The Republican journal., 1882-12-14
cIvlLIIY As BUSINESS I'M EsrnIENr.

Peter Cox invested nothing in polite
ness At all events he did not do it when
he entered business.
Peter was a builder by trade, and one
of the most thorough and faithful work
men in the country. If he undertook a
contract, he was sure to perform his part
punctuaily and properly. Still he was not
always employed, for many who might
otherwise have hired him, were repulsed
by his uncouth manner of treating them.
and sought assistance elsewhere.
''Peter,' said bis wife to him, one eve
ming, do YOU know that you have lost
d good .iob by offending Mr.. Graham y
Peter looked up from his paper and
asked her what she meant.
II mean," she replied 'that Mr.. era
ham has hired Leavitt to build bis new
house"
"Well- what Of it h sad Peter, rather
crustily.
"Why, am sure that he meant to have
hired you to DO the Job: and that he
would have done So had YOU not offended
him."
GLOW did offend him ?"
"By not listening to him when he wish
Ills plan was foolish one"
"Well, suppose it was; if you had felt
it to be your business to tell him so, you
might have done it in a polite way"
Bah" cried Peter with snap OF his
finger. tdont talk of poljteness IN bust
ness. If | were to bother myself to be
polite to everybody who happened to call
on me. should have my hands full"
IL think it would pay" yentured the
wife
Peter poohed at the idea, and then told
his wife be wanted to rea0.
About a month after this, Peter came
home in unusual spirits. He had been
out Of work some time, and he had been
rather moody and crusty. His wife no
tlced the change, and asked what had
happened.
There's a prospect of work" he re-
piled. "Ne are to have better times in
town. Sumner Wilkins, Of Bytield, has
bought the whole of the water privilege
on onl stream and Is gong to erect u
factory here think I'll gc5a job, They
say thai Wilkins had rather have some
one here 70 10 if, and my friends will re-
| commend me-
Mrs. Cox Was highly delighted, for she
knew that such JOB must pay we'll and
She hoped that her husband might not
get disappointed.
\ few day atterWard an order came for
some window blinds and one afternoon,
While he was busy at his bench, a man
came and watched him at his work for
few moments without speaking He was
a niddle-aged man. rather coarseIy clad,
and Peter supposed it must be some one
who wanted work
GLOW dye do :" said the stranger, as
Peter laid aside the slat which he had lust
finished
slow dye do ," returned Peter in a
sort Of uncouth grunt.
THAT looks like good lumber you're
working there remarked the visitor.
''lt's good enough" was the response.
"What is such lumber worth here ,"
Il don't know" And as Peter thus
answered he took another slat and began
to plane it,
II suppose vou buy some lumber, sir !'
II DO when want it," returned Peter,
without looking up from his work.
is there any in town to be sold 2
"Iheyll tell YOU at the mill. don't
saw lumber myself"
but YOU know the value Of it, Ie-
marked the stranger, with a slight touch
Of feeling in his tone.
"Who told you ?" retorted Peter
II supposed, as You We're in the habit
Of using considerable lumber of various
kinds that you would be proper person
to ask
"Well, sir" said our grouty builder, in
his uncoutb. unkind and ungentlemanly
way, "it So happens that | have some
thing else TO attend to besides keeping
the price Of Lumber tor everybody who
may happen to want a few boards"
"Ah yes; didn't know you were so
busy returned the visitor, in the coolest
and most polite manner imaginable.
''Pardon me if | have interrupted you"
And with this he left the shop.
Peter Cox had done no more in this in
stance thal he had done great many
times before, yet he could not put it out
OF mind. Somehow it chung to him, and
even after an hour had passed, he found
himself wishing that he had treated his
visitor with little more decency. But it
was too late now
Peter got his blinds all made, and then
awaited news from Bytield, as it was eX-
pected that Sumner Wilkins would soon
make arrangements to commence Oper
ations. lie felt sure Of the job, as his
friend had seen Wilkins, and recommend
ed him strongly. 1t would be as good as
three dollars a day to him for several
months.
one morning, as Peter came out on the
street, he heard it remarked that Wilkins
had got his hands all engaged, and would
| break ground very soon. 1t could not he
possible. thought our builder. Surely he
would have had some notice Of such a
move. Half an hour after that, he was
standing at the door OF a grocery, when a
man drove up in carriage and he came
into the store. He bowed to one OF two
who stood there, but gave Peter only q
! cold look. 1t was the man who had called
at his shop two weeks before and inquir-
ed the price of lumber He was dressed
as plainly as ever, but he drovca splendid
| horse, and the carriage was (; costly enc.
"Who is that man " Peter asked after
the stranger had gone.
That 7" returned the bystander, III
evident surprise, "don't you know him "
"No. Who was it?'
"Why, that is Mr.. Wilkins
Sumner Wilkins Of Byfed The man
who is going to build the factory ?"
'tIes"
Peter Cox lett the room with a sinking
heart and 10y the time he had reached
his shop he was almost sick. What fall
it was He went home to dinner, and ere
| long his wife had learned the whole story.
I She had already learned that the great
job had been given to another, and knew
] why it had been done.
"Why didn't he let me know who he
was when he came to my shop?' said
Peter, in petuant mood.
"That isn't the question:" suggested
his wife, speaking as CONSIDERABLY as
possible 81 would be better, Peter if
you would treat people respectfully. ] do
| pnt wnn1ar that rho man was rpnulcQI hV