was New Castle, Ind. Taylor was getting mad. I was told to find the
original order, which I did, and discovered that it was from John
Smith, New Carlisle, Ind. Says Taylor, 'There's altogether too many
mistakes here. Now these goods are lying at New Castle, and will have
to be ordered back; the chances are Smith will refuse to receive them,
and we will lose at least $75. The man that made that mistake ought to
be known; if we owe him anything he can have it in the morning, and
then let him be discharged. What do you say, Dewey?' 'It's a bad
mistake,' said Dewey, the partner, 'and we are making a good many, but
it's pritty hard to discharge a man. Let us see who made it, and show
him how much loss it causes us, and give him a pritty good scolding.'
'No,' said Taylor, 'he ought to be discharged; d--n him, he ain't fit
to be around a store; if we owe him anything pay him up, and let him
go; it will be a lesson to the rest. 'Billy,' turning to me, 'bring
the book here so we can see who made that mistake.' Now I was mighty
afraid that I had done it. I had been doing that work, more or less of
the time, and I trembled as if I had the ague. And in looking at it
before, I had paid no attention to the writing. I went back to the
desk for the book, and brought it to Taylor. Dewey came over to look
at it as Taylor opened the book and found the place. 'H--l,' said
Taylor, 'I did it myself!' Jerusalem! but I felt good! 'Well,' said
Dewey, 'if we owe you anything you'd better take it.' I was just about
dying to holler. The next day all the boys knew it, and Taylor was
mighty quiet for several weeks after that."

"I came near losing a customer once," said another man, "by a little
carelessness. I went into his store in a great hurry; sold him a bill,
and collected pay for a previous one. I neglected to enter the
collection on my book and also to report to the house. They shipped
the goods ordered, but supposing that I had not collected amount due