Honesty and chivalry are not dead, and Natchez High School senior Charles Harris is living proof of it.

This September, Harris stood in a check-out line at the Kroger on Seargent S. Prentiss Drive when an elderly woman in front of him accidentally dropped $500 in cash as she pulled money from her purse.

&uot;I remember it was four $100 bills and two $50 bills,&uot; Harris, 18, said. &uot;She didn’t even know she’d dropped it.&uot;

It was then Harris picked up the cash and gave it to the woman in line.

&uot;She said she was so shocked that I gave it back and that it’s hard to find people my age who would do that,&uot; Harris said.

The woman hugged and kissed him.

&uot;She said she hoped God blesses me,&uot; he said. &uot;My reward was the expression on her face.&uot;

The second oldest of five children, Harris said his philosophy of putting himself in other people’s shoes causes him to consider carefully how his actions with affect other people.

&uot;I always do to people as I want them to do to me,&uot; Harris said. &uot;I like to keep a positive attitude.&uot;

Some people have given Harris a hard time for his altruistic impulse.

&uot;Some people said I was pretty stupid to give that money back,&uot; he said.

&uot;Some said it was the right thing to do. I just say that people need to think how they’d feel if they’d lost that money.&uot;

During his time away from school, Harris enjoys listening to music and going to movies.

When he graduates from high school, Harris said he is considering training at the police academy for a career in law enforcement.

Do you know a good candidate for our bright futures feature? Call Judy Isbell at (601) 446-5172 ext. 240 or e-mail her at: judy.isbell@natchezdemocrat.com.