Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-11-25
THE ooNrInENrIAL cLERK.

slL AsttS f1S ft i3<itOfttt - rA~s--. z. - %
would answer his purpose. He was Pc
culiar man entertaining peculiar views
This same man, Crocus, was the chief clerk
in the office of Ketchen and Skinem, and
he was wisely calculated tof fill the duties
of his position. He was, to a great extent,
made the confident of the proprietors, IN all
matters pertaining to their business ana II
frequently happened that his counsels were
very profitable to them. Crocus was oooA-
keeper, and he knew as much about the
business and standing Of the office as the
proprietors themselves.
may as well introduce the reader 10
scene in the office, and from that an insight
can be the more readily obtained into the
peculiar character of the confidential clerk
| Ketchem entered the office one morning IN
great haste, Just while Crocus was opening
the LARGE iron chests and taking out books
and papers preparatory to his days wor K
"Come along, you old mudgeon, with
those books and papers. Are they all safe!
Don't you hear +"
Crocus mods his head stiff1y.
"Don't you hear, Crocus Z!
Crocus mods.
l @Do YOU hear? Are you dumb 2"
Crocus mods his head and then snakes e, IT.
"Whv the - don't you speak z"
= "Why should a wise man speak, Mr.
= Ketchem, when nod or shake Will do a
= well q
y ssThat's fact, Crocus, an extravagan
~ ~ waste of the good things of life Is not Il
~ - .,ooJ cff faith -
"Even so; / am miser in Words MI
h Ketchem, you"-
u u 'In gold! Out with it, honest Crocu
tell the truth and shame the devil, as til
al maxim sayeth." !,
ha r at is easy for me to tell the truth, b'
y I as for shaming you, that is an imposslolhty
!, u Mr.. Ketchem laughed immoderately, an
:, so did Crocus.
y "Doyou laugh at your own wit, Crocus
50 - s-1trfS I--
nS iaS Ketchem." pu;no mo I
md aEnough ofthat, Crocus. BRING me !
OK On. books. Do you hear
iI n"V Crocus mods.
the oDo YOU hear, | say 7"
inns things must be dumb"
+" And the clerk brings the oo0
OF them before his employer.
were "Now, Crocus, you may 60 lnto CliI
Iden or room when have need OF you
not ring the bell" NJ, Kotc
this suffered his reflections to run sonle'
was after this fashion:
hrm "Crocus is an honest man, rare :,
KOW. L
prove careful of my interests as ne woulo
est be his own, if he had any, but happy hs nj
that has no interest-no care-no fanny
chests nama ns'D should not pay him his lls
d that grndgingly. l will pay him Wiling eg
nd ex, lie sRalI not be loser by being Ia
it, and Rv+ 3u 'Il iSt me look again in my books
me, it I,ot 'a' iIS foar to face them; l know tn
ABOUT cusing facts that are written uiv,I :,
n N, was was every page see my rum wTIO'en m Te
old hoV that dare not-do not-Wih ho| ils Is
1t was I will not look-I will ring LOT ID
her tor honest Crocus, and have it from his
grea' No here comes Skinem. on
beside And Mr.. Skinem entered the Oh
wished Anu w. na+
pretend ''HSS %Did YOU YOU call on Welch and "
ny ES"n spCn Mr.. Skinem" h
OF Man 81 did. sir, and had from their 6
lc Pri9e tbatthev were very much IN want Oh
Is moth .Desperation! have just sent
'r people away that might look into our DC
With any tbenJ feared to investigate our ST
tathGre1 $50 would l; the market Is
who had omaz;noly tight and stocks are t1a'
IS oil g,rl- 81 will ring for Crocus.
IN. Fer II -. ~ y bnll and CrOCuS en-
ousn' QUIZ o"P w Office.
'sSeeN "L! "Crocus."
; lor 'nls oMr. Ketchem." !.
hem were "Do YOU remember Ella Hami
Is some @Why should forget her !!
wonder.- oDo YOU know where she IS at
"ed proSn .l ain the city, sir" .,
with tne "Are YOU sure she still lives :!
nan. You .nnh ~ ~
ike of him ,,Gnnat ont Won yexation, VIII
/" .'.,,,l3 -" not growl about z .,
would not 81 was thinking it were g
1nem oao she had forsaken the earth Tor
very Precls1 "Strange problem"
face shaNeu "Ella Hamilton ought not
OF olack auu Ketchem; for the earth has bee
lureil VI but few such"
notes at " "No more of that, Crocus. l
men ever AZ her account of late ("
assiduously ioi 60, 60 Loron Tanning his
rom 0 Illc ., uay with his finger.
flnehPehu! "How does it stand !!
nty for thous- uSar'on.tv @ and some odd
they happen ron Lnow y said Crocus slo,
-, ,,ouo. A his words.
on which this onS LIZ "N''
the writer oy ut would produce less dis'
TREND over "a it is" said Mr.. Skinem.
ng oysOeis, ana "What do you meanF
hastily thTowh D ~ mean, Mr. Ketchem, tha
Northern tuo- of the Hamilton transaction
ed anu aislora, @ and deeper as the days gatn'
!, the Pinchpen- u..aborn -" "
Y thought with Ne.Jno .And this ;s no church,"
publisher OF ms "Crocus, did you call on
{ the Author. t'nS-
: = Y9KI