Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1897-01-25
THE CHILDREN.
A BOY WHO RECOMMENDED
HIMSELF.

oothly- kept lawn, in the center o.
which stood his residence, hand
some massive structure, which had
cost him not less than ninety thou
sand dollars.
The owner of it was the man who
in shabby attire, was trimming his
hedge. "a close, stingy old skinflint,
I'll warrant some boy is ready to
say.
No, he wasn't. He trimmed his own
hedge for recreation, as he was man
Of sedentary habits. His shabby
clothes were his working clothes,
while those which he wore on other
| occasions, were both neat and ex
pensive, indeed, he was very particu
lar even about what are known as
the minor appointments of dress.
Instead of being stingy he was ex-
ceedingly liberal. He was always con-
tributing to benevolent enterprises,
and deserving people, often when
they had not asked his help.
just beyond the hedge was the pub
lie 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 very hand
some tennis racquet" one Of them
said. "You paid about seven dollars
for it, didn't your"
'sOnly six, Charlie,n was the reply.
"Your old one is in prime order yet.
What will you take for it?"
81 sold it to Willie Robins for one
dollar and half" replied Fred.
"Well, now, that was silly" de-
clared Charlie. I'd given you three
dollars for it,
"You are too late," replied Fred.
81 have promised it to Willie.'
"Oh! 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'D
81 can't do it, Charlie"
'You can if you want to. A dollar
and half more isn't to be sneezed
at.n
ssOf course not,o admitted Fred;
'sand I'd like to have it, only I pro-
missed the racquet to Willie"
'sBut you are not bound to keep
your promise. You are at liberty to
take more for it. Tell him that / Of
fered you twice as much, and that will
settle it.''
'sNo, CHARLIE replied the other boy
ssthat will not settle it-neither with
Willie nor with me. cannot disap-
point him. A bargain is bargain. The
racquet is his, even if it hasn't been
delivered"
ooh, let him have it," retorted
Charlie angrily. sFred Fenton, I
will not say that you are a chump,
but Til predict that you'll never make
a successful businessman. 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 high regard
for his word.
ssThe lad has a good face, and is
made of the right sort of stuff" was
theln,illionaire's mental comment He
places proper value upon his in
tegrity, 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 participant in it.
ssFred, let us go over to the circus
lot,'' the other boy said. ''The men
are putting up the tents for the after
noon performance"
ssNo, Joe;- I'd rather not" Fred
said.
'sBut why?''
ssOn account of the profanity. One
never hears anything good on such
occasions, and I would advise you not
to go. My mother would not want
me to CO."
ibid she say you shouldn't?''
"No, Joe."
ssThen let us go. You will not be
disobeying her ORDERS
"But will be disobeying her wish
esq insisted Fred. mo, I'll not 60"
ssThat is another good point in
that boy" thought John Brent. "A
boy who respects his mothers wishes
very rarely goes wrong"
Two months later, John Brent adj
vertised for clerk in his factory, |
and there were at least dozen ap-
plicants.
ST can simply take your names and
residences this morning. he said.