The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-05-27
''It's No Business of Mine.

''Ies No Business of Mine."
This was a favorite saying will
young Myron Boyd.
He was q farmers son. A tall. hand
some young fellow, honest in his deal
ings, in the ordinary sense of the word
enterprising. industrious, and emphat
really, as the country phrase goes
smart to work" People respected
Myron, that is to say, they rathe
looked up to him, because he was in
fair way to be rich, because he under
stood farming better than any othe
young man in the district, because h,
was capable and sensible, and vet h,
could not he called a favorite AMONG
young men of his own age.
Myron knew that he was not popu
lar, and though he professed to car.
nothing for public opinion, neverthe
less he would have liked to feel him
self more welcome than he general,
was in the society of his fellows.
Perhaps one secret of the lack o
cordial feeling toward Myron was the
consistent manner in which he actec
up to his favorite saying: Its NJ
UuSlueSS Vi ulDe.
He not only never put himself out O.
the way to do a neighbor service, bu
he never offered kindness or lifted 6
hand to prevent any injury to another
even when it would have cost no troub
lie whatever.
One day he was driving into the vii.
lage with Alfred Brown, the minister's
son, boy some years younger than
himself.
1t was very warm day, the road tc
the village was sandy and tiresome
and Alfred, who had been sent out to
Mr.. Boyd's on an errand, was not sor,
ry that he was not obliged to walk
back.
BY and by they passed an old gray,
headed colored man toiling along in
the sun with heavy bundle over his
shoulder. The old man looked wistful-
v after the wagon, but he knew Myron
Boyd too well to ask for ride.
why don't you give old Uncle jeff
a lift ?" asked the good-natured Alfred.
tits all of mile from here to his
place."
"Oh! I'd have to stop to pick him
up and set him down. I can't take in
every one I see."
But the poor old fellow looks so
tired"
"Well, I can't help that,n said My
ron, carelessly; "it's no business of
mine"
Their way at last past Uncle Jeffs lit
tie place, and Alfred saw that there
was no one at home, and that two or
three cows, taking advantage of weak
place in the fence, had got into the
corn patch and were making sad havoc.
ooh, let's stop and drive those COWS
out" cried Alfred. They'll ruin the
old mans garden"
HE should have had his fence in
better order, said Myron. ats no
business of mine.n
"It's mine then, anyway" said AL
fred, disgusted. LET me out"
II shan't stop for you to drive out
the cows" said Myron, coolly, "it's no
business of mine."
"Drive on, then" said Alfred, as he
jumped out of the wagon and ran
after the COWS.
Myron drove on and was soon out of
sight, thinking to himself what fool
Alfred Brown was to lose his ride for
the sake OF old Uncle Jeffs garden,
which was after all no business of his.
1t cost Alfred some time and trouble
to drive out the cows and put up the
fence again so that they could not get
back into the garden.
, When this was finally accomplished
he sat down on the doorstep to rest a
while, feeling very hot and tired, and
not little provoked with Myron.
BY and by Uncle Jeff came wearily
home, and when he learned the story
he was thankful to Alfred, and the boy
did not regret what he had done,
even though he had q long hot walk
to the village.
Two or three days later, Myron Boyd
went past Uncle Jeff's house with a
heavy lumber wagon loaded with
grain bags. He had not gone far when
out came the linch-pin and down went
the wagon. The horses were steady
and did not run.
Myron was rot hurt, and after ascer-
tanning the cause of the accident went
back to Uncle Jeff, who was peaceably
smoking on his doorstep, to borrow q
hammer.
II seed dat linch-pin was a-comin'
out when you passed." said Uncle jeff,
coolly.
"You did ?" said Myron, not unnat-
urally provoked. "Why didn't you
tell me?"
"Why, honey" said Uncle Jeff,
with a sly little laugh, II thought
tWaSn't no business of mine.n
Myron bit his lip. "Have you got
hammer you'll lend me ?" he said.
"Well, 1 don't rightly know 'jes
where the hammer is," said Uncle jeff,
placidly, "and I'm mighty comfortable
just now, and don't want to 90 and
look for it. 'Taint no business of
mine.n
Greatly provoked, Myron was turn
ing away when Uncle Jeff called after
him.
"You's welcome to the hammer or
else, honey" said he, laugh
ing. Laws! / was only jes' seeing
how Gurus things is, but guess you'll
find out this rule of yours is one of the
kind that won't work both ways. Dis
yer is a world full of folks and you
can't live in it like there wasn't no.
body bnt yourself, fix it how you
will" And then Uncle jeff went to
help Myron.
Myron did not want for sense, and
Uncle Jeff's lesson made strong i'm
preston on his mind. He used his ia
vorite phrase less frequently, and
learned after time to feel that duty
was word of far wider meaning than
he had supposed, and that whatever
his hand found to do for his neighbor,
whether in the way Of prevention or