Year: 1860

man. ne discovered that he had been paid
half dollar too much. The first impulse
OF his mind was to return 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 parley with evil is in most eases, to
be overcome.


| must think about this, said James, as
he put the money into bis pocket. If it is
true in one case, it is true in another. Mr..
Carman don't correct any of the mistakes
that people make in his favor; and he
cannot complain when the rule works
against himself


But the boy was very far from being in
a comfortable state. He felt that to keep
that half dollar would be dishonest act
Still he could not make up his mind to re-
turn it; at least not then. He would re-
tain it for the present and think the mat
ter over more carefully. He could, if the
case did not prove clear on further refec-
ton, make it all right again.


To hold a parley with evil, is, as we
have just said, in most eases, to be over
come; aud it was unhappily so in the
present case. James did not return the
half dollar, but spent it for his own gratif-
cation. After he had done this it came sud-
denly into his thought that Mr.. Carman
might only be trying him, and he was
filled with anxiety and alarm. How bitter
ly did he regret having spent the half dol
lar For two or three days it was as
much as he could do to keep from starting
when Mr.. Carman spoke to him or to look
steadily into his face when receiving from
him any direction 1t was his first sad ex-
perienee in wrong-doing But as no lack
of confidence was exhibited, he was assured
in few days. .-.


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


Let him correct his own mistakes said
he resolut ly; that's the doctrine he acts
upon with other people. and he can't COM
plain if lie gets paid in the coin be puts in
circulation just wanted half dollar.


From this time the fine moral sense of
James Lewis was blunted. He had taken
an evil counsellor into his heart, who not
only darkened his clear perception Of right,
but stimulated a spirit of covetousness-I
latent in almost every mind - and had
caused him to desire the possession of
things beyond his ability to obtain.


James had good business qualities, and
so pleased Mr.. Carman by his intelligence,
industry and tact with customers, that he
advanced him rapidly, and gave him, be-
fore he was eighteen years of age, the
most responsible position in the store
But James had learned something more
from his employ than how to do bust
ness. He had learned to be dishonest
that is the word. He had never forgotten
the first lesson he had received in this bad
science and he acted upon it, not only in
two Instance. but in hundred, and al
most always to the injury of Mr.. Carman.
He had long since ceased waiting for mis-
takes to be made in his favor, but origina-
ted them in the varied and complicated
transactions of a large business in which he
was trusted implicitly; for strangely
enough it ad never for an instant occur
red 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 skilful;
always prompt to meet any approaches to-
ward discovery of his wrong dealing to-
ward his employer who had held him in
the highest regard


Thus it went on till James Lewis was in
his twentieth year, when the merchant had
his suspicious aroused by letter that spoke
of his not keeping the most respectable
company. and as spending money too free
ly for clerk on moderate salary. Be
fore this time James had removed his
mother into a pleasant house for which he
paid rent of four hundred dollars. His
salary was eight hundred dollars but he
deceived his mother by telling her that be
received fifteen hundred. Every comfort
that she needed was fully supplied, and
she was beginning 10 feel that after long
painful struggle WITH the world her hap
pier 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, and
suspicious of every movement that may In
volve betrayal or exposure. He looked !
stealthily at his employer as he opened the |
letter, and observed him change counte- !
nance suddenly. He read it over twice, /
and James saw that the contents, weatev-
er they were, produced disturbance. =
While he was yet observing him, Mr.. Car
man glanced towards bis desk, and their
eyes met ; but the look James received
made his heart stop beating.


There was something about the move
ments of Mr. Carman for the rest of that
day that troubled the young man. 1t was
plain to him that suspicion had been
aroused by that letter. Oh, how bitterly
did he repent, in dread of discovery and
punishment, the evil of which be had been
guilty Exposure would disgrace and
ruin him, and bow the head of his mother
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 that
he did not eat.


My head aches. he replied, as he turned
partly around away from his mothers dl-
rect gaze.


PERHAPS the tea will make you feel bet
ter.


TIL Eo DOWN ON tho sofa in the narlor |