LESSON 39 LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

1. A gentleman once advertised [1] for a boy to assist him in his office, and nearly fifty applied for the place. Out of the whole number he in a short time chose one, and sent all the rest away.

2. "I should like to know," said a friend, "on what ground you chose that boy. He had not a single recommendation [2] with him."

3. "You are mistaken," said the gentleman; "he had a great many:—

He wiped his feet when he came in, and closed the door after him; showing that he was orderly and tidy. 4. He gave up his seat instantly to that lame old man; showing that he was kind and thoughtful.

He took off his cap when he came in, and answered my questions promptly [3] and respectfully [4] ; showing that he was polite [5] . 5. He lifted up the book which I had purposely laid on the floor, and placed it on the table, while all the rest stepped over it or shoved [6] it aside; showing that he was careful.

And he waited quietly for his turn, instead of pushing the others aside; showing that he was modest [7] . 6. When I talked with him, I noticed that his clothes were carefully brushed, his hair in nice order, and his teeth as white as milk. When he wrote his name, I observed that his fingernails were clean, instead of being tipped with jet [8] like the handsome little fellow's in the blue jacket.

7. "Don't you call these things letters of recommendation? I do; and what I can tell about a boy by using my eyes for ten minutes, is worth more than all the fine letters that he can bring."

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[1] advertised: Sent out notices (e.g., in a newspaper); made known.

[2] recommendation: Something in his favour.

[3] promptly: Quickly.

[4] respectfully: Politely; in a mannerly way.

[5] polite: Well-mannered.

[6] shoved: Pushed.

[7] modest: Not vain.

[8] jet: Black.