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


b. may hav. possessed. bo Invested nor
Of IL in poliienoss A, al events be III
hot % Il when be entered business Pet,
was a builder by trade. and one Of III
most thorough aud faithful vorkmen
the country, II he untartook a contrao
he VAS sure 70 perform his part punciuAll
and properly Still-he was no, always sn
ployed for many who might otherwis
have hired him, were epulsed 10y his VI
oouth manner Of treating them, and sough
assistance elsewhere.
Peter said his wife TO him. one eveninI
do you know that you have Lost good iol
by offending Mr. Graham'
| Peter looked up from his paper and ask
ed her what she meant
mean, she replied that Mr.. Graham
has hired Leayiit 10 build his new house.
Well--what OF il said Peter rathe
crustily.
Why, Am very sure that he meant Il
have hired you TO do the Job; and that h
< ould have done SO had you not offended
him.
How did offend him.
By not listening TO him when he wished
to describe the plan for the building.
His plan was a foolish one.
Well, suppose it was; il you had felt il
your business TO tell him so. you might
hare done it in polite way.
Bah cried Peter, with a snap OF his fin
ger, don't talk Of politeness in business.
II ! were to bother myself to be polite to
everybody who happened to call on me, !
should have my hands full
] think it would pay, ventured the wife.
Peter poohed at the idea; and then told
his wife that he wanted to read.
About month after this Peter came
home in unusual spirits. He had been
ont Of work for some time, and he had
been rather moody and crusty. His wife
noticed the change, and asked him what
bad happened.
There prospect of work, he replied.
we are TO have better times in town. Sum.
ner Wilkins, Of Byfield has bought the
whole of the water pond, on our stream.
and is going to erect factory here.
think I'll get the job. They say that Will
kins had rather have some one here to do
it, and my friends will recommend me.
Mrs Cox was highly delighted, for she
knew that such job would pay well; and
she hoped that her husband might not be
disappointed.
A few days afterward an order came for
some window blinds, and one afterr oon,
while he was busy at his bench, a man
came and watched him at his work for
few seconds without speaking. He was
middle aged man, rather coarsely clad;
and Peter supposed it must be some one
who wanted work.
How dye do? said the stranger as Peter
laid aside the slat which he had just fin.
ished.
How dye do? returned Peter IN sort OF
uncouth grunt
That looks like good lumber you are
working there, remarked the visitor.
It's good enough, was the response.
What is such lumber worth here.
don't know. And as Peter thus ans
wered he took another slat and began TO
plane it.
l suppose you buy some lumber, siry
said the stranger.
/ do when want it, returned Peter,
without looking mp from his work.
Is there any in town to be sold3
They'll tell you at the mill. don't saw
lumber myself.
But you know the value OF il, remarked
the stranger, with allight touch Of feeling
in his tone.
Who told you? retorted Peter.
supposed as You were in the habit OF
using considerable Of various kinds, that
you would be proper one to ask.
Well, sir, said our grouty builder, in his
uncouth, unkind, and ungentlemanly way,
Il so happens that have something else
10 attend to besides keeping the price OF
lumber for everybody who may happen to
want few boards.
Ah yes; didn't know you were so busy
returned the stranger, in the coolest and
most polite manner imaginable. Pardon
nc il have interrupted you. And with
his, he left the shop.
Peter Cox had done no more in this in
Itance than he had done great many
lines before; but yet he could not put it
rom his mind so easy. Somehow it clung
o him and even after an hour had passed,
le found himself wishing that he had
reated his visitor with little more decen-
". But il was too late now.
Peter got his blinds all made, and then
waited news from Byfeld, as it was eI-
,eet that Sumner wilkins would soon
make arrangements to commence opera
ions. he felt sure OF the JOB, as MS
riends had seen wilkins, and recommend
d him strongly. II would be as good as
hree dollars s day to him for several
1onths
One morning as Peter came out on the
treet be heard il remarked that wilkins
ad got his hands all engaged. and would
roak ground soon Ii could not be pos.
ible though, our builder. Surely he
lonld have had some notice Of such
love Halt an hour after that, he was
landing al the door Of grocery, when a
ian drove up in s carriage. and hs came
lto the store He bowed to one or two
'ho stood there, but gave Peter only q
old look. 1t was the man who had called
. L. Il 49,. xsxala la fcxa and frauiral