The Washington herald., 1911-05-21
HfOWMY:;
JUNGLE !
WAS TAUGHT
(WILlTY:

S hor, often wonders how he can at
tend to business at such an age; but
having led a temperate life. my uncle is still
a robust man, and likes to keep the old shop.
Forty years Of honest and successful trade
have made both place and habit familiar,
and it enables him to bestow more on needy
friends and charitable institutions.
but we had wonder OF our own about my
was suddenly left widow, he had appren.
ticed my three brothers, and he took me into
the shop; but none Of us could ever make
out why man so old and rich should serve
the most shabby-looking stranger who bought
sole or a mackerel with the same respectful
civility as he did his best customers This
puzzled me, and once we had talk on the
subject, which he finished with the follow
ing story.
ago, my ambition was to be quite genteel
and polite; but unhappily these good inten-
tions never extended beyond those whom
! thought my superiors, because they wore
fine, clothes. This feeling was among the
whom: I served my apprenticeship in Covent
Garden. Mr. sampson Higgins was the
very model of fshmonger. He knew to an
hour how long a cod had beef in pickle, or
. e. salmon mo out Of water; az for crabs and
in icerpacking l never saw his equal More
over, Mr. Sampson was proud Of his bust
ness; -. ..
. 10 me nc was q just and kindly master,
though somewhat exacting and consequential.
His premises were kept IKE a manof-war.
Better oysters, turbot, or turtle could not be
found anywhere in London, at least the West
End gentry and rich City people thought SO.
cooks At The shop by haldcaen. dozen 'n IN nsn morn.
ing Of the dinner giving season, looking out
for choice fish; and next to the superior goods,
my master prided himself on the distinguished
customers who bought them.
t~IsA sAf Z. kkak h. -
profit coming from inferior rank or riches
would not have had half such value in his
eyes. The feeling is not 80 uncommon as
you may think. it. Mr.. Sampson's gentility
supplied, and the grandeur Of every house
to which he sent turtle seemed somehow
Or other reflected on himself. My masters
great customers were therefore much talked
OF, and the chief subject Of his discourse and
reverence was one whom we viii call Sir
''Sir Joseph kept many servants and fine
carriage. He bought expensive fish, was par
tic9lar in selecting them at my masters shop,
and gave splendid dinners.
Being then young and foolish I took strong
!y to Mr.; Sampson way of thinking; in spite.
too. o. the counsels Of my good mother, who,
while she encouraged proper respect for
my superiors in station. could not help per-
mere luxury and display. Many time did
that wise mother remind me that splendor Of.
ten walks with sin, while piety is clad in
poor apparel; that sometimes rich men pre-.
fer plainness, and that even at the West
End the grandest were not always the great.
est. These sensible remarks made small i'm
precision on me; boyish conceit suggested that
my poor mother-who had worked 80 hard
for US five ever since our father was lost
knew nothing Of the great world. Besides
Mr.. Sampson's example was before me. To
be candid, l rather surpassed him in my ad
miration, OF wealth and style, having lattery
advanced so far as not to care for serving
sire, however, was to see Sir Joseph Banks
! had been almost a year apprcnticed, and
had heard much OF his carriage and house
n,,tss1 in Soho % Square, for, seeing that ! had .
particular details, but as the gentleman had
port%nity of seeing, him all that time.
The premises which Mr.. Sampson Higgins
cSSc"p'ed sScnp s6d IN SSyent Garden consisted Of
for storage. His family lived in a country
house near Hackney. During the busy sea-
son Mr.. Sampson saved money by sleeping in
the back parlor, and going home only late
back early on Monday morning, for no man an
was more attentive to business on which
account but few helpers were kent about
the shop.7a salesman, the senior apprentice,
W. MniInam n;a Jones Jones myself, and two porters be-
Zone Wednesday in the beginning of Nav
the salesman was sick. Jones had got a hoif
DAY to see his grandmother in Paddngton.
was alone in the shop Mr.. Higgins rose
in time to superintend the unpacking of a
magnificent turbot sent express from Brigh-
ton, Turbot were particularly dear and fash
ionable that season. This was one of the
finest specimens ever caught: SO Mr.. SAMPSON
triumphed over surrounding ishmongers,
wished Sir Joseph could see it, and retired to
shave-an operation which he always perform
cd in the back parlor. As for me, my ap.