The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1889-09-06
ALTOGETHER TOO "SMART."


A few mornings since, while wait.
ing at The station OF a large cuun-
try town, | Witnessed Il little Incl
dent that | think will interest the
readers of Our Young People.
The ticket agent had gone to
breakfast, leaving the office in
charge OF a bright-looking boy OF
fourteen OF, fifteen. The boy was
reading what seemed to have been
IA very interesting book, Judging
from the reluctant manner in
which he lalI ii aside TO wait on
passengers.
Shortly after my arrival, an old
lady, oddly dressed, and evidently
not accustomed to travelling. came
in, and after %depOsiting her bundles
and procuring her ticket, inquired
%civiliy CT the office boy:
"What time is The mp train due? ?"
"Ther'S IA time table on the wall
behind YOU" was The surly ansW er.
"You can't read | reckon"
Without a word the old woman
put on her glasses, and alter a long
search gained the information he
might have given her in less time
than it had taken to give his UNI
gracious answer.
"7:33, 1888. 1t must be that time
now" she soliloquized. Young
man, would YOU please TO tell me
what time il is z" she asked, timid-
ly, SIancing al the boy again,
"Why don't YOU look at the
clock q sneered the smart lad.
MY business is to sell tickets, not
TO answer questions"
An old gentleman, very plainly
dressed, who had been sitting IN a
corner with his hat pulled oyer his
eyes, looked up quickly when he
heard the boys impolite response /;
but he said nothing, and after the
lapse Of a few minutes sauntered
slowly across the room to the tick
ct window.
What is your name, my boy 2"
he asked, kindly, after nodding in
diligently to the telegrapher.
Il do not know that it is any of
your business but if you have IA
fortune TO leave YOU can Just name
Dick MOrton's KID, Jack, and it will
be all o. X"
"IOur father ought to be proud
Of such a promising boy" returned
The gentleman, dryly. lis Mr..
Johnson in ~ he asked, IA little
sharply.
You a find out by II aking use
your eyes, l guesS,' said The
boy, glancing around under tables
md benches, apparently very much
unused.
just then another boy came in
With some papers for the agent,
md bis smart friend said, loud
enough TO be heard all over The
yaltlng-rOom
"Here, Fred, don't 60 away till
Johnson comes. Attend to the
ickels if any are wanted. i have {
been bored to death answering
questions, and | want to finish this
book before the boss gets round"
The new conner quietly hung up /
lis hat aud coat, and went to wail |
IpOn some ladies who were stand !
ng at tlte window.
a lew minutes later the old gen {
asked somewhat sharply:
"What time is the train due, {
}ubw |
"7:33,' was the prompt answer. /
"And what time is it now?" de- {
handed the same impatient voice
hat had spoken before.
"lt is just is minutes past ~ re-
lied the boy, cheerlully.
ape" sneered smart Jack.
Why don't you bluff him off"
what Is your name z" persisted
he old man, stepping up a little
Erred Myers" responded the !
oy, politely,
as The boss in 2" was The next
lquIry, in a much lower tone.
mo, sir. He has gone To his
reaklast, but will be back in a few
was the quiet answer. 7
''Seeing your master is not in, .
ant you give me cut rates TO NJ
VheelingH III see that you are
OF found out" 4
my Master is always ill.," was =
ne boys quick reply. r
just then Mr.. johnson, the agent,
anne in and addressed The plain. S
Stranger as Mr.. Hays, and y
re boys both knew that the super y
llendenl of the railroad had been
to them, and before they p
al recovered from their CONFUSION |,
Iey heard him say: Mr.. Knox, n
our telegraph operator, has been et
npOiIted TO take charge of am Of
&c in the city, and | came down .
lock alter a suitable boy 10 take y
Is place here. Remembering the
you gave me sometime
20, | had made up my mimi CON- -
,rning whom his successor should
?, but after what | have witnessed
lis morning, | have come 10 the
inclusion that Dick Morlon's kid,
,cB, is entirely too smart for our
&c, aud that this boy, whose Mas
r is always in, can be trusted 10 m
Ike charge of the responsible po i
Smart Jack tried TO muller an ef
,cuse for his impoliteness when he
ahzed what he had lost, but The 10
dipnaut supcuuteudent coplv in -