EDITOR'S WALLET.

Otago Witness, Issue 2528, 27 August 1902, Page 72

EDITOR'S WALLET.

Honesty Recompensed.

The late Duke of Buceleuch, in one of his walks, purchased a cow in the neighbourhood of Dalkeitn, which was to be sent to his palace. On- the following morning -the , Duke, in his morning drees, espied- a JJoy" ineffectually \ attempting to drive ttie animal forward to its destination. The boy, jio't - knowing the Duke, bawled out -to him: ~~ " Hi©, mun, come here an' gie's a han* v wi' this beast." The Duke walked on slowly, the boy still craving his assistance, and at . last, in a tone of distress, he exclaimed : ' v 4Come here, mun, an' help us, an' I'll gi*e you half I get." The Duke went and lent the helping 7 handj. "And now," said the Duke, as they trudged along, "how much do you think you'll get for this job? " "Oh, I dinna ken," said th« boy, "but I'm> sure o' something, for the folk up at the big house are glide to a' bodies." , As they approached the house, the Duke disappeared from the boy, and entered by 9, different way. Calling a servant, he put ft, sovereign in his hand, saying: " Give that to the boy who brought the cow." The Duke, having returned to the avenue, was soon rejoined by the boy. "Well, how much did you get?" said the Duke. "A shilling," said the boy, "an' thero's half o' it t'ye." " But you surely got more than a shilling," said the Duke. " No," said the boy, "that's a' I got— « and d'ye no think it's plenty?" "I do not," said the Duke ; "there must be some mistake, and, as I am acquainted with the Duke, if you return I think I'll get you more." They went back, the Duke rang the bell and ordered all the servants to be assembled. " Now," said the Duke to the boy, "point me out the person that gave you the shilling" > . ' ; " It ■was that chap there," pointing to the butler. The butler confessed, and attempted ant apology, but the Duke indignantly ordered him to give the boy the sovereign. "You have lost, said the Duke/ "your money, your situation, and your character by your covetousness ; learn henceforth that 'honesty is the beet policy.' " The boy by this time recognised his assistant in the person of the Duke, and the Duke was so delighted with the sterling worth Mid honesty of the boy that he ordered him to be sent to school at his expense.