The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1867-10-03

which he regarded with deprccating
expression until satisfied that his toes
were in no danger.
My friend Manning, you now," com
menced father, I'VE know nothing about
him, by the way, was an obscure but
ambitious boy: and having abilities not
of an every day order, he early resolved
upon turning himself to some account in
the world But he was poor mans son
and of large family, and the question
was how to bring it about under present
circumstances as unfavorable as could
well be imagined. His parents were hard
working, honest, church going people,
having little to do with the refnements
OF lie, but possessing plenty of strong,
good sense and innate perceptions of the
properties of social intercourse. And
they had carefully and perserveringly in
culcated the notions which the good sense
suggested. One rule they really insisted
on-one, regret to say, which is too
often dlsregarded by people in their sta
ton. They scrupulously enjoyed and en-
force, II necessary, respect and Difference
for superlors either in age. condition or
character; never allowing an infiaction
OF this rule to pass without suita bic re-
buke OF punishment; practice which
all parents and educators of youth would
do well to initiate for, depend upon it,
there Is nothing in the world that pre-
posses one IN favor OF another as civil or
respectful behavior or address. | care
not whether old or young, rich or poor,
wise or ignorant it is the passport to
good will, and has in many instances,
been the stepping stone to fortune.
We'll, my friend Manning. at this
period of his history, was as green and
untatored a little chap as need be bash
tul and awkward beyond all description !;
but he got this lesson by heart, though
he seldom had call to put it into prac-
tice. 5jsl59CI SIS
One bright autumn Sunday, young Man
ming and one or two of his brothers were
standing on the terrace of the village
Westinghouse; for though they lived at
a distance they were required to be pune
tually at church as often as Sunday came,
for the parents, though not professedly
religious, held very correct notions about
going. Its respectable said
they, and we wish to be respected We
cannot leave you money, but we will see
to 1t that you acquire good habits.
They stood on the terrace, said, max
ing their boyish observations on the
various equlpages of the good town s
people as they cracked up their steady
old nags in order to flourish up to the
church door, there to deposit their women
and children. a
a lady stopped her horse, and looked
around in some perplexity as to what she
should do with it. Young Manning in
stantly comprehended the matter. and
sprlnglng to her assistance, his face hot
with bushes, he took the reins from her
hand, while she alighted and helped out
a little girl, and, though she expressed
warmly her pleasure at his unsolicited
pollteness and attention, his diffidence
was such that he could not utter a single
word in reply; for he had recognized in
her widow lady who had very recently
taken up her residence at the fine old
mansion not far from the village, of whose
wealth and grandeur he had heard fabrl-
lous remorse. So he only stood by the
horse, blushiDg and smiling till the occu-
pants OF the carriage We're safely on the
ground, and then carefully secured the
horse In a neighboring shed. while the
lady and her daughter went into the
church. - 3E
Now, trivial and unimportant as this
occurrence may seem, it essentially modi-
fed the whole after life of that lad. 1t
WASH simply the act itself but the mode
and tense of it, which had such power
to affect his destiny Do you understand?
The manner and time Of doing a thing,
quite indifferent in itself, may. and often
does, make an Ineffaceable impression -
Father stopped short and looked ear
nestly but very pleasantly.
es, sir, answered Rebecca, thinking
he awaited some response on our part
yes, sir, but that ism t all, is it %
Not quite, renlied he, with queer
twinkle in his eyes, unless you are tired
of listening lEH
'sNo, indeed. papa, do go on, urged
we, all in the same breath .at
well, then, " proceeded father. latter
service, the widow, Mrs. D., and her
little girl found their chaise at the door.
and the same boy in attendance. with the
same unsnrmonntable difiidence holding
HIM tongue tied
Mrs d., took a silver quarter from her
pocket and vas going to slip it into the
boy hands as an accompaniment for her
thanks but he was out of sight the mo-
ment they were seated in the chaise
Who is that boy, Elizabeth" inquir
ed the widow as they drove homeward
Il don't know, mamma, but [ saw
him in Sunday School; his class is very
near mine, replied Elizabeth. s.
Indeed % said Mrs d., but I might
have known he belonged to the Sabbath
School, and that he had been carefully
trained at home, too, by his civil and
obliging behavior. Quite extraordinary
in a raw country lad | shall keep my
eye on that boy, Elizabeth, for you may
rely upon it he viii yet be heard from in
the world, whatever his situation and
prospects may now be. =
Elizabeth was pleased to hear him COM
mended, and added her own remark to
the same purport.
Through the succeeding week the lad
was often mentioned; and by taking
some trouble his name and address were
ascertained, together with certain partic-
ulars respecting his ambitious purposes
for the future all of which information
only served to convince the widow d..
that she had been mistaken in her first
estimate of the youngster.
We now pass over an interval of ten
years, which to my friend Manning were
years OF stern but resolute struggle and
toll Bent on the course which had been
the theme of his prattle, he had under
taken, single handed to grapple with the
thousand obstacles which rose mountain
high between his poverty and liberal
education and professional career But
he never faltered nor wavered in his de-
termina ion. though ready to sink in the
unequal contest with untoward circum-
stances. He fought his way through
preparatory process, entered college in
advance and graduated with the highest
honors his class could confer
But results like these TAT least he tho t
sol could never have been achieved had
not his courage. energy and resolution
been sustained from some unknown and