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Not Trustworthy

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International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 8, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 2.

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Not Trustworthy.

By Frank H. Stauffer

ONE afternoon a gentleman was shown into Mr. Lamar's library.
"Mr. Lamar," asked the visitor, "do you know a lad by the name of Gregory Bassett?"
"I guess so," replied Mr. Lamar, with a smile. "That is the young man," he added, nodding toward Gregory.
The latter was a boy aged about fourteen. He was drawing a map at the wide table near the window.
"A bright boy, I should judge," commented the visitor, looking over the top of his glasses. "He applied for a clerkship in my mill, and referred me to you. His letter of application shows that he is a good penman. How is he at figures?"
"Rapid and correct," was the reply.
"That's good! Honest, is he?"
"Oh, yes," answered Mr. Lamar.
"The work is not hard, and he will be rapidly promoted, should he deserve it. Oh! one question more, Mr. Lamar; is the boy trustworthy?"
"I regret to say that he is not," was the grave reply.
"Oh!" cried the visitor. "Then I don't want him."
That ended the interview.
"O uncle!" cried Gregory, bursting into tears.
He had set his heart upon obtaining the situation, and was very much disappointed over the result.
"Gregory, I could not deceive the gentleman," Mr. Lamar said, in a low tone, more regretful than stern. "You are not trustworthy, and it is a serious failing; nay, a fault, rather. Three instances occurred within as many weeks which sorely tried my patience, and cost me loss of time and money."
Mr. Lamar's tone changed into one of reproach, and his face was dark with displeasure.
"I gave you some money to deposit in bank," he resumed. "You loitered until the bank was closed, and my note went to protest. One evening I told you to close the gate at the barn. You neglected to do so. The colt got out in the night, fell into a quarry, and broke its leg. I had to shoot the pretty little thing, to put an end to its suffering."
Gregory lifted his hand in a humiliated way.
"Next, I gave you a letter to mail. You loitered to watch a man with a tame bear. The nine o'clock mail will do, you thought. But it didn't, being a way mail, and not a through mail. On the following day I went fifty miles to keep the appointment I had made. The gentleman was not there to meet me, because he had not received my letter. I lost my time, and missed all the benefit of what would have been to me a very profitable transaction. It is not too late for you to reform; and unless you do reform, your life will prove a failure."
The lesson was not lost upon Gregory. He succeeded in getting rid of his heedless ways, and became prompt, precise, trustworthy.—Frank H. Stauffer, in S. S. Times.