Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-02-10

OR NOBODY WAS EVER SORRY FOR nEINd POLITE.
am now an old pastor, aud as / cannot
preach any longer, take great pleasure in
thinking over the events Of my long life
When | preached in the city of B.,
bad two ncighbors One Of them, who lived
at the right Of my cottage, did not seem
friendly to anybody He seldom spoke to
any one on the street, aud the boys disliked
him very much, because he was very cross
and grabbed. lie was noted for being penu-
rious, and seldom did any person receive a
gift from him.
To the left Of my cottage there lived poor
shoemaker, whose whole time was coupled in
taking care Of his large family. He had a
very pleasing face, friendly toward everybody,
and was just the opposite of my noighbor at
the right Among the old shoemaker's eight
children there was boy about eight years
old, who had blue eyes, red checks, light hair,
and was as cheerful as a squirrel. His name
was little Peter, and though his father was
poor, he had trained him to be very polite
and Little Peter was one of the most polite
boys | ever knew.
For my part, | thought a great deal of
him. and when his school teacher, who was
member Of my congregation, told me how in
dustrious and talented he was, felt very anx-
ious to see him have a good education. One
winter evening, as | was sitting at my desk
preparing my sermon for the following Sun
day heard a rap at the door. " Come in !"
said and what was my astonishment to
find my neighbor who lived at the right of
the parsonage.
Please, sir, do not be offended that |
trouble you tonight. have an important
matter which | thought | ought to lay be-
fore you
am very much pleased to see you" |
replied, " and hope you will speak freely"
You know" replied the neighbor, A" that
| take walk every day, and as often as
pass the door of the shoemaker who lives
close by us, his little boy Peter salutes me
with so much kindness and such pleasant
face that he has deeply affected me Though
he has kept it up for year or two, have
never returned his salutation and yet he is
as pleasant as ever. So have been think
ing to myself that his politeness must be nat
urai to him. and that the boy has a good
heart. One day thought that | would test
him; and, accordingly, as | went by the
shoemaker's shop, dropped my mouey-purse
right near where Little Peter was standing
and then | hurried on | thought | would
see whether Peter was honest as well as polite,
but had not gone dozen steps before he
came running after me, and, handing me my
said to me " This is yours,
sir please take it, Now, this circum-
stance has affected me very deeply, and
have thought that | ought to do what | can
to help that poor family. | am advanced in
life, and am rich, and need but little to live
upon. So, in the first place, | would like to
help the shoemaker and his family and in
the next place | would like to do what | can
for Peter. What desire Of you,
sir, is to give me your advice"
took hold Of my neighbor's hand, thank
ed him heartily for revealing to me such good
desires, and then told him | thought the poor
and his family were worthy OBJ
jects of his attention. then told him that
Little Peter was boy Of unusual talents as
well as of great politeness, and of undoubted
honesty, and then advised my neighbor to
provide for his education He then promised
that he would pay especial attention to the
wants of the shoemaker and his family, aud
after half an hours time, he bade me Good
night !" but the remarkable circumstance so
affected me, and led me to think over the
change that God had wrought in him, that it
was late hour before | went 10 sleep.
The next week this same neighbor went
into tine shoemaker's little shop. The ceiling
was so low that he could hardly stand up in
it, and he found out that the shoemaker did
not make shoes at all, but only mended them,
tor there were piles Of old worn out-shoes all
around the room, but there was not a sign
Of any new leather, or Of any new boots and
shoes. OF course, the shoemaker was almost
beside himself with astonishment TO see the
man who had passed for cross and ugly per-
son, and who seldom spoke to anybody, come
into his shop, and, especially, address him in
the pleasant manner in which he did
The rich gentleman than said am
needing new pair Of boots, and | would
like you to make me a pair. Can you do it
lt once ?"
Well--well-I can make shoes, and
boots, too, but--but-really, | don't know
believe | haven't GOT haven't got enough
leather"
The truth was, the shoemaker did not
know what to say, yet he knew that he had
no leather in the shop that was fit for max
ing boots, for it had been many months since
he had made pair, and he was really too
poor to lay in freshstock of leather.
As soon as the rich man saw the poor shoe
makers difficulty, he said to him
"Oh well never mind the leather;
will take care of that"
The shoemaker hardly knew what to think
Of him when he insisted upon his taking his
measure. But the measure was taken, and
the rich neighbor bade him Good-by." That
evening there was brought to the shoemaker
a large roll of leather, and if his name had
not been On it, he would certainly have thought
It was designed for somebody else.
The next day supply of flour, meal, pota-
toes, and beef was brought to the shoemaker
little shop, and he and his family were re-
ioiced beyond measure at the good fortune
which they had met with. But Little Peters
education was yet to be provided for. My
rich neighbor saw the school-teacher in regard
to him, gave him sum Of money to pay
great attention to him, to teach him in special
hours of the day, to provide him with all the
books that he needed, and to prepare him for
the University with the greatest care.
Now, | am glad to say that all the kindness
which this rich man showed to the poor shoe
maker aud his family did not have the slight
est effect toward making them lose their po-
iteness or kindness OF heart. The tide now
turned greatly in the shoemaker's favor, and
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