The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-04-29
The Truth at All Hazards.

| plCSCIlI UuClC ClC llfllH Ill q
!, busy country town in the North q pi.
) Gus couple who had all only son. Fol
this son they daily prayed to God. Sc
the foundations of an upright life were
laid in the boy's heart, and among
these very especially a regard for up
rightness and truth.
In. the course of years the boys
school days were ended, and also his
apprenticeship to q business life in q
country town, and as there was nc
prospect for him there he went to Eng.
land, TO one of the great seaports, and
by and by he got good position in Il
merchants office.
But he was not long in this excel
lent place before he was put to the test
in a very painful way with respect to
the lessons he had received about
truth. 1t was part of the business OF
that office to have ships coming and
going. And it was the rule when q
ship came into port that its captain
sent word to the office that he had ar
rived and was now waiting instruc-
tions where to discharge the cargo
and it was the duty of the manager OF
the office to send back instructions to
| Ulle CdpGdll " "llClC uho WhCtl OtiiS w hS
to be done. A few months after the
little lad from the North came to the
-office ship laden with coal came in,
and the usual message from the cap
tain came, but somehow or other no
answer was sent back to him. The
captain waited week, but still nc
word came back. Now, that was very
hard on the captain. Until his ship
got free of its cargo it had to lie idle in
the dock, and all who belonged to the
ship were kept idle too. So at the end
of q week the captain sent word r. the
office that his ship had been kept so
long waiting for instructions where to
discharge its cargo that it had missed a
good offer of new cargo, and the Of
| flee would have to pay him for the
loss. This payment is called "demur-
rage"
When the manager of the office got
this message from the captain he was
very angry. He sent for the little lad
from the North and said to him:
Didn't / send you down to Cap.
tain Smith with instructions to dis
charge his cargo?"
The little lad said: mo, sir; I do
not remember being sent down."
30, but did," answered the mana
ger. "YOu have forgotten"
And there for time, 80 far as the Of
flee was concerned, the matter was al.
lowed to rest.
| But the captain did not intend to let
it rest there. He applied for his de-
murrage. And when that was refus-
ed, he took the master of the office to
law, and by and by his complaint
came before the judges in the court OF
law.
The day before the trial the mana,
ger came to the little lad from the
North and said to him "Mind,
sent you to the dock with those in
structions to discharge the COAL"
"But I assure you [ cannot remem-
ber your doing So" said the lad.
20, yes, but I did. You have forgot
ten."
1t was a great trouble to the lad.
He had never been sent to the dock.
He could not say that he had been
sent and he foresaw that he would
have to say before the judges what
would certainly offend the manager
and lead to the loss of his excellent
place.
On the morning of the trial he went
to the court. The manager came Up
and The poor lad tried once more to as,
sure him that he was mistaken, but
he would not listen.
Ut is all right" he said, hastily 81
sent you on such day, and you have
got to bear witness that did-and see
you say ii clearly t"
In a little while he was called into
the witness box, and almost the first
question put to him was whether he
remembered the day when Captain
Smiths ship came in. And then this
You remember during the day be-
ing sent by the manager of the office
to the dock with letter for the cap
tain ?"
mo, SIR"
"Were you not sent by the manager
of your office to the coal ship on tina
day?"
II was not, sir"
Nor the next day."
mo"
"Nor any other day."
mo-"
The gentleman who put the question
was barrister. He had been engag
ed by the manager to win the case TO
them. But when he heard the LITTLE
lads reply he turned to the judge ant
said: MY lord, 1 give up this case
My instructions were that this witness
1 would prove that message to dis
8 charge had been sent to Captain
: Smith. and it is plain no such proof j
to be got from him."
So the case ended in the captains ia
vor and against the office in which th'
little lad had found so excellent {
place.
He went to his lodgings with q sor
rowful heart and wrote to his fathe
and mother that he was sure to be dis
missed. Then he packed his trunk tt
be ready to go home next day; and IL
the morning, expecting nothing bu
his dismissal, he went early to the OF
flee. The first to come in after hin
was the mas ter. He stopped for a mo
Iment at the lads desk and said: ave
lost our case yesterday"
Eyes, sir" answered the lad "ant
I am very sorry I had to say what
did" :.
BY and by the manager came in
-. and after little time he was sent fo
| to the masters room. 1t was q lone
while before he came out. Then th'
little lad was sent for. II am goinl
to be dismissed" he thought t. him
self. But the master said to him, g.
was sorry yesterday, but not with you
You did right to speak the truth; ant
! to mark my approval of w hat you did
am going to put you in charge OF al