cqMd'X 
 
BE POLITE TO ALL. 
 
 «* You cannot j udge of a man by the coat he wears." 
 
 *' Hallo, Limpy, the train will start in 
 a minute ; hurry up, or we shall leave 
 you behind." 
 
 The train was waiting at the station. 
 The engine was puffing and blowing. The 
 
BE POLITE TO ALL. 3 
 
 baggage-master was busy with baggage 
 and checks. The men were hurrying to 
 and fro with chests and packages and 
 trunks. Men, women, and children were 
 rushing for the carriages, and hastily 
 securing their seats, while the locomotive 
 snorted, and puffed. 
 
 A man carelessly dressed was standing 
 on the platform. He was looking around 
 him, and seemingly paid little attention 
 to what was passing. It was easy to see 
 that he was lame. At a hasty glance one 
 might easily have supposed that he was a 
 man of neither wealth nor influence. The 
 conductor of the train gave him a con- 
 temptuous look, and slapping him fami- 
 liarly on the shoulder, he called out — 
 
 ** Hallo, Limpy ; better get a seat, or 
 the train will leave you behind." 
 
 '' Time enough, I think," replied the 
 individual so roughly addressed, and he 
 •retained his seemingly listless position. 
 
 The last trunk was tumbled into the 
 luggage van. '' All right !" cried the con- 
 ductor. ** Get on, Limpy," said he, as 
 
4 BE POLITE TO ALL. 
 
 he passed the lame, carelessly dressed 
 man. 
 
 The lame man made no reply. 
 
 Just as the train was slowly moving 
 away, the lame man stepped on the plat- 
 form of the last carriage, and walking in 
 quickly, took a seat. 
 
 The train had moved on a few miles, 
 when the conductor appeared at the door 
 of the carriage where our friend was 
 
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 sitting. Passing along, he s^oon discovered 
 
BE POLITE TO ALL. 5 
 
 the stranger whom he had seen at the 
 station. 
 
 '* Hand out your money here !" 
 
 '* I don't pay/* rephed the lame man, 
 very quietly. 
 
 ** Don't pay?" 
 
 " No, sir." 
 
 *' We'll see about that. I shall put 
 you out at the next station !" and he 
 seized the carpet-bag which was in the 
 carriage. 
 
 ** Better not be so rough, young man," 
 returned the stranger. 
 
 The conductor released the carpet-bag 
 for a moment ; and seeing he could do no 
 more then, he passed on to collect the fare 
 from other passengers. As he stopped a{ 
 a seat a few paces off, a gentleman who 
 had heard the conversation just mentioned, 
 looked up at the conductor, and asked 
 him — 
 
 '' Do you know to whom you were 
 speaking just now ?" 
 
 '' No, sir." 
 
 ** That was the Chairman of the Rail- 
 way Company. 
 
 '* Are you sure of that, sirV" replied 
 
6 BE POLITE TO ALL. 
 
 the conductor, ^^yi^^g to conceal his agita- 
 tion. 
 
 ** I know him." 
 
 The colour rose a little In the young 
 man's face, but with a strong effort he 
 controlled himself, and went on collecting 
 his fare as usual 
 
 Meanwhile, the lame gentleman sat 
 quietly in his seat — none of those who 
 were near him could unravel the expression 
 of his face, nor tell what would be the 
 next movement in the scene. And he — 
 of what thought he ? He had been rudely 
 treated ; he had been unkindly taunted 
 with the infirmity which had come perhaps 
 through no fault of his. He could re- 
 venge himself if he chose. He could tell 
 the Directors the simple truth, and the 
 young man would be deprived of his place 
 at once. Should he do it? 
 
 And yet, why should he care ? He 
 knew what he was worth. He knew how 
 he had rl-sen by his own exertions to the 
 position he now held. When, a little 
 orange peddler, he stood by the street 
 crossings, he had many a rebuff. He had 
 
H^^na 
 
 BE POLITE TO ALL. 7 
 
 outlived those days of hardship ; he was 
 respected now. Should he care for a 
 stranger's roughness or taunt ? Those 
 who sat near him waited curiously to see 
 the end. 
 
 Presently the conductor came back. 
 With a steady energy he walked up to the 
 lame gentleman's side. 
 
 '' I will resign my place, sir," he said. 
 
 ** Sit down, sir/' said the lame gentle- 
 man, '' I would like to talk with you." 
 
 As the young man sat down, the Chair- 
 man turned to him with a face in which 
 was no angry feeling, and spoke to him in 
 an undertone. 
 
 *' My young friend, I have no revenge- 
 ful feeling to gratify in this matter ; but 
 you have been very imprudent. Your 
 manner, had it been thus to a stranger, 
 would have been very injurious to the 
 interests of the Company. I might tell 
 them of this, but I will not. By doing 
 so I should throw you out of your situa- 
 tion, and you might find it difficult to find 
 another. But in future, remember to be 
 poUte to all whom you meet. You cannot 
 
 Bit: 
 
8 
 
 BE POLITE TO ALL. 
 
 judge of a man by the coat he wears ; and 
 even the poorest should be treated with 
 civility. Take up your books, sir. I shall 
 tell no one of what has passed. If you 
 change your course, nothing which has 
 happened to day shall injure you. Your 
 situation is still continued. Good morn- 
 ing, sir." 
 
 The train of carriages swept on, as 
 many a train had done before ; but within 
 it a lesson had been given and learned, 
 and tlie purport of the lesson ran some- 
 what thus : Judge not from appear- 
 ances.