Lesson45 A clear conscience
The whole village soon learnt that alarge sum of money had been lost. Sam Benton,the local butcher, had lost his wallet while takinghis savings to the post-office. Sam was sure that the walletmust have been found by one of the villagers, but it was not returnedto him. Three months passed,and then one morning, Sam found his walletoutside his front door. It had beenwrappedup in newspaper and it contained half the money he hadlost, together with a note which said: 'A thief, yes, 'but only 5o per cent a thief!'Two months later, some more money was sent to Sam with another note:'Only 25 per cent a thief now!' In time, all Sam's money was paid back inthis way. The last note said:' I am 100 per cent honest now!'
ðə həʊl ˈvɪlɪʤ suːn lɜːnt ðæt ə lɑːʤ sʌm ɒv ˈmʌni hæd biːn lɒst. sæm Benton, ðə ˈləʊkəl ˈbʊʧə, hæd lɒst hɪz ˈwɒlɪt waɪl ˈteɪkɪŋ hɪz ˈseɪvɪŋz tuː ðə ˈpəʊstˌɒfɪs. sæm wɒz ʃʊə ðæt ðə ˈwɒlɪt mʌst hæv biːn faʊnd baɪ wʌn ɒv ðə ˈvɪlɪʤəz, bʌt ɪt wɒz nɒt rɪˈtɜːnd tuː hɪm. θriː mʌnθs pɑːst, ænd ðɛn wʌn ˈmɔːnɪŋ, sæm faʊnd hɪz ˈwɒlɪt ˌaʊtˈsaɪd hɪz frʌnt dɔː. ɪt hæd biːn ræpt ʌp ɪn ˈnjuːzˌpeɪpər ænd ɪt kənˈteɪnd hɑːf ðə ˈmʌni hiː hæd lɒst, təˈgɛðə wɪð ə nəʊt wɪʧ sɛd: ə θiːf, jɛs, bʌt ˈəʊnli 5əʊ pɜː sɛnt ə θiːf!' tuː mʌnθs ˈleɪtə, sʌm mɔː ˈmʌni wɒz sɛnt tuː sæm wɪð əˈnʌðə nəʊt:' ˈəʊnli 25 pɜː sɛnt ə θiːf naʊ!' ɪn taɪm, ɔːl sæmz ˈmʌni wɒz peɪd bæk ɪn ðɪs weɪ. ðə lɑːst nəʊt sɛd:' aɪ æm 100 pɜː sɛnt ˈɒnɪst naʊ!'
