function Left(str, n)
        /***
                IN: str - the string we are LEFTing
                    n - the number of characters we want to return

                RETVAL: n characters from the left side of the string
        ***/
        {
                if (n <= 0)     // Invalid bound, return blank string
                        return "";
                else if (n > String(str).length)   // Invalid bound, return
                        return str;                // entire string
                else // Valid bound, return appropriate substring
                        return String(str).substring(0,n);
        }