The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-06-11
sANcTIMoNIous BOYS.
How They'Are Regarded by an Expers
enced Merchant-Tho Pin Racket.

How They Are Regarded by an Expers
enced 1ferchant-Tho Pin Racket.
Boston Globe.l
s"No more long-faced, sanctimonious.
looking boys forme," said one of Boston's
Oldest merchants, as he sat toasting his
shins before his counting-room fire. "It
isn't natural for boys to look that way;
and when they do l can't help suspecting
'em Of being frauds. / have had at least
three Of that description since l started in
business, and they have all turned out bad.
One of them stole, and the other two could
not be trusted the minute my back was
turned. The one that stole came the pin
racket on me-"
"What is the pin racket?"
swell, it's a pretty cute dodge, tell you,
and calculated to deceive anybody thai
does not know about II. A number O
years ago, story appeared in Sunday
school paper-where would not be apt Il
see it-about poor boy who applied 70
work at large wholesale store. The pro
prietor told him he did not need any help,
and the boy started to 60 out. just as he
was leaving the store, he saw a pin on the
floor, and, Ipicking it up, stuck 1T in the
lapel ofihis jacket. The proprietor saw
him do it, and, thinking that boy so
thrifty must be Of some account, called
him back, and engaged him to so to work
the next day. The boy, Of course, ulti-
mately became partner in the concern,
and subsequently, millionaire.
swell, the boy speak Of had read that
story, and concluded to try to play it on
me. He dropped pin on his way into my
contingencies as to have it all ready
and the dodge worked just as he hoped 1t
would. saw him pick up the pin and
place It in his jacket; and did of course
just as the man in the story; called him
back and gave him job. He was keen
one, and no mistake. l pity the commu.
nifty when he is let at large again."
"You certainly had an unhappy ex-
perience."
"Well, 1 did Three Of kind are well
enough on some occasions, but they are
not always desirable. That three cost me
a good deal Of money, as other threes have
(when was younger), and made up my
mind to draw differently. The next boy
that applied for work had black eye, and
his shoes looked as If they had not been
blacked for month. He whistled, know,
coming up the street; nipped handful of
raisins ON his way in and stood chewing
them with his hat on his head, when he
asked: sinister, do you want to hire a
boyr noticed, also, by the way, pack
Of cards sticking out Of his pocket. He
had good, bright eye, though-that is,
the one that was not blacked-and hired
him, principally because he was so differ
ent from my other boys. He was boy,
every inch Of him, and had TO tone him
down little, Of course; but he was worth
any dozen boys ! ever had before or since.
He is now, you may be interested to learn,
my partner, and by his industry and busi-
ness ability he has at least doubled my for
tune within the past seven or eight years.
accidentally learned that the cards he
had in his pocket when he first entered my
store were some that he had bought for his
crippled grandfather with money earned
by shovelling snow. The sight of those
cards would have at once prejudiced some
men against him. From my observations,
II would say, as they say out West; its
hard to tell by the looks Of toad how far
he will jump"