The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-12-12
Select STORY,
PROMISE AT RANDOM.

In small but thriving village in New
York State lives man by the name of
Albert Brown. At the age of four and
twenty he took to himself wife, and in
three years he opened shop on his own
account. He was tin-worker by trade,
and his work gave the utmost satisfaction.
He had bought out the shop and interest
of man who had moved away, so he had
run of business already on his hands.
For while all went on well; he had as
much as he wished to do his patrons were
prompt in their payments, and his pros
poets were bright. His dwelling joined his
shop, so that he was always convenient to
his place of business But at length there
began to be murmurings among his GUS
toners.
"Albert," said his wife one evening as
he came in from the post-office, "NIr Cum
mings has been here after the funnel you
promised to make for him."
"Ah, has he p returned the young man,
looking up from the paper he had just
opened.
eyes, and he seemed quite anxious about
it, for the weather is cold, and his family
are unable TO use their sitting-room just
for want of that funnel
'Well, | must make it tomorrow"
''But you know you have promised to
have Mr. Moore's cooking-stove ready to-
morrow, and you have also the funnel to
make for that, beside boiler and tea
kettle"
eyes, [ know; but Moorell have to wait
must make that funnel for Cummings" "
For some time Alice Brown sat in 81
lence, Her face revealed troubled mind
and her hand moved tremulously over the
silken hair of her infant.
ALBERT" she said at length, "you will
pardon me, l know, for what [ am now
going to say'-she trembled as she spoke,
for she was not used to reprimanding her
husband, and severity of language was
something she could not use, unless indeed,
it may have been once in a while to her
little son, who often tried her patience.
'Go ahead, Alice" returned the young
man, with faint smile.
Il must speak, Albert, for [ am sure
you do not realize how you are injuring
yourself You do not realize, fear. how
often you disappoint your customers. Now,
| heard Mr.. Cummings say he had better
have sent to the city at once, and then he
should have got his funnel in some kind of
season.
"Then why don't he send? 1 never
asked him for his CUSTOM"
"Ah, Albert, you do not mean what you
say. You have asked for his custom. You
have asked for the custom of all the people
in town; and not only so, but in your ad-
vertisement you promise to do your work
with promptness and dispatch. Now listen
to me calmly, for surely am anxious only
for your good. You have often promised
people certain things at given time, and
you know how often you have disappointed
them. Now why is it not just as easy to
have your promises and performances agree,
as to have them so often at fault? When
Mr.. Cummings came for his funnel, why
could you not have made up your mind
just when you could do the work, and then
do it at all hazards? OF course, sickness
is always reasonable excuse"
"But you do not understand these things,
Alice, " said the husband in an explanatory
manner "When l have SO much work on
my hands, it is impossible always to tell
just when such and such things can be
done l do them all as soon as L can."
"And yet, Albert, you disappoint your
customers. Now just reflect moment
You do alk the work you have, but the
trouble is you do not do it at the time pro-
missed. Now, for instance, when Cum
mings came for his funnel he asked you if
you could not have it by the next day at
noon. Instead of carefully considering
what you had on your hands, and answer
ing him accordingly, you simply wished to
please him for the time being, and told him
he should have it by night. This evening
he called again, and again was he disap-
pointed. His wife is now fretting, and he
is angry; and he has good cause for it.
And now look at tomorrow; if you make
his funnel tomorrow, you must disappoint
MIR. Moore, for his is an all days job, most
surely; and you know how particular he is. !"
'Oh, [ know what you mean, Alice, but
l should like to have you take hold and
try. You'd find talking and doing two
different things, I'm thinking"
Perhaps l should, Albert; but yet I'd
make them both agree in the end. When
had promised Mr.. Cummings his funnel
| would have done it. Last night would
have called to mind all the work had on
hand, and if l had been sure that could
turn it off as promised without working in
the evening, | would have spent the eve
ming in the house; but had it appeared
otherwise, | would have worked till mid
night if need be. Ere I would break a
business promise l would work all night
while my health and strength lasted. But
there would be no need of this. Keep a
book, and In it put all your work engaged,
with the time at which it is promised, and
then 90 at it. IF a man wants such thing
at given time, just refer to the work on
hand, and if you find you can reach it
without disappointing others, then promise
him, but if you cannot do SO, then tell him
50 plainly, and also when you can do it.
BE sure no sensible man will find fault with
this. Let people see that you will be
prompt and reliable, and you need not fear