The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-11-27
A Story for Boys.

"Whcn ! was six years old" saysn well
known merchant "mN Gither dild. lcayinn
nothing to my mother but the charge Of my
self aud two Young sisters. After selling the
greater part Of the housthold furniture she
had ,wned, she took two small upper rooms
! ia W street. aid there, by her needle,
cortri,cd in some way--how Icnnnnt CON
ceve, when lrecollcct the bare pidlhcc for
which she wurkcd-to support us in comfort.
Frequently, however, / remember that our
supper consisted simply of slice of bread
seasoned by hunger, and rendered inviting
by the neat manner in which our rcpaSt was
served, our table always being spread with a
cloth, which, like my good mothers heart.
seemed ever to'preserye snow.whitr puri-
~"
Wipng his eyes, the merchant continued
speaking of those days reminds me OF
the time when we sat down to the table one
evening, and my mother had asked the bless
ing ol our Heavenly Father oh her little de-
fencccss ones, in tones of tender palhos that
remember yet, and which, if possible must
have made the angels weep, she divided the
little remnant of her only loaf into three
pieces, placing one on each of our plates, but
preserving none for herself stole around
to her, and was ABOUT To tell her that i was
not hungry, when food of tears burst from
her eyes, and she clasped me to her bosom
Our meal was left untouched we sat up late
that night, but what we said cannot tell
l know that my mother talked to me more
as n compauion than child, and that when
we knult down to pray, | consccratcd myself
to he the Loid's and to serve my mother.
But said he, "this is not telling you how
neatness made my fortune. IL was some
time after this that my mother found an adj
Vertiscmcnt in the newspaper for an crrand
boy in commission store in B. street
Without being necessitatcd to whit To have
my clothes mended, for my mother always
kept them in perfect order, aud although on
minute inspection they bore traces of more
than one patch, yet ON the whole they had u
very respectable air; without being obliged
, to wait even to polish my shoes, for my
mother always kept a box Of blacking with
which my COW hides must he set off before |
took my breakfast without waiting TO ar
raHge my hair, for ! was obliged to observe
from my earliest youth. the most perfect
neatness in every respect, my mother sent
me to see if | could obtain the situation.--
With light step started, for | had long
time wished my mother to allow me to do
something TO assist her.
Nv heart beat fast, assure you, o turn
ed out of W into b street, and
made my way along to the ndmber my moth
er had given me. ! summoned all the cour-
age | could muster, and stepped briskly into
the store, and made known the reason of my
calling. The merchant smiled and told me
that there was another hoy who had come in
little before me, he thought he should hire.
However, he asked me some questions, and
then went out and conversed with the other
boy, who stood in the back part of the office.
The result was. that the lad who first applied
was dismissed, and entered the merchants
employment first as Rn errand boy, then as n
clerk afterwards us his partner, until his
death, " hen he left me the whole business,
stock, SO. After had been in his service
some years, he told me the reason he chose
me in preference to the other boy was because
Of the general neatness of my person, while
in reference to thg-other lad. ne noticed that
he neglected properly to tuck down his vest.
To this simple circumstances 4fas probably
been owing the greater part of my success in
business"