The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-07-23
From the Boston Olive Branch.
P POL I IT EN- ESS PAY
''TIIE LITTLE RRATS."

energy and resolution. His face and hands
were scrupulously clean, but his clothes
were poor and patched, though not as the
man above had insnuated, ragged: his
mother was woman possessing much force
of character-a llard-working woman, who
was apparently reared in better circum-
stances than those that now surrounded her
for she was the wife of drunkard.
The grocer was busy, and he evidently
had not heard what was said, so the rough.
looking man remarked again,
81 say, Wyman, you're queer one."
allow queer, Crosse" asked the grocer,
throwing cup Of tea into the scales.
"Why you treat all the beggars about
here with as much consideration when they
come with their pennies, as if they bought
by the Wholesale"
Sand why shouldn't 2" asked the gro
Ger, looking up with his honest eyes wide
open and clear.
20 I don't know; it's queer, that's all !;
you're the only man that does it reckon,
in these parts"
"Well, I'll tell you," said Wyman de-
liberately unwindng spool Of cord and
twisting the string about package which
he held in his hand, "the fact is, if I wasn't
naturally tender towards the children, I
should treat them as 1 do from motives of
policy. You see I'm but young man,
and these "brats" as you call them, are
growing up fast. Many Of them, of little
worth as they seem now, will become men
of character, and men of business. Now l
want TO retain their custom" he said, laugh
ingly; "tbeir pennies, in the course of few
years, will turn into pounds; their three
cents worth Of sugar will change into Or
ders by the barrel. I shall have many good
customers among the "brats ;" besides, I've
always found that poiteness pays WELL"
Something in that" calculated the
coarse man, thrusting his hands into his
pockets, something in that; but never
looked at it in that light before"
"The boy who bought the sugar." con-
tinued the grocer, "is one Of no ordinary
mind, if am not mistaken. If bis father
was dead, I'd take him with me into the
store, and make man of bim-though I
reckon nature will do better for him than'I
could" and the far-seeing grocer smilingly
banded cents worth of pins 10 little tim
id child, whose top curl just reached to the
counter.
Time verified the prediction of Wyman
the grocer. There wasn't shop in the
place where so much small change was spent
AS in his; for the children loved to 90
where they were not afraid of rough actions
or rude speeches. They felt themselves
sac while making their little purchases
they saw that their rights were respected;
and it is we'll known that on such trifling
sales much profit accrues in the aggregate.
Time passed, and Wyman the grocer was
the most popular man in town. His pleas
ant face at forty years was greeted every
where. Young men and maidens always
patronized Wyman. ltis strange to see the
Transformation that took place SO gradually.
The little dirty faced Juveniles shot up into
awkward youths learning trades, and then
grew to respectable business men. Wy
man enlarged his shop, and built him a
splendid house, "ail the fruits of the chill
dren's pence" he often said, laughingly.
Yes, with him, it paid to be polite it
always pays. Hpays the merchant as well
as the mechanic, the lawyer as we'll as the
physician. Urbans manners have been the
means of making many fortune, while the
cross-grained have wondered why they didn't
get along. The roughncss that "speaks its
mind at all times and in all places, boast.
ing itself that it is only honest, blunt, and
straightforward is habit that demoraizes
as we'll as insults. Ask any man you may
chance to see if he remembers those who
treated him with urbanity when he was
child, and he. will call his name with throb
of pleasure. Perhaps, too, be will couple
some other names With the epithet of '.old
rascal ]" and "I've never liked that mani
wouldn't have dealings with him."
1t paid the grocer to be polite. The rag.
ged boy, the drunkards son, became a
great, as we'll as rich man. he establish.
ed his mother In q handsome residence d,
his own, and sent in unlimited iorders to the
grocer. It,was bis indnancs that gave wy
man several posts of honor in ,his native
i cifU .A-for the fnu,n haaa,no q th,;o;,x, 80.