FIVE CENTS.



"WELL, my boy," said John's employer, holding out his hand for the change, "did you get what I sent you for?"

"Yes, sir," said John; "and here is the change, but I don't understand it. 

The lemons cost twenty-eight cents, and there ought to be twenty-two change, and there's only seventeen."

"Perhaps I made a mistake in giving you the money?"

"No, sir; I counted it over in the hall, to be sure it was all right."

"Then perhaps the clerk made a mistake in giving you change?"

But John shook his head: "No, sir; I counted that too. Father said we must always count our change before leaving a store."

"Then how in the world do you account for the missing five cents? How do you expect me to believe such a queer story as that?"

John's cheeks grew red, but his voice was firm: "I don't account for it, sir; I can't. All I know is that it is so."

"Well, it is worth a good deal in this world to be sure of that. How do you account for that five-cent piece that is hiding inside your coat sleeve?"

John looked down quickly and caught the gleaming bit with a cry of pleasure. "Here you are!" "Now it is all right. I couldn't imagine what had become of that five-cent piece. I knew I had it when I started from the store."

"There are two or three things that I know now," Mr. Brown said, with a satisfied air. "I know you have been taught to count your money in coming and going, and to tell the exact truth, whether it sounds well or not, two important things for an errand boy. I think I'll try you, young man, without looking any farther."

At this, John's cheeks grew redder than ever. He looked down and up, and finally he said, in a low voice, I think I ought to tell you that I wanted the place so badly I almost made up my mind to say nothing about the change if you didn't ask me."

"Exactly," said Mr. Brown; "and if you had done it, you would have lost the situation; that's all. I need a boy about me who can be honest over five cents, whether he is asked questions or not." 




Pansy.




ENGRAVE upon your heart, "Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily as unto the Lord;" and then take up, piece by piece, the work he lays before you, and do it thoroughly. It may look little and insignificant all the way, but at the end the golden grains will have made a shining mountain.