CHAPTER XII. Be Honest

BE HONEST

“Honesty is the best policy” cannot be excelled as a moral maxim. As an aphorism it cannot be revoked. He who heeds it will avoid wrong, but he who disregards it will cease to do right. The word is sometimes used in a legal sense as that which is determined and enforced by law, sometimes in a worldly way as that which looks to public opinion as its motive and end, but Webster defines it “to be upright, just, fair in dealing with others, free from trickishness and fraud; acting and having the disposition to act at all times according to justice or correct moral principles.” That boy who adheres to these, is, as Pope declared, “The noblest work of God.”

That there are tricks in all trades is an acknowledged fact, and when resorted to to secure advantage over another, it is nothing less than theft, which is fraught with peril and liable to bitter remorse.

“A little theft, a small deceit, Too often leads to more; ’Tis hard at first, but tempts the feet As through an open door. Just as the broadest river runs From small and distant springs, The greatest crimes that men have done Have grown from little things.”

DISHONESTY AND ITS RESULT.

At a general election in England, a candidate personally unknown to the voters of a certain borough was asked by party leaders to do his best for election. He belonged to a good family and was a lawyer of promise in London. His path to success was open, as the borough belonged to his party. When he mounted the platform to address the electors, his eyes fell upon a board opposite, on which was scrawled with charcoal: “Forty Pounds!” He suddenly became pale and confused, stumbled through a short speech, and then hurriedly left the stand.

A few days later he rose to speak in another town, and again the mysterious words written on the wall confronted him. Again he left the platform, and that night retired from the contest for the seat in Parliament. Not long after he disappeared from public life, and retired to an English colony where he hid himself on a ranch. It was found that the words referred to a theft committed in his youth, which he supposed had been forgotten, but which had clung to him all these years. Lapse of time had not concealed it, and when on the verge of victory, defeat through someone’s reminder and a gnawing conscience pushed him from the race.

EXAMPLES OF HONESTY.

Honesty is a trait of character which sets a boy off to advantage. He has no dark shadows or corroding memories to fear. The idea that some boys have, “Make money, honestly if you can, but if not, make it anyway,” is wrong. Madison C. Peters says, “Capital is not what a man has, but what a man is.” He who is honest will not take a pin from another, would not represent an article to be what it is not, gives the equivalent for the price paid whether seen or unseen. The boy when exhorted to steal some fruit as no one would see him, had the right idea of honesty when he remarked: “Yes, there would, for I should see myself, and I don’t intend ever to see myself do a dishonest thing.”

Abraham Lincoln, when a clerk in a grocery store, made a mistake of a few ounces when selling tea to a little girl. In the evening he walked between two and three miles to rectify the mistake. When the State officials of Illinois advocated the policy of repudiation of a part of the public debt, Stephen A. Douglass was carried on a mattress from his hotel to the meeting where the repudiation was about to be adopted. He wrote a resolution which he offered as a substitute for the repudiation ordinance, which carried: “Resolved, That Illinois will be honest, although she never pays a cent.” Adam Clark when a boy worked in a linen factory. In company with his master he was working in the folding room, when one of the pieces was found short of the required number of yards. “Come,” said the merchant, “it is but a trifle. We can soon stretch it and make out the yard.” He thereupon unrolled the cloth, taking hold of one end of it himself, and the boy the other. “Pull, Adam, pull,” he said, pulling with all his might, but the boy stood still. The master said: “Pull, Adam.” “I can’t,” replied the boy. “Why not?” asked the master. “Because it is wrong.” A long argument followed, in which the usages of the trade were strongly and variously enforced, but all in vain. Upon this the master told him that such a boy would not do for a linen manufacturer, and would better look out for some other employment more congenial to his own mind. He did so, and in after years, through hard work, became eminent as a writer and preacher.

HOW HE BECAME A MILLIONAIRE.

Years ago, in a town of Germany, a poor boy lived in an old house. He formed this resolution: “Honesty in everything and with everybody.” The street in which he lived was in the middle of the city, yet quiet and retired. This boy was eager to make money; but, dearly as he loved it, he loved honesty and integrity more. When he reached manhood, he married a young woman of sterling character. She was beautiful and good. Their house was neat and their furniture simple. In one of the closets was a set of old Dresden china. Behind the china closet there was another, which no one would ever have suspected being there. To get to it the china had to be lifted out and the tight-fitting panels taken apart.

One night, as they were about to retire, a faint knock was heard at the door. The young man opened it, and who should be there but the prince. He was invited to enter. After the young man had stirred up the fire and made things pretty comfortable, the prince told his errand. He was about to leave his home in the city, to go he did not exactly know where. He did not care to have any person know his whereabouts. The officers of the government were angry with him, and he was about to leave to get out of their way. But he had some valuable treasures which he did not wish to carry with him; and, having heard of the integrity of this young man, he desired to leave them in his care, offering to pay him for his trouble. The young man declared himself pleased to accommodate his prince. “I have it here,” said the prince, and he drew a wide girdle from under his vest. It was double, and was held together by springs which could not be seen. It was lined with soft wool, and in the wool lay the treasure, a collection of the most precious and dazzling stones. The young man closed the window shutter tight, then with his wife took down the china from the closet, slipped aside the closely-fitting panels and secreted the girdle in a little place under one of the shelves. Then the panels were carefully put back, the china put in its place and the closet doors shut. To look at it, one would never have dreamt that there was any treasure there more than the old china. The prince thanked his new friends, shook their hands heartily and started off.

Months and years passed. The couple worked early and late. Indeed they had to, as by this time their family had increased and their little sons would some day need education. After a time the French made war on the Germans. Frankfort, the city of this family, felt it sadly. A great many people had to flee for their lives, amongst whom were these honest folks. The soldiers went into their house, searched and carried off everything that was worth taking. Then the war closed, and the people returned. Years after this the prince came back. He had heard as a wanderer about the different countries how many of the poor of his city had suffered. He quietly settled down in a country home, not far from the city, and never thought of going after his treasures, supposing they had either been stolen in the ransacking of the house, or that the young man in whose care he had left them had used them for his own wants or those of his family. He was not thoroughly acquainted however with the character of him to whom he had committed his treasures. One morning while he was at breakfast he was told that a person wished to see him on business. The man was ordered to be conducted to his presence. Who should it be but his old friend? The prince was as glad to see him as he was surprised. “I came,” said the man, “to talk with you about the treasure you left me.” “Oh, don’t mind that at all,” interrupted the prince, “but come and take some breakfast with me. I pray, don’t mention the affair. I am glad it was there to do you good at a time when you must have needed it so much. Sit down and let us drink this coffee and forget all about it.”

The man took the chair which was offered him, and as he sat down, he said: “Believe me, Prince, your treasure is safe. The robbers went again and again to the old china closet, and took every dish and cup away, and, indeed, almost everything else that belonged to us, but, thanks to God, they did not find your treasure. When we went back to our house we found it in exactly the same spot where you saw us place it, and there it is now. It only awaits your order to be restored to you as you gave it.” The prince was astonished, and said, “Really, my friend, I scarcely believed that such virtue was to be found anywhere. But I see now that a man’s integrity may stand the hardest trial. You have taught me to have a better opinion of human nature.”

A few days later the prince called at the house and received his girdle without a stone missing. So delighted was he that not only did he reward him liberally, but everywhere he went he told the story. He did not think that all the presents he could give him would reward him sufficiently, so he wished to make him famous. He succeeded. The world heard the tale, and the humble man soon became the friend of princes and nobles. His sons were educated in the same principles of honesty and integrity, and the whole commercial world learnt to honor his name. At this day the families are scattered about in the greatest cities of Europe and are able to control the wealth of nations. Their possessions are immense. That poor boy was no other than Rothschild, and his sons and grandsons have been and still are the world’s greatest bankers.

BE EMINENT IN HONESTY.

My boy, be honest. Nothing is safer, more honorable or right. As such it is better than might and worth more than gold. It hurts no man, but wields an influence that commands the admiration of man and God.

When Longfellow was seventeen years of age he wrote to his father: “Whether nature has given me any capacity for knowledge or not, she has, at any rate, given me a very strong predilection for literary pursuits, and I am almost confident in believing that, if I can ever rise in the world, it must be by the exercise of my talent in the field of literature. Whatever I study ought to be engaged in with my soul, for I will be eminent in something.”

It is possible, practical, yea, absolutely necessary for any boy who would be eminent in any vocation to be first of all eminent in honesty or purpose in dealing with himself and others. Lowell was built on the Merrimac river. Dams and canals were constructed to conserve the water power. At that time there was no competent engineer in America, so a young Englishman by the name of Francis was brought over. After looking over the work done, he went to the directors of the company and said, “Gentlemen, you must rebuild Lowell and the works.” “We can’t do that,” was the answer, “we have spent large sums and must take a risk.” “Then, gentlemen,” said Francis, “here is my resignation.” The directors after thinking of the awful flood that had swept that valley years before, reconsidered and rebuilt under the young man’s direction. One year later a flood came and the town and works stood the test. Honesty always does.