The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-07-10
Counterfeit.

| hurry ?" asked Fred Meredith of his
friend Paul Wallace.
''I am going on an errand for Mr..
| Rathbone, the gentleman who boards
at our house, but I am in no great hur-
ry."
"Didn't you say the other day that
you wanted knife p
eyes 1 lost mine, and I'm saving
up money to buy one like yours.
"Well, I've Just beauty to sell
cheap, too Grandfather has given
me another knife almost exactly like
the one Uncle Jim bought me. See /!
and Fred drew from his pocket two
new knives, each having three shining
blades. "INant to buy p
Chow much ?" asked Paul.
"You may have it for a aquarter, and
that's cheap.
"I'll take it, Fred. y
tWherc' your money p
"Here-cash down, and Paul hand
ed out silver quarter, taking in cx-
change nice new knife.
Now this appeared TO be very fair,
simple transaction, as both boys were
satisfied with the trade. But there is
shadow to the picture-the quarter
did not belong to Paul Wallace, and
he had no right to give it to Fred:
He did not steal it-at least he did
not mean to steal it. 1t was part OF
the money with which Mr.. Rathbone
had instructed him to purchase rib
bon and some paper for use on type
writer. He had given it to Paul part
ly in silver, a half and two quarters,
and the rest in bill, as the purchase
came to exactly three dollars.
So Paul "just borrowed one of the
quarters without the knowledge or
consent Of it's owner. He intended to
run back home and get half dollar
which he had in his bureau drawer,
and use half of it in making Mr.. Rath-
bones purchase. He fastened home,
got.his own coin, and then went to the
store to make his purchase. He gave
the clerk his own half dollar and Mr..
Rathbone's, keeping the other quarter,
when the clerk exclaimed:
"Hold on, lad, one Of these half
dollars is a counterfeit !! and he re-
turned to Paul not Mr.. Rathbones
shiny new coin, but the one taken
from the bureau drawer. I'm sorry
added the clerk, civilly, "that I cant
take it. Better go bdck and get
another. I'll keep your package ready
for you.
Here was quandary. What should
he do? His father and mother had
gone away for the day, and would not
be home until supper time. Of course
he could go and ask Uncle John for it;
but then Uncle John was SO terribly
particular about money matters that
he would be sure to tell Paul that he
had no business to have meddled with
Mr.. Rathbone' money.
Thus the boy reasoned with himself,
and at last came to the wise conclu-
sion that he would swallow his pride
and go directly to Mr.. Rathbone and
tell him the whole story, asking par
don for his unintentional transgres-
sion.
Mr.. Rathbone heard him quietly to
the end, and then said impressively:
"Paul, I am almost glad that this
thing happened, for it may be warn
ing and save you from the peniten-
tiary."
"The penitentiary! o, Mr.. Rath-
bone, you don t think meant"
"To steal ?. No, indeed, my boy
am sure you did not But let me
tell you sad story, one Of which l
rarely speak. I once had an only
| brother, who was very intellectual
man, very upright and highly respect
| ed. For years he was agent and
| treasurer for large firm, and had the
care Of large sums of money. At last
| there came terrible shock to US. He
was suspected Of dishonesty, and when
arrested confessed his guilt. He had
borrowed rather small sum Of mon
| ey-one he could easily replace if
lost-in order to speculate. He was
successful; he borrowed more and
more, and at last lost SO heavily that
he could not square his accounts. He
died in prison, sentenced for dishon-
esty; yet he never meant to steal.
Oh, Paul, be careful, be careful 1t
is the first step which counts. There
is danger in the beginning of evil, for
God only can tell where little sin
may lead US. "-Congregationdltst.