Year: 1861

that Mr. Carman might only he trying him
and he was filed with anxiety aud alarm
How bitterly did he regret having spent
the half dollar For two Or three days
il was as much os he could do to keep from
starting when Mr.. Carman spoke to him
or to look steadily into bis face when receiv
ing from him any direction. 1t was bis
hrSt sad experience in wrong doing. But
as no lack OF confidence was exhibited,
James felt reassured in few DAYS


Not long afterward Mr.. Carman repeat.
ed the same mistake. This time James
kept the half.dollar with less hesitation.


Let him correct his own Mistakes said
he, resolutey that's the doctrine he acts
on with other people, and he can't complain
IT be gets paid in the coin he puts in circu.
lation. ] just wanted a halfdollar.'


From this time the moral sense of James
Lewis was bunted. He had taken an evil
counsellor into bis heart, who not only dark.
ened his clear perception Of right but stim.
ulated spirit of covetousness- in
almost every mind-and caused him TO de.
sire the possession of things beyond his
ability to obtain.


James had good business qualities, and
so pleased Mr.. Carman by his intelligence,
industry, aud tact with customers that he
advanced him rapidly, and gave him, before
he was eighteen years OF age, the most re
sponsible position in the store. But James
had learned something more from his EN-.
ployer than how to do business lie had
learned to be dishoncst-ihat is the word
He had never forgotten the FIRST lesson he
received in this bad science and be had
acted upon it not only in two Instance, but
in hundred, and almost always to the in.
jury OF Mr.. Carman. He had long since
given up waiting for mistakes to be made
10 his favor, but originated them in the va
ried and complicated transaction OF a large
business in which he was trusted implicitly
for, strangely enough il had never for an
instant occurred to Mr.. Carman that his
failure to be just to the letter in dealing
might prove snare to this young man.


james grew sharp, cunning and skllful
always on the alert; always bright; always
prompt to meet any approaches towards q
discovery Of his wrong dealing towards hi
employer who held him ia the highest re
gard.


Thus it went on until James was in h
twentieth year, when the merchant haC
his suspicious aroused by letter that spoke
of the young man as not keeping the mos
respectable company, aud as spending mon
ey too freely for clerk on q moderate sala
ary. Before this time James had removed
his mother into pleasant house, for which
be paid a rent of four hundred dollars Hi;
salary was eight hundred dollars but hC
deceived bis mother by telling her that he
received fifteen hundred. Every comfort
that she needed was fully supplied. and she
was beginning to feel that after long aud
often painful struggle with the world heI
happier days had come.


James was at his desk when the letter
just referred to was received by Mr.. Car
man. Guilt is always on the alert, anC
suspicious Of every movement that involves
betrayal or exposure. He looked stealthily
at his employer as he opened the letter, anC
observed him change countenance suddenly
He read it over twice. and James saw thai
the contents, whatever they were produced
disturbance. While he was yet observing
him, Mr.. Carman glanced towards his desk
and their eyes met it was only for mo
ment, but the look he received made bis
heart stop beating.


There was something about the move
ments of Mr.. Carmau, for the rest of The
dav, that troubled the young man. 1t was
plain to him that suspicion had been arous
ed by the letter Oh, how bitterly now
did he repent in dread Of discovery anC
punishment, the evil of which he had beeI
guilty Exposure would disgrace and ruiz
him, and bow the head of his mother, i
might be, even to the grave.


You are not well this evening" said Mrs
Lewis, as she looked at her sons changed
face, across the tea.table, and noticed tha
he did not eat.


my head aches he replied, as he turned
partly away from his mothers direct gaze


Perhaps the tea will make you feel bet
ter


IN lie down on the sofa in the parlo
for short time said the young man, riS
ing from the table. a little qniet ma,
give relief And he went from the dining
| room.


Mrs. Lewis followed him into the parlo
in q little while aud sitting down by tn
sofa on which he was lying, placed he
hand upon his head All ! it would tax
more than the loving pressure of q mother
hand TO ease the pain from which he wa
suffering. The touch of that pure han
Increased pain to agony.


DO you feel better asked Mrs. Lewis
after she had remained for some time witt
her hand on bis forehead.


Not much, he replied and rising as b
spoke, be added, 4 think walk in tn
opea air will do me good


Don't go out, James, said Mrs. Lewis
a troubled feeling coming into her heart.


TN only walk few squares Ant
James went from the parlor, and taking uI
his hat, passed into the street without an
other word.


There's something more than headach
the matter with him, was the Thought Q
Mrs. Lewis, ard the slight feeling OF trou
ble she had experienced began deepenIn!
into a strange concern that involved drea'
Of coming evil.


For half an hour James walked withou
any purpose iu his mind beyond escap
from the presence of his mother. Ever.
/ saonnar tOyVa rd