Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1869-12-02
Sslset Story.
The Secret of Success.
BY HORATIO ALGER, JR

The omnibus was already crowded with
a full complement of passengers, wien a
signal wac made by a gentleman standing
on the sidewalk. The driver drew up,
and he, with lady who was accompany
ing him, advanced to the steps.
i am sorry to iut:ude, he said, apollo
geticalIy, observing that the omnibus was
full, but my wife being unwell and
about to take a journey, fear we shall he
too late for the cars if we stop to take the
next omnibus Then addressing boy
who sat next to the door, he said, Would
you be willing to take IN outside seat
aud give yours to my wife !?
The boy addressed scowied unpleasant
ly, and answered, No, SIR, | am not
wiling.
Instantly another boy sitting beside
George Douglas this was the name
of the other vacate! his seat, and said,
pleasantly, The lady may have my seat
i am sorry to trouble you to get up
said the gentleman.
No trouble at all, sir; [ can take a
seat with the driver
Accordingly the stage was stopped,
and Arthur Gray clambered to the top
where he found u comfortable seat, and
really enjoyed his ride much more than
George Doug las to whom the satisfaction
of having asserted his rights was after all
productive Of very little pleasure He
was. moreover. indignant with arthur, for
| yledllg his seat, being more than half
conscious that TO the rest Of the passcn-
gers, Arthur's conduct had appeared in a
much more favorable light than his OVID
:, hen they reached their destination, the
boys resumed company, and George be-
gan to assall Arthur on the course he had
| taken.
For my part, said he, 1 don't believe
in putting myself to Inconvenience just to
oblige a stranger. think it's an mpo>i-
ton, their getting in at all when they saw
the omnibus was full
But YOU know, Arthur, the gentleman
explained that be wished to get partic-
ular train OF cars
'Ehcu they might have stood up, and
not tried to cheat tHe other passengers out
Of their seats
lie was willing to, but his wife was
unwcll. That was the reason Of their
making a Journey
Then If she wanted seat she might
have started earlier. Because people won't
be III time, | don't know as am bound
TO sacrifice. my convenience to the
There might have been reasono that
we don't know OF for tue delay. Besides,
you know that at this time OF the morn
ing the omnibus is pretty sure to be iull
| by the tiuie 1t reaches the point where
they got IN
low much do you expect to be paid
for defending them Z asked George, with
sheer
'Nothipg at ALL said Arthur, with a
| smile But [ confess feel better salts
fed with myself when have done any
one favor, even at u little sacrifice on
my part, than when | have refused
GU must have very tender con
SCIENCE said George, in the same disa
greeable manner. Thank goodness, am
not troubled III that way. | believe III
standing up for ones rights. Il we don't
do it we shall be pretty likely to get in
posed npon at every step, just as you were
this morning.
is that the way you look upon it?'
asked Arthur.
Yes said George. 1 think you al
lowed yourself to be imposed upon. OF
course it isn't anything to me, if you like
it, only don't choose to follow your ex-
ample
Then we will each follow our own
way. said Arthur and that reminds me
that turn oil here. Good morning
The preceding conversation will furnish
a sufficient key to the especlvf characters
OF the two boys who have been introdu-
ced to the reader George Douglas had "a
strong anu offensive sense of independence
which led to constant jealousy lest his
rights should in any way be interfered
WITH For this reason he resolutely de-
clined making any personal sacrifices to
promote the convenience Of others, con
sidering that he would thus be suffering
himself to be imposed upon. The natu-
raj consequence was, that he had the rep
ulation OF being very dsoblisiug. and
was far from popular among his school
mates.
Arthur Gray was the direct opposite of
George in the points which have been
mentioned. He was Is obiging and pop
ular as the latter was the reverse.
Time passed. aud both boys left school.
| They were now of an age to enter upon