The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1857-04-21
BY p. K. r

The printers Clerk stood leaning against
the desk in his Counting room, one hand sup
porting an aching head and the other grasp
ing parcel Of unpaid bills. His reflections
were anything but pleasant, as he thus
paused, after long and weary task in turn
ing over the leaves of his ledger to ascertain
which ones among the thousand and one
names found thereon, whose accounts ought
to be paid, and those he thought most like
ly to pay their bills made out and presented.
Now this matter Of making out and present
ing bills was rather particular kind Of bust
ness and no one knew il better than the afore-
mentioned clerk, for hadn't he presented bills
to those who took offence and withdrew their
patronage? and didn't an instance Of this de-
scription happen only the day before; when
Jones wouldn't take the paper any longer be-
cause they demanded the pay quarterly in
advances and didn't Smith give them reg
ular ''blowing up" whole sheet Of foolscap,
because bill was sent him by mistake?-
Mistakes will sometimes happen even among
the printers. The bills already made out
were quite numerous and the sum total of the
various amounts claimed by them would more
than cancel all demands then pressing upon
the office. But let us reveal his thoughts as
he again resumed the task of counting up
the amounts to be paid out.
"Let me sec--today is Friday and to-mor-
row ends the week, and with it comes task,
as usual, on Saturday, Of paying off the
hands. Tom wants ten dollars; Jim eight;
Charley fifteen; Billy five; Mac twenty, and
four apprentices three dollars apiece. That
will require seventy dollars. The paper ma
kcr Gotten, Rag & Co., twenty-five, Pulp d
Sheet thirty, that makes fifty-f dollars
more and one hundred aud twenty-five dol
lars in all, that must be paid by tomorrow
night aid only five dollars and ten cents in
the drawer now. But stop, here is bill of
ten dollars more for gas That must be paid
up, sure; it has been due some time. One
hundred and thirty-fve dollars and only five
to start onm
His countenance wore a troubled look as he
paced up and down the floor, studying a diff
ficult problem-where to get the money. A
happy thought struck him, as he again re-
ferrcd to the Job order book and found charged
thereon the sum Of fifty dollars; due that
very day, from an extensive Wholesale firm
in Pinchvilc. Note paper, pen and ink
" ere Immediately called into requisiton and
the following dun made out and despatched
TO the Post Office.
Mcssrs. Rich d Slow:
Enclosed please find bill for Fifty Dollars,
which you will obligc us much by rcmitttirg
Immediately. Yours, JAMES NEEDY.
This done, the clerk again looked over the
parcel of bills which he had previously laid
aside tor more weighty considerations, and
solloquizcd as follows:
"lierc is bill for twenty dollars against
Scale, Weight IL Co, Groccrs, that must
come without fail-has been due two weeks
DeLanc d. Price, also, owe us this bill for
twenty more. We advertised their dry goods
for six months, and no pay yet. Hide d
Pelts, leather dealers, ten more, long since
due. Mason & Son, plasterers, owe five dol
lars for advertising Hair for Sale. Shocma-
ker & Co., eight dollars" DC.
Being satisfied that tho bills contained no
errors, he started out of the office to collcc.
"Hallo, Weight pay this bill ?-only twen-
ty dollars-been due two weeks-must have
much in need-hands to pay
off Tomorrow, and nearly one hundred and
fifty dollars to raise yet"
Weight listened very attentivoly until the
clerk paused, then with smile replied:
mo funds in to-day; pay tomorrow"
After the clerk had passed on, with rather
a downcast look, he muttercd to himself
pay when | get ready
Clerk then entered the splendid store of
DcLanc d. Price. Proprietors not in; clerks
know nothing about the justncss Of tho bill
think, however, it is too high.
The disheartened clerk waits full thirty
minutes, but no proprietors come. He leaves
with a troubled look and quick nervous STEP
Hide & Pelts come next on his programme.
"Good morning, Mr. Hide. Pay this bill
of ten dollars. You agreed to pay to day,
you know"
ayes l recollect now, but really, bad
quite forgotten it, and have no money by me
now.. will call in this evening, however,
and settle up"
Clerk knew this to be nero expression of
language, but passed on more puzzled than
ever. Mason, the plasterer, however, hailed
him from the third story Of new block
across the way, and offered him three dollars
on his bill, if he will just step up there. Of
course, the clerk almost few up TO receive
the three dollar note. 1t was his first receipt
since leaving the office, 80 he continued on
down the street.
PAY this bill was repeated perhaps fifty
times, and with refusals, smiles, frowns, cur
ses &c., he finally returned to his counting
room, but with much slower step than when
he passed out.
Poor luck, indeed. twenty-five dollars,
and no more, was all he could raise. Upon
his return however, he found number of
subscribers waiting to settle their bills. One
forks over without complaint. Another
grumbles because his paper does not come
regular Clerk apologies, and thinks Uncle
Sam mostly to blame for this. Mr.. Twist
said dunning bill had been mailed in his
paper, when he had paid in advance, and if
they, could not do business any better than
that, they might keep the paper and money
too. Mr.. Small, of Smalltown, said he did
not agree to pay until the end of the year,
and would thank them not 10 dun him until
tho vear was nm. hut if thew would throw off