The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-02-24
From The New York mercurs.s
The Surprise Party,
AND
WHAT BECAMEOF IT.
BY wM. 5. BENTON,

II wish somebody would give Us surprise
Ip'rty, for Lizzie Torrence had one last VICE.;
and you don't know what a delightful time
they all had, to be sure; there was dancing
and music by band, and such a supper
well, | can't describe it +, but Lizzie said il
was so nice!'
Thus said bright-eycd little girl of a
dozen summers; and added, with "a long.
drawn sigh, that seemed :, come from the
very bottom Of her heart: But nobody ever
visits us that is anybody, now-a-daysr'
And does my little darling think 50 mucl,
happiness would result from sudden gather.
irs ofa crowd in these old rooms where W.
have tried so long to be thankful for the very
great degree Of quietness and repo5c that al.
ways reigns here:" replied her father: "your
mother and | can, either of US, tell you dii:
1'rent story, where surprise party very
nearly ruined our prospects, and, but for q
merely accidental circum stance, well niy
cansed bitterness and gloom as the result 0,
Zone evening of comparative joy"
"of, tell me the story. father y sail Mary
II will do so, nv love and you shall sc,
whether there is 50 much pleasure, after all
to be obtained from such gathering, ne,
only of people of whom you know nothing
or at least very little, but of those who car,
nothing more about us than to see how W,
may receive them, nothing more"
flames Sargent 4 Co., was the name of
thriving firm who dida very prosperous busi
Ness many years ago in Boston.
''Strict integrity and constant industry
being the motto upon which their dealing,
were all based, they were enabled to amass
in few years, competent fortune and
many were the young merchants, just enter
ing into business, who were proud and pleas
ed to name among their correspondents mer
SO upright and just; and not few, through
their means, obtained credit which Otter
proved oflastinS benefit and of vital business
importance.
ut was my pleasure and satisfaction t,
serve my apprenticeship in the store of thes'
gentlemen, and to Mr.. Sargent himself, owl
much thankfulness for whatever ofprosperit,
| have since enjoyed.
'Mr. Sargent was man of sterling wortl
and remarkable business talent-a man of few
words, though, when he did speak, it was a
much to the purpose as if he had uttere,
volumes.
''Unlke the customs of these degenerat
DAYS, the men of the old school held a Ger
, tain dignity and manly bearing that had
stirring effect in the counting house and wo
to the apprentice or underling who did no
observe some degree ofreverence and respec
in the presence of his employer.
~ well remember entering the old Massa
ehusetts Bank, in Boston, where Mr.. Shar
for SO many years so faithfully discharges
the duties of teller, and always counted owe
the money three times when cashing chez
for . customer; well remember entering tn
bank and presenting myself at thecounter
make deposit, with covered head-'rak
OF your hat, sir 7 said Mr.. Sharp, and wa
willing enough to acquiesce and comply wit
: the request on the instant and should n
more think ofremaining covered in o gen
tleman's counting room than in his parlor-
Alasi those times are of the past, and he
styled an old fogy who too ,strenuously il
sists on such courtesies now
"On becoming of age, through the kint
p ness ofMr. Sargent, obtained stock {
goods on short credit, and easy terms .
payment, and commenced business on m
own account
"Tnde was at that time good, and none
plentiful, and easy to be had, and on yer
favorable terms; and for the first five year,
everything went on smoothly and satisfal
tosily- so much SO, indeed, that the ev
day seemed too far ahead to be even i
sight. Credit had extended, and great.
>xuo,.nk ~e k.,. - L..