The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1881-05-26


shop be wss slmosl sick. What q fall
vas. He vent home 10 dinner. and er
long bis wife had learned the whole story
She had already learned that the great iol
hhd esn given 70 another. and knew VII,
IL bad been done.
Why didn't be lot me know who he was
when he came INTO my shop. said Peter. II
pe,nlani mood
That isn't the question, suggested hi
wife. speaking As considerably as possible
IL would he better, Peter, II you woult
ask why didn't you treat him respectfully
II seems, from your own account. that b,
asked very simple aud proper question -
as any ought to answer with pleasure
tell you, my husband. politensss pays II
you could only overcome your habit OF
treating strangers so uDcouthly you would
be greatly the gamer thereby.
For many days Peter Cox was sore and
morose. He saw the work commenced on
the factory without his assists.aa and he
feared he sl,onld have Uut k..le b,.si.'css
| for some time 10 ovluc. He had 1t first
been inclined 10 think very hard Of Sum.
ner wilkins; but when he came to reflect
more calmly he though differently. He
eould not wonder that the man Aad boen
repulsed by his rudenoss.
Ii was Saturday afternoon, and Peter
was in his shop, doing nothing, but think.
ing, when some one entered. He looked
up and saw Mr. wilkins.
How dye do2 said the capitalist
How d'ye do? responded the builder.
You are not very busy, ! take it added
wilkins.
A quick, rough answer was making its
way to Peters lips; but he did not speak
it. He recollected himself in season. He
had taken a solemn obligation upon him.
self that he would not allow any more such
words to go out from his mouth upon his
fellow men.
No, sir, he replied, as soon as the old
spirit had been quelled; am not very
busy just now
Perhaps you would like to work for me.
As you wish it.
Well, said Wilkins, am in want OF help
and should like to employ you. meant
to have employed you before; and per-
haps you can imagine why ! did not. How
ever, he added, as he saw Peters counte.
nance fall, there is no need Of referring to
that only for the lesson it teaches. l felt
the cut Of your rudeness very deeply; and
the more 80 because could not see where
in had given any occasion for it.
was rude, replied Peter, frankly; and
as you have intimated. / found lesson in
the result; and l hope may profit by it.
That's enough, sir And so veil let the
past go. Wilkins extended his hand as he
spoke, and Peter grasped it warmly.
And now, the visitor continued, let's
come to our business. The man whom
engaged to superintend the erection of my
mill, has SO much other business that he
would be spared from this; 30 il you will
take it | will let him 60
or course Peter took it; and when the
mill was done, so well and faithfully had
he performed his work that he had more
offers of valuable contracts than he could |
possibly attend to.
But Peter Cox did not forget the prime
secret OF this new success. He knew that
he was eminently qualified as an architect
and builder; but this was not all. He also
knew that the first lesson. he had learned
was the most valuable one-that invest
ment he had made was yielding him the
greatest interest And, moreover, the in
come from the politeness which he had
como to possess was not oil gross and ma
terial No, no-one Of its highest and
purest fruits was that which came to his
heart, and which remained with him to
bless him, wherever he went.
-3s