The Washington herald., 1914-04-26
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A Matter of Loyalty.
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/ When The Boy was all through col
! lege his widowed mother told her late
husbands friend that she was very sure
OF big things for the young chaps fu-
ture, and The Man listened with an in
dulgent smile, knowing the way OF moth
ers.
'Tt isn't Just because | love him." she
defended. The Boy has ideas. and |
take it that originality is thing that
counts in the business world which he is
just about to enter"
Yes" agreed The Man, every bust
ness has need OF originality. but there
will be much of service for The Boy
Just plain. hard everyday work-not
even always interesting work-before he
will have much chance at the bigger
things, Does he understand this"
Why, of course" answered The Boy,
who had entered the room in time to
hear the last part of The Mans talk. and
his voice had the sort OF ring that prom
ised a justification OF his mothers faith.
Because he was really likable chap.
and also because The Man had loved his
father The Boy was given several pro-
motions in more rapid succession than
falls to the lot of the average Young
business man. Naturally they gave him
confidence in himself and feeling of
proprietOrShip in the corporation which
employed his services. which would have
been altogether to his credit and ad-
vancement had it not inspired too much
of self-importancc.
He got an idea that the business
couldn't get on without him. and eX-
pressed it as his candid opinion that
there were too many old fogies about
the place" comment which so angered
The Man when he overheard it that he
turned to The Boy with the curt comment
that his opinions would be asked and
paid for when they were needed.
The BOYS pride was hurt by the rebuff
and he cherished a crouch for so many
days that the friend of his fathers con-
fessed to himself keen disappointment
in the younger man. although he gave
no evidence to The Boy that he had not
quite forgotten the criticism he had
overheard, or that he cherished resent
ment
One pleasant noon hour a few weeks
later two young men sat at table in
a downtown lunchroom exchanging con-
hdences.
They've got about as much system
over at my place as Bedlam" The Boy
was telling his companion in an I'M
guarded tone which not only reached the
ears of the old man who sat at the table
with them. but conveyed just how much
the speaker thought of his own opinions.
which was a great deal more than they
were worth.
The old man ought to be out of busi-
ness" went on The Boy unrestrictedly,
but it's his money and so no one dareS
reject his antiquated theories. Why. he
does things today just as he did forty
ivc wears ago when ne began. There
ought to be law compelling FOSSILS to
retire" he ended with a shrug, while his
companion laughed sympathetically.
When The Bov reached his Office the
following morning he found slip on his
desk giving him the customary two
weeks notice Bewildered, he turned 1t
over, hoping for some explanation, tor
down in his heart of hearts he believed
his services quite indispensable to his
firm. Unable to understand the matter,
he turned at once to the Office of the
old man who ought to be out of busi-
ness, you know.
81 am sorry. my lad" said the one
time friend of The Boys father Il am
sorry for YOUR mothers sake mostly, but
nv personal friendships must not be al
lowed to persuade me to keep pernicious
influences in the Office"
The Boy was frankly dumfounded.
"NVhat do you mean-pernicious in
he asked.
81 desire no young man in my employ
who is capable OF discussing my busi-