The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1915-09-02
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER ,, 1915
Is Your Name Peter 2.

managers desk and three bright look
ing boys appeared to answer It. By
some quietly understood signal, one
OF them knew il to be his turn and
stepped forward for instructions, the
other two resuming their tasks.
From my own station In the big
ticket office, had often seen this in
cident, and had many times noted
with approval the intelligent way in
which Peter, Paul and Matthew
(whom we used to call the three
gospels) did everything expected oil
them. They did errands about the
building and to all parts of the city
and suburbs. The corporation for
which they worked issued excursion
tickets, some of them good for year
abroad, and three such bundles OF
pasteboards, in their russia leather
covers, would sometimes aggregate
$4,000 in value. These boys, IA 10 II
years old were trusted with errands
OF that Importance, were paid accord
ingly-several dollars a week more
than messengers they met every day.
They were proud of their jobs and did
their whole duty, week in and week
out.
But there was lots Of difference in
them and for a long time ! could not
make out just what 1t was. | watch
ed Peter this morning while he wait
ed for the manager to complete pre-
parations for the errand His eyes
missed nothing A piece of paper
slipped to the floor. 1t might have
come from any one of three desks, but
Ire placed 1t on the one at the left. A
glance, based upon some previous OBJ
servation, told him just where 1t went.
A gentleman came in and stood his
cane against the railing. That boy
knew that canes, so placed were sure
Sto fall and his hand was ready to IN
tercept this one as it slid over on Its
way to the floor. SO quick and deft
was the movement that the customer
was spared the annoyance he might
have, felt, had the. service been clum-
silly rendered, and the cane went to
him with a courteous bow, the mo-
ment he turned to look for It,
The manager looked up and Peter
was at his side, all attention. Eyes
SIR was his part of the dialogue, and
he was soon on his way to a distant
part of the city, with an important
letter, safer in his hands than by reg
istered mail
These three boys came and went
under my notice for months. !
learned to understand that all did
their work admirably They were
good natured, alert. resourceful and
polite Not a fault could be found
with them. They got good wages
and rendered well nigh perfect SER
vice. BY and by, however, l could
distinguish among them. Paul and
Mathew were faithful to the last de-
gree. They did everything they
were told and did 1t just as they were
ordered. But Peter did all this and
mere. Ten minutes without instruc-
tons meant no idle moments for him.
The interval found a plan for useful
ness already matured. The other two
could wait with respectful attention to
be assigned the next task. Though
Peter waited none the less, he kept at
something, but always within call.
Nothing could be out of place or go
wrong in his vicinity. He did much
more than earn his salary; HE WAS
IN THE BEST SENSE WORKING
FOR HIMSELF.
Eleven years later | returned as a
visitor to this same Office. Mathew
a big bundle on his shoulder. met me
AT TIE tHlidutt. ne DuTueD became
a seat, right away. and from it my
one time errand boy proceeded to rec.
ognize me. AS soon as politeness
would permit I asked for the other
members 81 the gospel trio. Pau
wss, long since gone. You NEAR
Ma Purdyrs ws'Mathew's way of an.
swefing the, part of my question tha
referred to Peter. followed hi,
glance and found myself looking al
man behind a desk. whereon appeared
Up. II purdy. Manager" The ter
dollar a week errand boy had knowt
had progressed to the head OF IN,
largest ticket and excursion Once II
the world
Now John. James. Samuel. whoever
you are, get this idea from my llttl,
tale. You think you are working To-
your employer. every business hour
ard ypu 30 pretty well II yon 40 tha,