The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-07-18
ALTOGETHER TOO "sMART."

ALTOGETHER TOO "sMART."
What Jack Lost because Of His lmpo-
Iiteness.
A few mornings since. while wait
ing at the station OF u large country
town, witnessed a little incident that
think will interest the readers OF
Our Young People.
The ticket agent had gone to break.
fast, leaving the Office in charge Of q
bright-looking boy OF fourteen Of
fifteen. The boy was reading what
seemed to have been a very interest
ing book. judging from the reluctant
manner in which he laid it aside tc
wait on passengers.
Shortly after my arrival, an old lady.
oddly dressed, and evidently not ac-
customed to travelling, came in. and
after depositing her bundles and pro-
curing her ticket, inquired civilly OF
the Office boy:
"What time is the up train dnc?'
Theirs time table on the wall be-
hind YOU" was the surly answer.
You can't read. reckon"
Without word tho old woman put
on her glasses, and after a long search
gained the Information he might have
given her in less time than it had
taken to give his ungracious answer.
''7:33, 1888. 1t must be that time
now" she soliloquized. Young man,
would you please to tell me what time
it ise' she asked, timidly, glancing ut
the boy again.
.Why don't you look at the clockg"
sneered the smart lad. MY business
is to sell tickets. not to answer ques-
tions."
An old gentleman. very plainly
dressed, who had been sitting in corr
ner with his hat pulled over his eyes.
looked up quickly when he heard the
boys impolitc response; but he said
nothing. and after the lapse Of few
minutes snuntered slowly across the
room to the ticket window.
What is your name, my boy?' he
asked, kindly, after nodding intelli-
gently to the telegrapher.
II do not know that it is any of your
business: but If you have fortune to
leave you can just name Dick Morton's
kid. Jack. and it will be all O. X"
'.Your father ought to be proud OF
such promising boy" returned the
gentleman. dryly. us Mr.. johnson
imp he asked. little sharply.
You can find out by making use OF
your eyes, l guess" said the boy.
glancing around under tables and
bcnchcs.apparcntly very much amused.
just then another boy came in with
some papers for. the agent, and his
smart friend said, loud enough to be
heard all over tho waiting-room:
Here, Fred, don't go away till
johnson comes. Attend to the tickets
il any are wanted. have been bored
to death answering questions. and l
want to finish this book before the boss
gets round"
The new conner quitcly hung up his
hat and coat, and went to wait upon
some ladies who were standing ut the
window.
A few minutes later the old gentle
man asked somewhat sharplys
'What time is the train due, Bub?"
''7:33," was the prompt answer.
~And what time is it now?" de-
manded the same impatient voice that
had spoken before.
1T is just fifteen minutes past
scvem" replied the boy, cheerfully.
Ape" snecred smart Jack. "Why
don't you bluff him off?"
"What is your name?" persisted the
old man. stepping up little closer.
Erred Myers" responded the boy,
politely.
lis the boss imp" was the next In.
quiry, in a much lower tone.
mo, sir. He has gone to his break
fast, but will be back in a few min
utes." was the quiet answer.
Seeing your master is not in, can't
you give me cut rates to Wheeling?
I'll see that you are not found out"
My Master is always in" was the
boy's quick reply.
just then Mr.. johnson, the agent,
came in and addressed the plain-look-
ing stranger as Mr.. Hays, and the
boys both knew that the superintend-
ent OF the railroad had been talking to
them, and before they had recovered
from their confusion they heard him
say: "Mr. Knox. your telegraph OPP
orator. has been appointed to take
charge of IN Office in the city. and !
came down to look after q suitable boy
to take his place here. Remembering
the information you gave me some
time ago, had made up my mind con-
corning whom his successor should be,
but after what have witnessed this
morning, have come to the conclu.
sion that Dick Morton's kid, Jack, is
entirely too smart for our use. and
that this boy, whose Master is always
in, can be trusted to take charge of the
responsible position.
Smart Jack tried to mutter an ex.
cuse for his impoliteness when he re-
allied what he had lost, but the indig
nant superintendent coolly informed
him that his roughness toward passen'
gers could not be tolerated, and tha,
he must seek other employment unit!
he learned to apply the small cour
tesies of life.-Belle v. CHISHOLM, il
Our Young People.
According to the Macon (Ga.
Telegraph quito an idea upon thu
plan and purpose OF fishing came t.
light at Vienna in that Stste, lately