The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1954-02-05
OTHER EDITORS
SOME FOLKS JUST
Amt TOO HONEST
Carlton Morris in the Gates
County Index.)

County Index.)
Love of money is considered
the root of all evil by many peo-
pie, but regardless of what it
may be considered by everyone,
it is a source of great interest to
many, many people.
During the past several years
it has been my privilege to be
associated with various lodges
and civic organizations. In addi-
ton, in a small way l have
managed to raise little money
from time to time to help few
people around me that were
little less fortunate than some of
the rest of us. All of these various
enterprises depended entirely on
money for success.
Sitting with a large group, /
watched a secretary counting
money that had been raised for
some purpose. Looking around
at the group of people gathered
there, l noted that every eye was
on the man counting the money.
Some looked on with apparent
indifference, while others watch
ed with keenest interest, but
business man, farmer, or laborer,
every eye but mine was train
ed intently on the man counting
the money. None of the group ex-
pected to receive any of the
money, in fact they had donated
it for some cause, but this did
not cause any less interest in it
for it was money.
Nice honest people will do all
sorts of favors for almost anyone
until it comes to part with some
money. Many people consider
themselves strictly honest, but
will obtain money in any man.
ner possible.
I once knew a kind old man
who operated a little shop in
Virginia. 1t was my custom to
drop into his place on Saturday
| nights and make few purchases
to help him along and we be-
came fast friends.
One Saturday night, I dropped
in and bought some apples
amounting to a few cents. Then
discovered that l only had a
twenty dollar bill. I was a little
reluctant to present this to the
old man, for l doubted he would
be able to change it. He took my
twenty and gave me change back
for one dollar. / waited around,
thinking he would get around to
giving me the remaining 10
dollars, and when it became ap-
parent he wasn't going to do so,
l made another small purchase
and told him he could take it
out of my money.
Immediately he Swore that /
gave him only a dollar. Knowing
that the twenty was all l had, I
was just as positive that he had
my money. l tried to reason with
him and asked him to check his
cash register. This he did, but
failed to find a single twenty
in it. Then l became angry in
deed. I demanded that he allow
me to look in his cash register.
No said the old man. He had
never taken a penny from any,
one and would stake his life on
the fact that I only gave him a
single dollar. 1 became so angry,
that l went behind the counter
and threatened to hit the old
man if he failed to refund my
10 dollars.
His daughter-in-law had been
listening to our argument from
the beginning and it had lasted
IL minutes or more. When she
saw that l really meant to do the
old man some injury to get my
money back, she came forward
and reaching under the counter,
took out cigar box and lifted
a twenty off the top. She had
found the bill with the singles in
the cash drawer and had taken
it out so it wouldn't be passed
as a single dollar, she said.
Rather grudgingly she counted
out my 10 dollars.
Many honest people seem very
willing to turn dishonest dollar.