St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-04-09
A Boy Who Recommended Himself.

hedge, and the snip, snip" OF his
shears was pleasing sound to his
ears. In the rear OF him stretched
wide, smoothly.kept lawn, in the
center OF which stood his residence,
handsome, massive modern structure
which had cost him not less than
ninety thousand dollars.
The owner OF it was the man who
in shabby attire, was trimming his
hedge. "A close, stingy old skin
flint, III warrant, " some boy is ready
to say.
No, he wasn't He trimmed his
own hedge for recreation, as he was
a man of sedentary habits. His
shabby clothes 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 are
known as the minor points OF dress.
Instead OF being stingy he was ex-
ceedingly liberal. He was always
contributing to benevolent enter
prises and helping deserving people,
often when they had not asked his
help
Just beyond the hedge was the
public sidewalk, and two boys
stopped opposite to where he was at
work, he on one side of the hedge and
they on the other.
"Halloa, Fred That's a very
handsome tennis racket one OF
them said you paid about seven
dollars for it, didn't you?"
"Only six, Charlie" was the reply.
"Your old one is in prime order
yet. What will you take for ?"
81 sold it to Willie Robbins for one
dollar and half, replied Fred.
"Well, now, that was silly" de-
cared Charlie. "I'd have given you
three dollars for it.
you are too late replied Fred.
81 have promised it to Willie"
"Ob you only promised it to him,
Ell? And he's simply promised to
pay for it, suppose? I'll give you
three dollars cash for it,"
81 cant dc it, Charlie"
you can if you want to. A dollar
and a half more isn't to be sneezed
at"
"Of course not" admitted Fred;
land I'd like to have it, only ! prom
ised the racket to Willie"
But you are not bound to keep
your promise. You are at liberty to
take more for it. Tell him that
offered you nearly twice as much,
and that will settle it,"
"No, Charlie gravely replied the
other boy, that will not settle it,
neither with Willie nor with me. |
cannot disappoint him. A bargain
is a bargain. The racket is his, even
if it hasn't been delivered"
"Oh, let him have it," retorted
Charlie, angrily. Fred Fenton, I'll
not say that you are chump, but
I'll predict that you'll never make
successful business man. You are
too punctilious."
John Brent overheard the CONVEX
sation, and he stepped to a gap in
the hedge in order to get a look at
the boy who had such a high regard
for his word.
THE lad has good face, and is
made OF the right sort OF stuff" was
the millionaire's mental comment.
He places proper value upon his
integrity, and he will succeed in bust
ness because he is punctilious."
The next day, while he was again
working on his hedge, John Brent
overheard another conversation.
Fred Fenton was again partici-
pant in it.
Fired, let us 90 over to the circus
lot" the other boy said "The men
are putting up the tents for the
afternoon performance"
"No, Joe, I'd rather not" Fred
said.
But why?"
ION account OF the profanity. One
never hears anything good on such
occasions, and would advise you
not to go. My mother would not
want me to 60"
did she say you shouldn't"
no, Joe"
Then let us go. You will not he
disobeying her orders"
But l will be disobeying her
wishes, insisted Fred, NO, I'll not
60"
That is another good point in
that boy" thought John Brent. "a