Year: 1860




ed to call silly thing and he made up
his mind thatif they should overpsy him
a thousand dollars at the bank he would
bring the amount to his employer, and
let him do as he pleased with the money


Let people look after their own mis-
takes said Mr.. Carman.


James Lewis pondered these things IN
his heart. The impression they made
was too strong ever to be forgotten. 1:
may be right he said to himself, but he
did not feel altogether satisfied.


A month or two after the occurrence
of that bank mistake, as James counted
over his weekly wages, just received
from Mr.. Carman, be discovered that be
had been paid half dollar too much.
The first impulse of his mind was to re-
turn the amount to his employer, and it
was on his lips to say, You have given
me too much, Sir when the unforgotten
words, let people look after their own
mistakes, flashed upon his thoughts, and
made him hesitate. To hold a parley
with evil is, in most cases, to be over
come.


4 must think about this said James.
as he put the money into his pocket. If
it is true in one case, it is true in anoth-
er. Mr.. Carman don't correct any of
the mistakes that people make in his fa-
vor; and he can't complain when the
rule works against himself.


But the boy was very far from being
in comfortable state. He felt that to
keep that half dollar would be a dishon-
est act. Still he could not make up his
mind to return it; at least not then. He
would retain it, for the present, and
think the matter over more carefully.
He could, if the case did not prove clear
on further reflection, make all right with
himself and Mr.. Carman.


To hold parley with evil, is, as we
have just said, in most cases, to be over.
come; and it was unhappily so in the
present case. James did not return the
half dollar, but spent it for his gratifea-
ton. After he had done this it came
suddenly into his thought that Mr.. Car
man might only be trying him, and he
was filed with anxiety, and alarm
How bitterly did he regret having spent
the half dollar For two or three day;
it was as much as he could do to keeL
from starting when Mr.. Carman spoke
to him; or to look steadily into his fac'
when receiving from him any direction
1t was his first sad experience in wrong
doing. But as no lack of confdenc,
was exhibited, James felt reassured in
few days.


Not long afterwards Mr.. Carman re
peated the same mistake. This timr
= James kept the half dollar with less hesi
tation.


'Let him correct his own mistakes,
said he, resOlutely that's the doctrine
he acts on with other people, and h
can't complain if he gets paid in the coli
! he puts in circulation. l just wante,
a half dollar


, From this time the fine moral sense Q
James Lewis was blunted. He had tax
en- an evil counsellor into his heart, VIII
not only darkened his clear perception
of right, but stimulated spirit of covet
: ousness-latent in almost every mind
5 and caused him to desire the possession Q
:. things beyond his ability to obtain.
D James had good business qualitie.
: and SO pleased Mr.. Carman by his ii
e teliigence, industry and tact with custom
ers, that he advanced him rapidly, an
gave him before he was eighteen year
: of age the most responsible position
d the store. But James had learned some
e thing more from bis employer, than hor
ofI to do business. He had learned to b
j, shonest-that is the word. He ha
e never forgotten the first lesson he recei1
If ed in this bad science and he had acte


upon it not only in two instances, but
: a hundred, and almost always to the il
d jury of Mr.. Carman. He had long sine


given up waiting for mistakes to be mad
1t in his favor but originated them in th
e varied and complicated transactions of


large business in which he was truste
is implicitly for strangely enough, it ha


never for an instant occurred to AIr. Ca
le man that his failure to be just to the lie


ter in dealing might prove a snare
s. this young man.


James grew sharp, cunning, and skill
r ful +; always prompt to meet any a
S proaches toward his employer, who he
er him il the highest regard.


ID Thus It went on until James Lew


was in his twentieth year, when the me
o.