Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-08-22
WHAT BECAME OF A BOYS SMART.
NESS,

noilihk ob NhO ot"biNH ~ VIZ "
country town, witnessed little
incident that [ think will interest
some young people.
The tlcket-agent had gone to
breakfast, leaving the office IN
charge of a bright looking boy Of
fourteen or fifteen. The boy was
reading what must have been a
very interesting book, judging from
the reluctant manner in which he
laid it aside to wait on the passen-
gers.
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
civilly of the offi;e boy, "W hat
time is the up.train due 2"
"There's a time table on the wall
behind you" was the surly answer.
"You can read, reckon"
Without a word the old woman
put on her glasses, and after a long
search gained the information the
boy might have given her in les 5
than it had taken to give his IN.
gracious answer.
"7:33-6:33 1t must be most
that time now" she sOlilOquized.-
"Young man, would you please to
tell me what time it is ~ she asked
tlmIdIy, glancing at the boy again.
"Why don't you look at the
clock ?D 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 over his
eyes, looked up quickly when he
heard the boys impollte response
but he said nothing, and after a
lapse of a few minutes sauntered
slowly across the room to the
ticket.window.
"What is your name, my boy y
he SAID kindly, after nodding in
telligently to the telegrapher.
81 do not know that it is any Of
your business; but If you have a
fortune 90 leave, you can just name
Dick Morton's kid Jack, and it
will be all o. K.p
"Your father ought to be proud
of such a promising boy returned
the gentleman dryly. SIS Mr.
Johnson in?" he asked a little
sharply.
"You can find out by making
use of Your eyes, | guess said the
boy, glsDcing around under tables
and benches. apparently 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 the
waiting.roOm. "IIere, Fred don't
90 away till johnson comes. At
tend to the tickets if they are
wanted. | have been bored to
death answering questions, AM |
want to finish this book before the
boss gets around
The newc)mor q uatly hing up
his hat and coat and won't to wait
on some ladies who were standing
at tn" window.
A few minutes later the old gen
u tleman asked somewhat sharply,
"What time is train due, bub y
/ "7:33,r was the prompt answer
sand what time is it now y de-
manded the same impatient voice
that had spoken before.
at is just fifteen minutes past
, seyen," replied the boy cheertuily
"Apew sneered smart Jack
"why don't you bluff him OFF,
"What is your name? y persisted
I the old man. stepping up a lIttI'
q closer.
"Fred Myres," responded th'
boy politely.
sis the boss in ~ was the mex
inquiry, in a much lower tone.
mo, sir he is gone to breakfast
but will be back in few minutes,
was the quiet answer.
"Seeing that your master is nc
IN, can't you give me cut rates
! Wheeling9 I'll see that you al
=, not found out'
"My Master IS always in,' wa
the boys quick reply.
Just then Mr.. Johnson, the agen
~ came in, and addressed the plail
" looking stranger as Mr.. HAYS, an
" the boys both new that the Supe
3 iutendenS of the road had be'
., talking to them, aud before th'
had recovered from their coniuslC
~ they heard him say, "Mr. hno
~ your telegraph operator, has be'
appointed to take charge OF
~ Office in the city, and | came doV
1n n "A