DO NOT BE TOO POSITIVE. 157

‘¢T do not know, sir,” is the reply.

“ But you had it last.”

“No, I had not, sir.”

* Yes, you had; you took it-yesterday.”

“Oh, yes, I remember; I took it; but I
put it in the drawer again, where I took it
from.”

« Are you sure ?”

“ Yes, sir.”

“] think you are mistaken; for if you
had put it there, it would have been there
still.”

“T am certain I put it back.”

‘¢ Well now, my son, I found it out on the
grass, where you had been at work. Did
you not leave it there ?”

“Oh, yes, I believe I did! Yes, I re-
member, I did leave it there.”

“ Well, now take a lesson from this; do
not be so positive, when you are not sure.
In two instances you have been mistaken:
you first said that you had not taken the
hammer out, and you were quite positive;
you then said you had put it where you got
it trom, and you were again quite positive.
But remember that in both cases you were

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