Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-11-25
TEMPTATION.
A BANK CAsHIERs's STORY.

Our bank was the First National
Bank Of Scottsville, a town having :
population of about 10000, There
were two or three private banks, but
no other institution having Tie capita
and dignity we carried. The stock.
holders numbered nearly thirty peop'e,
and all were residents of the city and
county. Among them were four or
five widows, and quite number OF
minors and orphans were also repre-
sented. AT that time | was a young
man of %. and acting as cashier and
oooKkeepcr for a manufacturing con-
cern. l had $4,000 in cash, aud with
this bought stock in the new bank.
The organization had been completed,
and the institution was ready TO open
when the president sent for me and
said:
"James, have known you for the
-.;,4,,... 'our yeaas. Everybody
you. Your employers toll me they
have the utmost confidence in your
integrity, and each one of our execu-
tive board has spoken IN your favor |
have purchased $4,000 worth of stock
in your name to bring your holding
up to $4,000, and am authorized to
offer you tlli position of cashier"
Yes, | had many friends. was
ambitious and industrious. l was
also honest No man could say | had
ever wronged him in any manner.
don't mean to convey the idea that
was an exception. There has never
been any scarcity of thoroughly re-
liable young men, nor will there ever
be. accepted the position with a
feeling of gratitude toward those who
had rendered it. and made up nay
mind to prove myself competent
and worthy in every particular.
In one year we had grasped half
the business of the county. In two
years there was only Que private bank
left. We had any amoun; of money
TO lend on easy terms, and whenever
any extension was wanted it was
cheerfulIy granted. Ihad done more
than any other man to bring about
this State of aff'lirs | say so because
oil the officers and stockholders said
so. In two years my salary was adj
yanced three different times. No man
could have been more fully trusted
than was.
My advice was sought and invari-
ably followed, and everybody compli-
mented the bank on its sagacity in Sc
curing my services. had been with
the bank two years and four months
when a singular incident happened.
One evening as | sat reading in my
room the thought came to me like a
fash to rob the bank and escape to a
foreign country. l pledge you my
word | was frightened for a moment.
1t was as if voice had whispered in
my ears. Rob the bank. Why, |
would chop off finger sooner than
embezzle penny! What could have
given birth to such thought? was
upset and indignant, and yet could
not shake of the idea. To my alarm
found myself beginning to reason
and speculate. II was as if had a
double, and the double said 10 me:
"You are working like slave to en-
rich others. You are getting a fair
salary, but it should be double what il
is. Why slave away for wears to get
few thousand ahead when you eau
lay your hand on fortune any day i?
1t would be stealing, but then we all
steal. You are young and full of
energy and ambition. With $50 900
to back You you can go TO some for
eign country and make millions and
become a nabob in a few years.
lsAould have trampled such thoughts
under foot on the instant. No man
in trusted position turns thief in a
day. 1t is only after he has fought
with temptation aud been overcome
allowed himself to be overcome. l
made an effort to rid myself of the
thought, and it would have vanished
bss for a silly action on my part. A