In  hastily    turning  the  corner  of  a  crooked


176    PUSHING  TO  THE  FRONT

street  in  London,  a  young  lady  ran  with  great
force  against  a  ragged  beggar-boy  and  al-
most knocked  him  down.  Stopping  as  soon
as  she  could,  she  turned  around  and  said  very
kindly :  "  I  beg  your  pardon,  my  little  fel-
low ;  I  am  very  sorry  that  I  ran  against  you/'
The  astonished  boy  looked  at  her  a  moment,
and  then,  taking  off  about  three  quarters  of
a  cap,  made  a  low  bow  and  said,  while  a
broad,  pleasant  smile  overspread  his  face:
"  You  have  my  parding,  miss,  and  welcome, —
and  welcome;  and  the  next  time  you  run
ag'in*  me,  you  can  knock  me  clean  down  and
I  won't  say  a  word."  After  the  lady  had
passed  on,  he  said  to  a  companion :  "  I  say,
Jim,  it's  the  first  time  I  ever  had  anybody  ask
my  parding,  and  it  kind  o'  took  me  off  my
feet."

"  Respect  the  burden,  madame,  respect  the
burden,"  said  Napoleon,  as  he  courteously
stepped  aside  at  St.  Helena  to  make  way  for
a  laborer  bending  under  a  heavy  load,  while
his  companion  seemed  inclined  to  keep  the
narrow  path.
