Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1882-05-03

Peter Cox left the room with sink
! ing heart; and by the time he hat
reached the shop was almost sick
What fall it was He went hom'
dinner, and ere long his wife hac
heard the whole story. She had al
ready learned that the great job hac
been given to another, and knew why
it had been done.
why didn't he let me know who
he was when he came into my shop !?
said Peter, in petulant mood.
That isn't the question: suggested
his wife, speaking as considerably al
possible. 1T would be better, Peter
if you would ask why didn't you treat
him respectfully? 1t seems from your
own account that he asked very sim
pie and proper question-as any ought
to answer with pleasure. l tell you,
my husband, politeness pays. If you
could only overcome your habit Of
treating strangers so uncouthly, you
would be greatly the gamer thereby.
For some days Peter Cox was sore
and morose He saw the work CON-
menced on the factory without his as
sistance and he feared he should have
bnt little business for some time to
come. He had at first been inclined
to think very hard of Summer Will
kins; but when he came to reflect
more calmly he thought differently.
He could not wonder that the man had
been repulsed by his rudeness.
1t was Saturday afternoon and
Peter was in the shop doing nothing
but thinking, when some one entered.
He looked up and saw Mr.. Wilkins.
How dye do p said the capitalist.
How dye do p returned the builder.
You are not very busy, l take it,
added Wilkins.
A quick, rough answer was making
it's way to Peters lips but be did
not speak it. He recollected himself
in season. He had taken solemn
obligation upon himself 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; l am not
very busy now
Perhaps you would like to work for
me-
AS you wish it,
We'll, said Wilkins, Il am in want
of help, and should like to employ you.
| meant to have employed you before ;
and perhaps you can imagine why L
did not. However, he added, as he
saw Peters countenance fall, there is
no need ofreferring to that only for the
lesson it teaches / felt the cut Of
your rudeness very deeply, and the
more so because could not see where
in | had given you any occasion for
it,
i was rude returned Peter frankly;
and, as you have intimated, / found q
lesson in the result; and | hope may
profit by it,
That's enough sir. And so we'll
let the past co. wilkins extended his
hand as he spoke, and Peter grasped
it warmly.
And now,' the visitor continued,
let's come to your business. The
man whom | engaged to superintend
the erection of my mill has 80 much
other business that he would be spared
from this; so if you will take it | will
let him CO.
OF course Peter took it; and when
the mill was done, so well and faith
fully had he performed bis 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 his new success. He
knew that he was eminently qualified
as an architect and builder; but this
was not oil. He also knew that the
first lesson be had learned was the
most valuable one-that investment
be had made was yielding him the
greatest interest. And, moreover
the income from the politeness which
he had come to possess was not oil
gross and material. No, no-one ol
its highest and purest fruits was that
which remained with him to bless him
wherever he went.