prove snare to this young
| man
| James grew sharp, cunning and skilliul;
always on the alert, always bright and
ready to meet any approaches towards a
discovery of his wrong doing by his en-
plOyer, who held him in the highest re-
gard.
Thus it went on until James was in his
twentieth year, when the merchants sus
| picions were aroused by n letter which
| spoke of the young man as not keeping the
most respectable company, and as spend
ing money too freely for clerk on mod
crate salary
Before this time James had removed his
mother into pleasant house, for which he
paid a rent of four hundred dollars; his sal
AIRY was eight hundred, but he deceived
his mother by saying it was fifteen hun
dred. Every comfort she needed was fully
supplied, and she was beginning to think
that after a long and painful struggle with
the world, here 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, aud their eyes met;
it was only for a moment, but the look
that James received made his heart stop
beating.
There was something about the move
ments Of Mr. Carm an 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 disgrace and
ruin him, ana bow the head Of his widow
ed mother close to the grave.
You are not well this evening said
| Mrs. Lewis az she looked at her sons
changed face across the table and noticed
that he did not eat
my head aches"
Perhaps the tea will make you feel bet
ter"
I'm lay down on the sofa in the parlor
for short time"
Mrs Lewis followed him into the parlor
|
sofa on which he was lying placed her
hand upon her head All, II would take
more than the loving pressure Of u mothers
hand to ease the pain from which he was
suffering. The touch Of that pure hand in
creased the pain to agony
'Do you iecl bettcrl7 asked Mrs. Lewis.
She had remained some time with her
hand on his forehead
"Not much" he replied, and, rising as
he spoke he added 81 think walk in the
| open air will do me good
Don't go out, James" said Mrs Lewis,
n troubled feeling coming into her heart.
"I1l only walk n few squares" And
| James went from the parlor and passed in
TO the street
There is something more than head
ache the matter with him. thorght Mrs.
Lewis.
| For half an hour James walked without
any purpose III his mind beyond the escape
from the presence Of his mother. Al last
| his walk brought him near Mr.. Carman's
store, and at passing he was surprised at
seeing a light within.
"What can this meant ho asked him
self, a new fear creeping, with It's shudder-
| ing impulse, into his heart.
| He listened by the door and Windows,
but he could hear no sound within.
There's something WRONG ho said
What can il bel II this IS discovered, what
will be the end Of itl Euinl ruinl My poor
motherl'
| The wrctched young man hastcncd on,
and walked the street for two hours, when
| he returned home. lIis mother met him
when he entered, and with unconconlcd
anxiety asked him If he was better lie
said yes, but in IL manner that panied her,
and passed up hastily to his own room.
Ia tho morning the strangely altered
face Of James aa he met his mother ut the
breakfast table, struck alarm into her heart.
He wna silent, and cyadcd all hcrquestions.
while they sat at the table the door bell
rung loudly. The aound startled James,
and he turned hs head 10 listen, nervous
| way.
what j. itl' asked Mrs Lewis.
"A gentleman who wishes 10 see Mr.
james, b" replied the girl
int.