The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-01-07
What Came ora Boys sm.rtne.s.

what Came OF a Boys smsrtness.
| A few mornings since, while wait
ing at the station Of large country
town, witnessed little incident that
1 think will interest some young peo-
pie. III
fast, leaving tile Office in charge of a
bright-looking boy of fourteen or fif-
teen. The boy was reading what
must have been very interesting
book, Judging from the reluctant man
ner ia which be laid it aside TO walt on
the passengers, -.
Shortly after my arrival an old lady,
oddly dressed and evidently not accus-
toned to travelling, came in, and after
|dep6siting her bundles and procuring
her ticket, inquired civilly OF the boys
"What time is the up-train due ~
"rhere's timetable on the wall be-
hind you," was the surly reply. You
can read, l reckon" - -%ti 1s,l,
Without word the old woman put
on her glasses. and after a loDg search
gained the information the boy might
have given her in less time than 1t had
taken to give the ungracious answer.
1851 :33? Unjust be most that
time now,n she soliloquised, Young
man, will you please tell me what time
it is ?" she asked timidly, glancing at
the boy again. -
"W6y don't you look at the clock?"
sneered the smart lad. my business
is to sell tickets, not to, answer ques-
tions."
And old gentleman, very plainly
dres sed, who had been sitting In cor
ner with his hat pulled over his eyes,
looked up quickly when he heard the
bows impolile response; but he SAID
nothing. and after the lapse of few
minutes sauntered slowly across the
room to the ticket-window.
"What is your name, my boy z" he
said kindly, after nodding> ng>intelligent-
lyrto the telegrapher.
II don't know that it Is any OF your
business but If you have O fortune 70
leave, YOU can just name Dick Nor.
toms kid Jack, and 1t will be all y, n
"Your father ought to be proud OF
sncb promising boy,n returned the
gentleman dryly. "ls MT. Johnson
in ?' he asked little sharply.
"You can find out by making use o.
your eyes, l guess" said the BOY,
glancing around under tables ana
benches, apparently very much a
mused.. .
Just then another boy came in with
SOME papers for the agent, anu MS
smart friend said, loud enough TO be
heard all over the writing-room-,
"Here, Fred! don't 90 away till John.
son comes. Attend 10 the tickets N
any are wanted. I have been bored to
death answering questions, and l want
to finish this book before She boss gets
around. ~.
= The newcomer quietly hung up bis
hat and coat and went To Walt ul'oa
some ladies who were standing at the
window. ~. 49,,
A few minutes later the old gentla->
man asked, s0mewhatsharply:" "WhaI
time is the train due, Bub"" @-i
1852 was the prompt answer. =
"a nd what time is it now?" deman-
ded the same impatient voice that .had
spoken before. ..
Fit is Just fifteen minutes past
seven" replied the boy cheerfully:
"Ape!n sneered smart Jack. "Why
don't you bluff him OFF,?
"What is your name? ?" persisted the
old man, stepping up a little closer,
Fired Myers" responded the ooy
politely.
rv in q much lower tone.
mo, sir; he has gone to BREAKFAST,
but will be back in few minutes" was
the uiGt answer. -. :.
"Seeing that your master is not ln'
can't YOU give me cut rates TO neei,
ing? I'll see that you are not 1ouao
out" 49,.
my Master is always in" was 1he
boys quick reply. .,o ,.,,ont
Just then Mr.. johnson, the agentr
came in; and addressed the pialn-iook.
ing stranger as Mr.. Hays, and tne ooys
both knew that the superlntehoeIt vi
the railroad had been talking to them,
and before they had recovered rom
their confusion they heard him say:
"Mr. Knox, your telegraph operator.
has been appointed to take charge OF
an office i'm the city, and | came down
TO look after suitable boy to take MS
nlace here. Remembering the ln!or-
nation you gave me some time ago,
had made up my mind concerning
whom his successor should be, but al:
ter what l have witnessed this morn
ing have come to the conslusion that
Dick Morton's kid Jack is entirely too
smart for our use, and that Is this boy,
whose Master is always in, can be trus-
ted to take charge OF the responsible
position.
Smart Jack tried to mutter an excuse
for his impoliteness when he realized
what he had lost, but the Indignant
superintendent coolly informed him
that his roughness towards passengers
could not be tolerated, and that ne
must seek other employment until ne
learned to apply the small courtesles
of fe.-Herald and Presbyter.
The prophecy of success for the Pro-
hibition party is in the fact that it was
not born of circumstance, but of prln-
ciple, and therefore has 4 singular VI
tality and persistency because of tie
.gl,