Something about Wheels by John Norton Loughborough

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 6, 1871

Something about Wheels.

By John Norton Loughborough

AFTER reading the selected article in the REVIEW, a few days since, with the above caption, which set forth the duty of restoring lost property to the rightful owner, if we knew to whom it belonged, I began to meditate:

“Something about wheels.” Quick as thought there came to my mind a circumstance which happened in my boyhood days of which I had not thought for many years, and I felt that I was not altogether innocent in this matter, and that there was “something about wheels,” which called for restitution from me.

When I was about sixteen years of age, I was serving an apprenticeship at carriage making with my brother. A man came one day with a pair of hubs, banded, which cost him about $1.00, and wished a pair of wheels made for a hand cart. My brother said I could make them if I wished, as extra work, that is, after the regular hours of the day’s work. I decided to do so, and the price fixed for the wheels was $4.00. I made them, and the man would occasionally call for them, but as we had learned that he was a doubtful pay-master, we refused to let him have the wheels until he should pay for them. This he did not offer to do. In the course of a couple of months our shop and business was removed to a place some thirty miles from where the man lived. We took the wheels with us, supposing the man might call and get his wheels, and pay for them. He called once, but I was away, and my brother refused to let him have the wheels unless he should pay the $4.00. Soon after, the man moved to a distant country, and we lost all track of him, and I sold the wheels.

Now, I have thought, what was right about the wheels? and what can be done now? First, I do not consider it was duty to give him up the wheels without pay. Second, It was not right for me to sell his hubs in my wheels without paying him for the same. I should have paid him the value of his hubs before disposing of the entire wheels as my own.

But how can I make the matter right now? The man is gone, I know not whither, neither have I any means of finding him.

I recollect of seeing an article in the REVIEW some time since, in which it was recommended that in cases where restitution was to be made and the person could not be found, that a fourth part of the whole amount be added to it, and this devoted to the needy. I have thought in this case I would add four parts to it, and call the one dollar five, and place it in the hands of the directors of the Health Institute to be used in treating some poor, worthy invalid they may decide upon. I want to learn fully and exemplify in my life that great law of Christ: “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.” J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.