Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-06-28
IN AN ELEVATOR.

John Pringle was queer 1eIioW peO-
nle said, and they said so because ne
was yery difident. This was constitu-
,ional with him. His mother had been
an easily sgitated girl, shrinking from
contact with strangers, and John, her
oldest child, was dffident to q painful
degree. This dflidence rarely resulted
in positive aw1wardness, because the
bow was quick and bright Intellectual
IL. and, once acquainted with people,
was easy and graceful even IN their
presence. He had rare, attractive
face quick to express the switt playing
emotions of an extremely sensitive ma
ture. and strangers were as a rule,
toward him with q tenderness control
ling them that they could not under
stand. The coming OF such people al
ways aeitated the boy without displeas
ing him, and their going relieved nm
while it grieved him. He was thus
peculfarly placed in his relations to
other people, for while his face attract
ed them his manner discouraged any
near approach. ,.,
II was thought that this dillidence
would disappear as the boy grew Older
aud understood the demands Of society
unon him. But it did not. 1t was
modified as be grew older, but it could
no more be made to disappear than
the boys enthusiastic love OF pictures
and music.
The time came when Johns friends
gravely discussed the question whether
or not this peculiar, TAFT of character
would not forever impair his useful
l., tka a the
boy made astonishing progress In his
studies 1T school and IN his reading at
home. He stood in advance OF child
rem much older than himself, who were
the very opposite of difhdent. This
made him a puzzliug aud contradictory
character to the people, but they did
not excuse him Tor his one fault ~ they
called it., and his requirements brought
him no special reputation because he
could make no we'll organized display.
His dJhidence stood in his way, and
nothing could rouse him t. overcome
it. He would execute an order or re
senLan insult on the instant, but after
all me was only bashful John Pringle.
Many very good people sreered at
the boy "a q weakling, and others pro-
voked beyond endurance advised that
he be punished. They argued that he
was stubborn, and that whipped be-
yond the line once he would forget hls
bashiulucss and be like other children.
John in All these years had TWO staunch
friends his mother and the ord family
physician. He often disappointed
them, but they always excused.
John became man and acquired q
mans ability in action. People could
not understand it, but natAre had in
some way suited her growing and
developing processes to his peculiarly,
and there was no denying the fact, he
was man. Another surprise awaited
the people--John chose to commence
life in Chicago the very last place, they
thought for u young man of his PeCui-
iarities to get ON. The home people
who had always insisted that he should
be whipped out Of his dflidence losing
sight othim, ceased TO worry about him
and ceased to annoy his mother by
impertinent suggestions and cruel
prophecies. John Pringle in Chicago
was always a standing puzzle to them.
They talked about the case, and laugh
ed AZ they asked:
"Whatwill the boy dc? What can he
do in such 4 place.
Johns life in Chicago was answering
these questions very much 20 his own
satisfaction and his mothers. He was
still controlled by an involuntary,
shrinking senSitiyauess but this hard
liz ever interfered with his business
The same quality that made him a
good scholar at school made him a sue
cesstul business man in his little way
among men who were the very prince,
of business men.
"A an observer outside bis specia
business field, John was not practical
He lived quietly alta pleasant boarding
horse, knowing little about the city
and without Learning anything abou
his fellow borders. He dressed well
he paid his bills regularly, he conduct
ed himself with pyopriety, and tn,
boardcrs knew little about him. Ill
was always referred TO as the Quie
young man IN the corner room, thirt
floor, ANA entered no further than
mere reference into general converse
ton.
John was content to De lef alou
He Thought nc FIRST lha, he was % b.
prosecuted hye young lady boarde
who sat near ann at the table Ii
prlded himself httla ou the assume
GOODNESS udtdrove her from him q
that checked usr impulse 90 beaom
acquainted Hewas sure she was az
actres,, and taat the young man VIII
sat beside he, WAS mduly familiar an
her lover. After au interval Of som
months tie simple fact taat the tw
were husband and wife, and that Ia
lady's advances toward him had bee
nsdgated by her husbands suggestio
that the quiet young man was hom,
sick forced Itself upon him, to caus
him to gnash bis teeth ia selfcensur,
But he made mistakes ia regard to th