River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-12-02
HE COULD NOT AFFORD no SWEAR

HE COULD NOT AFFORD TO SWEAR.
A boy stood near the entrance of a
large hotel, with box of backing and a
pair of brushes in his hand, thus showing
to the passers by that he was ready to
black their boots. Patiently he waited,
as one after another passed by without
needing his proffered services, until at
last two yeung men fashionably dressed
and each with cigar in his mouth, stop.
ped before him.
Here, Boots" said one, rudely, 'let
me see if you are master of your trade
and he put his foot on the boys knee.
Charlie, the boot.black, worked with q
will, and soon the polish grew under his
skillful touch. The two young men
amused themselves by trying to frighten
the boy, urging him to hurry, threaten.
ing to cane him, and swearing profanity
at every other word. Charley stood il
as long as he could; one boot was finished
and the other blackened preparatory to
polishing, when he quickly rose and pre-.
pared to put up his brushes.
"What now 7" said the young man.
II would rather not finish them, SIR
replied Charlie.
mot finish them !" said the gentleman,
with an oath; "then you don't see the
color Of my money"
II don't want your money, sir, and
will not stand here and listen to your
swearing" and he turned to move away.
'Let the boy alone and have him fin.
ish his work" said the other youth.
Very we'll Here, boy, finish this
boot, and tell me what you mean. A
boot black afraid of swearing! That is
a good joke -
II am afraid Of it, sir; don't want to
hear it, or 90 where it is, AMI Wont
work for a man who syears at me-"
And you want to make me believe
that you don't swear Why, there is
not one Of your trade that wouldn't both
swear and steal"
80, you are much mistaken many OF
the boys neither steal nor swear. | am
sure nothing could make me steal and
| cannot afford to swear"
Cannot afford to swear Come, now,
do you mean to say it costs anything to
swear p
"Yes, sir; it would cost me more than
million Of pounds"
Nv hat, million of pounds In what
way is your money invested 7"
"In the pearl Of great price. II Il lost
it my soul would be the forfeit, so, you
see, cannot afford to swear. My Sun
day school teacher teaches me that it is
wicked, and my mother forbids me to d.
it. | should disobey all of them il
did it, and lose my soul; so. you see, sir
cannot afford to swear
"The boy is right, said the youn
man who had listened to the CONVEX
sation in silence. "But how happens i
that you are different from your compan
ions They do not think it sin {,
swear; and | suppose some of them 60 t.
Sunday school, too"
"Perhaps they have no mother" sale
Charlie, "or not such good one al
NINE"
"Weil, here's your money, Boots;
suppose do swear little. but am only
one out Of many"
But always one more, sir. And thel
the little boys hear you, and see you
dressed so fine they think it must b.
smart, and they learn to swear, too;
thought so myself at first. Thank you
sir, as he took the money, which wa
silver instead of copper; "and please, sir
do not swear any more
81 will think Of it, said the youth, a
he passed on; and he did think Of il
though he felt rather sore at learning hi
duty from a shoe. black.