The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-11-05
His countenance wore troubled look as he

His countenance wore troubled look as he
paced up and down the foor, studying Diff
cult problem--where to get the money. A
happy thought struck him as he agaia referred
to- the job order book, and found charged
thereon the sum Of fifty dollars due that very
day from an extensive wholesale firm in Pinch
vile. Note paper, pen and ink were immedi-
ately called into requsition, and the following
''duno made oat and despatched to the Post
Ofice:
i MEssRs RICH & Srow-Enclosed please
find bill forfifty dollars, which you will oblige
us by remitting immediately, q
Yours, &C., Jas. NEEDY.
This done, the clerk again looked over The
| parcel Of bills which he had previously laid
aside for more weighty consideration, and So
/ liloqnised as follows:
"IIere is bill for twenty dollars against
Scale, Weight Co., gtocers, that must come
without fail--has been due for two weeks
Delaine & Price also owe us this bill for twen-
ty more. We advertised their dry goods for
six months, and no pay since due. Mason &
|
sshair for SALE" Shoemaker & Co., eight j.
lars" &c.
Being satisfied that the bills contained no
errors, he started out Of the office to collect.
"Hallo, Weight, pay this bill, only twenty
dollars-been due two weeks-must have
money, very much in need--hands 20 paw"
Weight listened very atfentive.y until the
clerk paused, then, with smile, replied:
"No funds to-day--pay tomorrow"
After the clerk had passed on, with rather
downcast look, he muttered to himself .spay
when get ready"
Clerk then entered the splendid store Of De-
laine & Price. Proprietors not in; clerks
know nothing about the business Of the bill;
think however, it is too high.
The disheartened clerk waits full thirty
minutes, but no proprietor's came. He leaves
with troubled look and qnick nervous STEP
Hide Pelt come next on his programme.
"Good morning, Mr.. Hide. Pay this bill
of ten dollars. You agreed to pay to day, you
knuwo h'#
| "Yes Irecollect now, but really had quite
forgotten it, and have no money by me now -
will call in this evening, however, and settle
up"
Clerk knew this to be mere expression Of
language, but passed on more puzzled than ev-
er. Mason, the plastcrer, however, hailed
him from the third story OF new block across
the way, and offered hun three dollars on his
bills IL he would just step there. OF course
the clerk almost flew up to receive the three
dollars. Itwas the first receipt since leaving
the Office. SO he continued on down the street.
"Pay this bill. was repeated perhaps fifty
times, and with refusals, smiles, frowns, and
curses. He finally returned to his counting
room but with much slower step than he
passed out. ar Iw -EH
Poor luck, indeed. Twenty dollars, and no
more. was all he could raise. Upon bis return,
however, he found quite a number Of subscri-
bers waiting to settle their bills. One forks
over without complaint. Another erumbies
because his paper does not come regular
Clerk apologies, and thinks Uncle Sam most
ly to blame for tins. Mr.. Twist said dun
ming bill had been mailed in his paper when
he paid In advance and if they could not do
business any better than that they might keep
the money and paper too. Mr.. Small of Small
town, said he did not agree to pay until the
year was up; but IL he would throw off fair
per cent, he wonld pay down.
[Boy enters with letters from the Post
Ofice.] W Ear
Subscribers all leave but one insuisitive
Yankee, who bothered the clerk with unim-
portant questions for nearly an hour. Letters
opened. Some contained small amounts of
money. some on private business, without pay
ing postage, and one enclosing twenty-five
cents, requesting them to 'ssend the paper as
long as the money lasts." Encouragin to be
sure.
s'Only forty dollars yet," repeated the clerk,
as he finished counting the contents Of the
bills.
But here comes man with Eat job, or I
am no son Of prophet"
"Do job OF printing right ofF?-Two sheet
poster for the ssWarbling Minstrels" want this
very night to send to Ply-ser-ville by the eight
o'clock express"
7
60, yes, certainly" replied the clerk.
The printing was done, and bill for twenty
dollars made ont. During the absence Of the
clerk, the posters went of under the arm OF
the agent, and no bill paid either. Three days
after, the clerk saw the man, and politely
asked, "Pay this bill?'' The man knew moth
ing about il, and of course paid no such bilI.--
Twenty dollars gone on one Job.
Saturday arrived. and the poor clerk was
sadly distressed, as MT more than half the re-
qaired amount Of money had been received
Messrs. Rich & Slow, Of Pinchville, replied
that they would pay soon, but could not that
day. The gas man came in with pi,iful face,
and sai'l-sspay this bill?'' fd
"Cannot pay to-day, tits impossible. Come
in on Monday." fa,1 F,l -
"Impossible," repeated the gas man, il
must be raid to-day, or"
Cor what?' demanded the clerk, 4. little
riied.
Wen stop your supply Of gas"
cd 'n'tdo that For Gods sake. Here is the
amount Of your bill.n
Eveaing came and the poor printers had to
60 home with half their earnings although thir-
ty dollars were borrowed Of Shaver, the
banker.
Az 4 = "a