Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 85, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 April 1910 — THE BUTLER'S STORY. [ARTICLE]

THE BUTLER'S STORY.

“It certainly Is singular,*’ the butler said, “how It pays to look out for the little things. “I had been trying for six mouths to set a raise from my employer, but nothing doing. I worked and served faithfully always and with discretion and good-judgment, if I do say it, but no raise. Then came along a little bit of an incident that got me the lift of wages I wanted right away. “I have always been accustomed to pay attention to the little personal peculiarities of my employer’s guests so that I could show at the table or away from it attention to their,fancies or their real wants, and this I knew entitled me to higher recognition in the way of pay, for all this of course was for my employer’s benefit and good. As I couldn't tell him all hese things, I had to rely on the genral character of my service. There :ime an opportunity at last in which • ’■y careful attention to little things won out for me.

“We had among our guests at dinner one night a gentleman upon whom as I chanced to know my employer was particularly desirous to make a favorable impression, and from the moment that gentleman came into the house I had, as you might say, my eye on him. I was studying him, anc. well was my study rewarded, for presently T discovered about him a ieculiarity my knowledge of which t ■•. new. at the proper time would save him from great discomfort. “When in due time the guests were seated at the table and I had to come to wait on them I served them, to be sure, with such dishes as they were to take a portion from, each with the dish at his left side so that the person served could reach it meet conveniently; but when I came to the gentlemnn of whom I have spoken I did no; pass around him to hand the dish a* r is,JefL side; no, I simply moved the dish from the left side of the ger.Te man I had previously served acroo the interval to this gentleman’s right side, and I continued to serve hin; at his right side throughout the dinner despite the scowls which nty master repeatedly directed at mo for sc doing—and I knew what was coming ‘o me later. When the guests had all fone he said to me:

“ 'James, how could you have made such a frlglltful mistake as you did all through the evening In' serving Mr. Dickerton at Ms right side?' "'£ir.' I said, ‘Mr. Dickerten is let 7 handed!’ "It never did heed an i '‘ettSti.ra'hh wedge to get an idea into my master : head,' and at that he said, with hi; ’’ace all a beaming: "‘James you are a great man!! am. he raised my wages on the spot. “My sen." the butler con ludec never neglect the big things, alway watch out for them, but ke;p an eys always too on the little things Man; a fortune has turned on a needle, point.—New York Sun.