Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-06-11
CupM's Captain
Of Industry
BY COLIN S. COLLINS



her Jimmy WAS destined To- become a
man III mark in the world Of finance.
At the early age of six he had beer.
caught putting pennies into the contri-
button box. when his mother had al
ways made il n point 10 give him a
nickel.
This being brought TO the attention
of the youthful James did not abash
him. lie merely quoted his father to
tia. effect that all the heather We're not
located in Africa. His mother after
ward remembered that on the same oc-
c;sion James himself WAS the heather
referred Ia 10y his father.
The Inference WAS obvious. but a
six-ycar-old logician is not To he argued
with. \ compromise was effected by
turning over 10 the superintendent
sum double the amount of a years con-
trihuiion.
Wien Jimmy WAS eight. he started
in at regular school lie acquired
knowledge promptly: also the nickname
of Swaps" as Il delicate tribute TO his
accomplishment The first day lie was
/ in school he started with a ten cent
/ jackknife AMI went home with new
one worth half dollar. When he
went into the second reader he set
aside the dollar which had been given
HIM for the purchase of book and by
Il succession of swaps had acquired a
| n an
cents
The 10 cents had first been invested
In bullseyes. confection recommend
ing itself to the youth of the land be-
cause il was hard enough 10 last
through the whole of the morning ses-
sion. The final trade had been three
bullseyes. knife with one blade and
the stump of another. n stub of indeli-
BILE pencil. red. white and blue holder
ami three pens which had not been
used past u point where they would
write with little coaXing. This was
the seventeenth of the series, from
which 1t may be argued that James
WAS somewh hat energetic, since the
book was required for the afternoon
session.
And yet Jimmy was not misery in
his habits. lie was quite willing TO
sell Il dilapi,lated watch case. for which
he had given penny lead pencil. tn
another boy for 10 cents and then
treat him 10 soda at the corner stand.
where soda might be had for cents
the small glass.
Had he been penurious Mrs. Garlic
ton might have interviewed. He was
even generous. and so his trading was
looked upon as the diversion Of an in
genuous youth.
/ This until Mrs. Carleton had caught
him trading her buttonhole scissors for
II gold plated pencil holder. three white
mice. an old whitewash brush. half
tin of backing. a NANCY daub to be
/ used with the same and two five cent
tales of adventure on the western
plains. participated in by a most siren
nous person named Diamond Bill.
Then she set her foot down and would
not he pacificd even when Jimmy de-
clarcd that all he wanted was the
books and mice and that. after deduct
ing these as commission. he was going
| To give her the rest of the goods.
The story came out ut the supper ia
bile and was hugely enjoyed by MIR.
Carleton. whose Yankee blood had EVIL
IDENTIFY transmitted to Jimmy the pas
sion for trading.
"I.cave the workbasket alone. jim
my" he admonished. when you want
To make swap on commission take
something big. Take your sister Lutte.
for instance. You take what you want
from Sandon. and I'll take a couple of
boxes of cigars for my share"
Then everybody laughed. for II was
n standing joke that Lutte was apt to
become an old maid simply because
she insisted on waiting for Harry San
don. and Sandon was too bashful to
speak his mind. Lutte was out driv-
ing with Sandon even then and did not
hear the terms of the agreement. The
others promptly forgot 1t all save
Jimmy.
This was a rather larger order than
he had yet filed. but he was not to be
set aside by minor consideration like
this. Promptly the next afternoon he
turned up at the grocery store which
bore Sandon's name over the door.
Sandan was all alone. for both clerks
were out with the wagons. He was
putting up sugar in packages ready
for the Saturday trade. but looked up
pleasantly when Jimmy came in.
Got a trade. Swaps" he called as
the youngstcr perched himself on
stool. The asst trade had been one Of
L.utie's hair ribbons for a half pound
of figs. and the ribbon even now was
resting over his heart
James nodded gravely. Got a big
trade" he declared. I've got to have
two boxes of good cigars anyhow and
what else can GET
Sandon sarted. This was rather
more important than a half pound Of
figs.
Il want TO swap Lutte for two boxes
OF good cigars. n whole big box OF
raislns. some candy like chocolate
cigars best box of sardines. some