Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 May 1891 — YOUNG FOLKS’ READING [ARTICLE]

YOUNG FOLKS’ READING

CHARLIE’S REFERENCES WERE THE BEST. How an Energetic and Well-Meaning Boy Secured a Place on His Own Recommendation, While Others with Plenty of Kef. erences Failed. “ WeR, I will just take a try for this place, mother," said Charlie, looking up from the paper he held in his hand. “They want a strong, willing boy, who can bring references from his last place. I can’t do that, since I have never worked anywhere before, but perhaps they will be willing to give me a trial if they do not have any boy apply with just the references thev want.” After he had brought up the coa and filled the wood-box and water pail, little services which his mother never had to remind him of, Charlie started to answer the advertisement. He was afraid if he took the time to walk into town he might be too late to have any chance of getting the place, so he resolved to invest five cents for car-fare. It was a cold, raw morning, and the only other person in the car was au ole gentleman well wrapped up in a heavy great coat. His cane was standing beside him, and as Charlie entered the car he struck it with his foot, and it fell down. “I beg your pardon, sir,” said Charlie, picking it up and restoring it to its owner. Presently an old woman, loaded down with a heavy basket as well as a bundle, signaled the car, and the driver waited for her to come some little distance, as at that hour in the morning the cars did not run very frequently. Charlie looked out of the window and saw her coming. “I’ll give you a hand with your basket, ma’am,” he said, jumping off the car; and picking up the basket, which was not a very heavy burden, in his strong arms, he carried it into the car and deposited it beside the old woman, who seemed very grateful for the assistance. A little later, another bov got in the car. He was much better dressed than Charlie, and he might have been a very prepossessing boy if it had not been fora rather unpleasant expression on his face/ He left the car door open behind him. and the old gentleman coughed as the cold air struck him. “Will you be kind enough to close that door V” he said to the boy who had loft it open.

“Guess you are able to shut it yourself. if you don’t like it open,” was the rude answer. Charlie had noticed that the old gentleman was evidently lame, and as he saw that he was about to rise, and close the door himself, he stepped forward and shut it. “Thank you, sir,” said the old gentleman raising his hat as courteously as if the favor had been conferred by any grown gentleman. It was a polite deed politely done, and Charlie was as much of a gentleman as if he had been well dressed. Presently the car reached the street where Charlie wanted to got out, and he was surprised to see that the other passengers, with the exception of the old woman, got out, too. “Perhaps this boy is after the same place I am,” he thought to himself. He was not wrong in his surmise, for when the two boys reached the store that had advertised for a boy, both of them went into the place, where three other boys were already waiting. “Mr. Scovil has not come in yet; he •will be in pretty soon, and then he will see you,” the clerk told them, and they seated themselves to wait with the rest.

You can imagine the surprise of the two boys who had entered together when the old gentlemen who had been thefr fellow traveler in the horse-car entered, and was addressed as Mr. Scovil by the clerk. “I’ve got first-class references, but I suppose it is all up w ith me, and I may as well go,” muttered the boy beside Charlie. He was right, for as soon as Mr. Scovil’s eye fell upon him he pointed to the door. “You may go, sir, for I hav* no use for a boy who lacks common civility.” He examined the references of the other boys, and dismissed them, and then turned to Charlie. “Have you references?” be asked. Charlie explained that he had never had a place and so could not produce references, but ho would try to work well if he had the chance. “I think I have seen your references,” said Mr. Scovil, with a pleasant look in the gray eyes that could be very stern. “I rode down in the car with you this morning, r.od I saw enough of you to convince me that you were kind and obliging, and would be just the kind of bov we want here. I will give you a week’s trial, and sec if I am not right.” r I need not tell you that he deserved his employer’s confidence, for a bov who is true to himself will be true to his employer, and the boy who will be polite and helpful and obliging when there is nothing to be gained by it, is the one who will have the tact and courtesy which are necessary to make a successful business man. —Minnie E. Kenney, in Presbyterian. Children’s Sayings. One day Owen was riding with bis papa and mamma in the country, when he saw a cow' in a field with a calf bv her side and a bell on her neck. “Mamma,” said he, “why does that cow wear a bell?” Mamma did not answer, her attention being otherwise employed. Owen waited a little, and then said: “Is it to call the calf to dinner?” Little Harry came rushing into the house one day. saving: “Mamma Mr. Clark is sick.” “Is be?” said his mother. “What’s the matter with him?” “The doctor says it’s a theoretic throat,” he answered. “Mamma, what made the preacher keep saying something about his ears ?• asked Oeorgie. “I didn’t hear him say anything about them.” said mamma.

“Well, he said, ‘Oh, my hearers/ and I thought that meant his ears.”—Youth’* Companion.