The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1890-09-25
.Aa1derso1s Sntet1iae1tees.
4 Boy who Recommended Himself.

John Brent was trimming Inc neoge,
and the "snip snap" of his shears was a
pleasing sound to his ears. In the rear
of him stretched vide, smoothly kept
lawn, in tho centre of which stood his
residence, handsome, massive modern
structure, which bad cost him not less
than ninety thousand dollars.
The owner of it was the man who, in
shabby stlire, was trimming Ills hedge.
"a close, stiDgy old skintliut, III var
ram" some boy is ready TO say.
No, he wasn't He trimmed his own
hedge for recreation, as he was iuan Of
sedentsry habits. His shabby clp.hes
were his working clothes. while those
which he wore on other occasions were
both neat and expensive; indeed: he was
very particular, even about what Gre
known as the miDn1 appointments cf
dress.
Instead o being s'iugy, he WAS exceed
ingly hhera'. f. @sa always c;ntriart
! ing to benevolent enterprises and helping
deserving people, :t!en wh-li they had
;n. sed IL. his help
Jus; b. low lhe hedge sd, ihs l.ubiir
sidewalk, aud tvo be:> s'"pprd nPp"sii.
To where he wasat %nEk or 0Da siIe OF
the hedge, aid they were on tne other
"BeIio, Fred That's very handsome
tennis racquet" oneuf them said. You
paid about seven dollars for il, didn't
yon%
"Only six, Charlie" was the reply.
Your old one is in pri'ne order yat.
What will you lake for it?'
II sold it to Willie Robbins 'ur ore
dollar and a half" replied Fred.
"Well now that was silly" declared
Charlie. I'D have given you three dol
lars for it."
You are too late" replied Fred II
have promised it to Willie"
"Ob, you have only promised it to
Kim, eh /? Aud he's simply pramised to
pay forit, I suppose? I'll give you three
dollars cash for it."
~ can't do it, Charlie. y
.You can ii you want 10. A dollar
and half more isn't TO be sneezed at.
"Of course not" admitted Fred:
land I'd like to have it, only promised
the racquet 10 Willie"
f fBut you are no; bound to keep your
promise. You are at liberty to lake
more for it. Tell him I offered you
another time as much; and that will
settle IL"
"No, Charlie" gravely replied the
other boy that will not settle it-neither
with Willie uor with me. / cannot dis
appoint him. A bargain is bargain.
| The racquet is his, even if it hasu't been
delivered"
"Ohl let him have it, retorted Char
lie, apgrily. Sired Frenton, I will not
say that you are q achump, but I'll pre-
dict that you'll never make successful
business man. You are too punetiious. !"
Joha Brent overheard the converse
tion, and be had stepped to a gap in the
hedge in order to get look at the boy
who had such high. regard for bis
word.
aThat lad has good face. and is made
of the right kind of stuff" was the mil
lionaire's mental comment. "He places
a proper value upon his integrity, and
be will succeed in business because he is
punctilious." =.
The next day, while he was again
working on his hedge, John Brent over.
| heard another conversation. Fred E'ren.
ton was again participant in it.
"Fred, let US go over to the circus lot,"
the other boy said. "The men are put
ting up the tents for the afternoon per
formance."
"No, Joe; I'd rather not" Fred said.
"But why ?"
con account of the profanity. One
never hears anything good on such oc-
casiops, and l would advise you not to
go. My mother would not want me to
co.
aDid she say you shouldn't"
"No, joe"
"Then let us go. You will not be disc.
beying her orders.
"Bnt should be disnbeying her wish.
es," said Fred. "No, Til not go"
"That is another good point in that
boy,n thought John Brent. "a boy who
respects his mothers wishes very rarely
goes wrong"
Two months later, John Brent adver
tised for clerk in his factory. and there
we're atleasta dozen applicants.
II can simply take your. names and
residences this morning." he said, "l'll
make enquiries about you, and notify the
one whom conclude to select"
Three boys gave their names aud resi-
dences.
"What is your name?" he asked as he
glanced at the fourth boy.
s.:Fred Frenton," was the reply. John
Brent remembered the name of the boy.
He looked at him keenly; pleasing
smile crossing his face.
"You may stay" he said. 'J've been
suited sooner than I expected to b" be
added, looking at the other boys and
dismissiDg them with q wave Of bis
hand
"Why did you take me?" asked Fred,
in surprise. "Wby were enquiries not
necessary in my case? Yon do not know
me-
"Iknow you better than you think I
do" John Brent said with a significant
smile.
.But offered no recommendations"
suggested Fred.
"My boy, it wasn't necessary" replied
john Brent. 81 heard you recommend
yourself"
But as be felt disposed to eulighten
Fred, he tod him about the two couyer
sations he had overheard
8 "Now, boys, this is q true STORY and
there is a mora! in it. You are moro
frequently observed, and heard and over
heard, than you are aware Of Your
elders have habit of making an estimate
Of your mental and moral worth. You
cannot keep late hours, lounge on the
corners, visit low places of amusement,
smoke cigarettes, and chaff boys who are
better than youlare, without older people
making note Of your bad habits.
How much more forcibly and credita
bly, pure speech, good breeding, honest
purposes, and parental respect would
speak in your behalf-Golden days.
Much the Way Nowadays.