Year: 1859

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tailor, and, after seven years of faith.
full attention to his masters service,
set up shop for himself. He COM
menced business under very favora-
BILE auspices, and everybody said he
wonld do we'll in the world. He was
a good workman, had some money,
considerable credit and great many
friends.


But there was one trait in Luther's
character, which had not previously
developed itself, and which was to
prove the ruin Of his hopes, and to
disappoint the expectations of his
friends-and this was the acant of
Punctuaiity. And here let us observe,
that no mechanic, no tradesman, no
person who depends on the good opin-
ion of the public for livelihood, can
expect to thrive without the necessary
virtue of punctuality.


Luther Lapel began to exhibit his
unfortunate trait first, in disappoint.
ing his customers of work he had
promised secondly, in disappointing
those with whom he had pecuniary
dealings and generally, in not being
exact in the fuliilment of his promises
IN the ordinary concerns of life. This
was detrimental in every way. By
disappointing his customers of their
promised work, he lost business by
disappointing his creditors in the pay
ment OF money. he lost credit and
by failing to fulfil his promises in the
miscellaneous concerns of life, he for
feitcd the general confidence. Thus
he lost business, friends, and credit
But this was not all. His want of
punctuality not unfrequently subject
ed him to the immediate loss of mon
ey, of time, and Of labor.


For example, having promised a
suit of clothes to an alderman, who
was to dine on a certain public occa-
sion, Luther was half an hour too
late the turtle soup was in danger
Of cooling, and the alderman went to
dine i'll his old clothes. The new suit
was sent home as soon as finished,
and the garments were all well made
but the die was cast--the alderman
was vexed, as well he might be, and
the clothes were returned upon the
tailor's hands What was to be done?
The alderman being a man of some
twenty score weight, and of very
peculiar confguration, the clothes
would fit no other person, and there
fore the tailor was obliged to keep
thopA TL---t-.i- -------.-r A. A..
quality, which, taken together with
the uncommon quantity contained in
the garments, rendered the loss a Sc
we're one. Luther endcavored, by
coaxing, and by promises of greater
punctuality in future, to prevail upon
the alderman to take the clothes but
the official dignitary was not to be
moved. From coaxing and promises
Luther proceeded to threats but the
man-mountain stood fast Legal meas
ures were rcsortcd to, and a suit at
law was brought to recover payment
for the suit of clothes. But it was
very justly argued by the defendants
counsel, that half an hour pudding
time" was not to be lost and that,
inasmuch as his client was obliged to
dine in his old clothes or lose his din
ner, it was but Just and fair that the
plaintiff should lose his suit. The
jury were of the same opinion. The
tailor appealed. and the decision was
confirmed Thus, in consequence of
being half an hour too late, Mr.. Lapel
not only lost the suit of clothes, but
much time and money into the bar
gain. He of course lost the custom
of the alderman and several other
gentlemen withdrew their patronage
through the aldcrman's influence.


But this misfortune did not cure
him of tardiness in the iutilment Of
his promises. A fond lover was
obliged to defer his happiness for the
space of twcnty.four hours--an age
to HMM consequence of not receiv.
ing his wedding suit in season and
though he did not finally refuse the
clothes, the recollection of the last
twenty-four hours, the pouting of his
mistress, and the laugh of his friends,
SO chagrined him that he repudiated
Luther forever thereafter.


Another man lost his election to an
important Office in consequence of at
tending public meeting in Il thread
bare coat, for the want Of a new one
which Luther had promised. He was
expected to address the people on the
! occasion, and, iuorcd, he did mount
the rostrum-but his eloquence was
sadly marred by the consciousness Of
his shabby appearance. He could not
speak in an old coat, any more than
lawyer in England can without his
wig. The attempt was pronounced
to be a total failure and the result
was, that in the coming election his
rival carried the day. Hereupon the
enraged politician brought his action
against the tailor for the value Of the
Office which he had lost. The action
was just, and 50 it was charged from
the bench but by one of those
chances OF Law, whereby justice is
sadly scandalized, verdict was rem
dered for the defendant. Neverthc-
less, the expense of defending the suit
left him minus, at least one hundred
dollars. But it would be useless to
enumerate the cases in which Luthcr's
want of punctuality to his customers
proved injurious to his interests.


In the payment of debts he was
equally negligent If he had the
money in his possession, he generally
contrived to put of the payment, un
til his notes were protested, or his
bills lodged with constable SO that.
along with the debt, he was almost
certain to pay cost.


Luther had wealthy uncle residing
in Baltimore, who wrote to him, that
if he would be at his house by GER
tain day, he would make him pres
ent of thousand dollars. Luther de.
termined to 60 but in consequence