The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-17

looking around. as he always did. for
any newcomer that he might make WEI,
come, he spied the hesitating boy ana
took him to his own seat.
And then Jack forgot that there was a
rough. jostling. and ofttimes dirty. world
outside. where living was earned Dy
pushing and scrambling, and competition.
and q sharp looking for the main
chance" and felt only the influence OF
tho richly-furnished altar. the beautifully
upholstered pews, the soft, mapv-hued
light falling over all, and, most OF AL,
of the noble music which was coming
from the organ, while the people entered
with steps that might not be- heard on the
thick carpet. The influence OF things was
very strong upon him. and held him all
through the service. lie knew little OF
what the minister said. Indeed, ne had
sat through several sermons, IN tnat
church-he had received standing invi-
tatlon TO sit in the kind old gentlemans
pew. and came every Sunday noWLDeioIs
he began TO listen to the preaching. vi
course, there was much IN the sermon
which he did not understand, even when
he had begun TO listen. but then ;here
WIS much that ne did, and II Was one
day when he had just left the church that
he said to himself: "conrse he talks nice:
'Tain't likely they'd have anybody stan
up there where everybody N everything
so fixed up T his talk want Dang-uD-
there! L said / wouldn't say that agin-
wal. T he talked like an Arab. 7 must
r..
81 with swell clos and goin' to meetln'-
thcrs / s'Dose them folks learns 10 talk
out o books. / b'lieve III buy some"
After that a good deal OF Jacks odd job
money went for books He got a good
deal Of trashy and Improbable reading,
as matter Of course, but he also got
much that was valuable. He had attended
school ntl he was ten years Old and
could read fairly well. Ere long he came
10 the conclusion that il ne must use ex-
CARNATIONS. there were many quite az
fOrciblc and far more elegant than, "Hy
it, be might as well use the best talk"
he knew, or could learn about.
1t was Jacks privilege often 10 black
the boots OF the man OF the handsome
trousers. for the latter declared that he
was the best bootblack in the city. II
was one day when Jack lad done a
weeks hard thinking. and hal come 10
decided conclusion that this young man
came TO have his boots Dia ,ked. when
the job was finished. Jack said:
Il hope YOU won't think me bold,
sir, but will you tell me where. per-
haps, chap might get i'm as Grand boy,
or sOmetnin' o the kind2 I'm sick o. this
business, and I'm bound l won't stay in
The young man looked Jack over crlti-
caliy. and then he said, slowly:
II don't know but our house might take
you in. our crrand-bOy has Just been pro-
moted 10 clerk. l VIII speak To my part
ner about YOU
A gentleman somewhere I'm the thirties,
with the dress and appearance of a tho
rough and successful businessman, some
times stops al place which looks very
familiar to him TO have his boots black
ed. This gentleman is married and has
Two children; both boys. He has taught
these lads 10 be exceedingly neat about
their dress. and TO keep their shoes al
ways shining. lie has at last come TO
understand the influence of things on
character. He realizes, however that he
cannot teach philosophy TO boOt-biacks
and 30 he merely says TO them, as they
polish away:
Always keep your own boots BACKED
1t will have a good effect on you. / owe
my position in life 10 backing my boots
and living up 10 them
OF course. the boys don't understand
his meaning but many Of them have
taken his advice. and some may prove
TO have as good material IN them as Jack
had.