THE HONEST BOOTBLACK

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 27, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 48.

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THE HONEST BOOTBLACK.

“Shine, sir?”

“Yes, I want my boots blacked.”

“Then I would be glad to shine them, sir,” said the boy.

“Have I time to catch the Hudson River train?”

“No time to lose, sir; but I can give you a good job before it pulls out. Shall I?”

“Yes, my boy; don’t let me be left.”

In two seconds the bootblack was on his knees and hard at work.

“The train is going, sir,” said he, as he gave the last touch. The man gave him a half-dollar and started for the train. The boy counted out the change and ran after his patron but was too late, the train had gone.

Two years later the same man, on coming to New York, met the bootblack, but had forgotten him. The boy remembered his former customer, and asked him,—

“Didn’t I shine your shoes once in the Grand Central depot?”

“Some boy did,” said the man.

“I am that boy; and here is your change, sir.”

The gentleman was so pleased with the lad’s honesty that he went with him to see his mother, and offered to adopt him, as he needed such a boy. The mother consented, and the honest bootblack had after that a good home. He was given a good education, and when a man became a partner in his friend’s large business.—Selected.