me, and said, "What a liar you are! You were seen at the circus
yesterday! Now, why didn't you tell me the truth, and I would have
overlooked it? I can't have any one in my employ that I can't trust." So
I had to look for another job. I was sorry, but it was my own fault.
There I was, without a job and without a recommendation. What was I
going to do? Surely "the way of the transgressor is hard."

I tell the men in the Mission night after night that I would rather deal
with a thief than a liar, because you can protect yourself against a
thief, but a liar--what can't a liar do? If I had only told the truth to
my employer that day, why, as mother said afterwards, he would have
given me a lecture, and it would have been all over.


DEEPER IN THE MIRE

Now what was I to tell my mother? You see, if you tell one lie you are
bound to tell others, and after you have lied once, how easy it is! My
side partner, the Devil, was there by my side to help me, and he said,
"Don't tell your mother." So I said nothing, and took my carfare and
lunch money every day, went out as if I were going to work, and hoped
that something would turn up. That's the way with the sinners; they are
always hoping and never doing. So it was with me, always hoping, and
the Devil always saying, "Don't worry; it will be all right."

I used to dread going home at night and meeting my mother, and when she
would say, "How have you got on to-day?" I was always ready with another
lie, telling her I was doing finely, that the boss said he was going to
give me a raise soon. He had--he had raised me right out of the place!