HONESTY THE BEST POLICY.

Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 131, 12 January 1877, Page 3

HONESTY THE BEST POLICY.

The'story. ofthe Cincinnati .newsboy j who found ; a ppclfet book with lOOdols., and returned it to the. owner with, con,*, tents in tact, reached' Philadelphia in' good season, and was productive I ' bf a conaiderable sensation among the street' Arabs.^' srriall-boy was^ so. affected, by it that be straightway determined: to " see" that Cincinnati ,boy, and go him seventeen or eighteen better. He took another ;-,small -boy* into- his , confidence, and the.test.of probity, of character was carried into effect;. , Boy No. $ dropped a well-padded pocke.t-book, which boy No. 1, fallowing close , behind, picked Up. : ';.. \y- ■- :.-; . -..,j Then, with. a look on : his face* that would have done honor. to Benjamin Franklin,ithe* honest little. fellow; walked up to an old gentleman-who was pass* ing by, extended -the* pocket-boOk,. arid, with trembling voipe,. exclaimed, "- Take it, sir, it. is yours*. YOll dropped "'it. just; now. A My mother and seven little brothers * are' starving; but •- 1- cannot • keep it sir, for it don't belong to me." The did gentleman looked* at the iboy,,then out his spectacles and,adjusted them for a better sight. He could not sufficiently admire ' the' 'wan visage . of -the little street wanderer, . illuminated,. as it, was with, a glow of goodness arid honesty. He patted the' boy on the head', and pulling. put a, five dollar bill from his pocket handed it to him, saying," Boy, you will grow to be a great man, Take this money Tor your s'aiwing family, and always remerbber that* honesty, is the best policy/ " .{'Then the,old ; gen : tleI man-.gkurred.into the. nearest Jager, beer | saloon and opened his' pocket-book, when he began, to .dance. around arid c<-*.ll heaven and earth' to witness that if ever he encountered that* boy again he wouldflay him* hliye. And he continued to orate. until, a. policeman was called to arrest him as a lunatic.^and' the only excuse he could offer for his conduct was that a small boy had robbed him of five dollars* bygiyi.ng, him a .pocket- book stuffed with old paper.