St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1860-02-23
From Sharpe's London Magazine
THE MAN OVER THE WAY"
BY ALFRED W. COLE.
Concluded.

that he should know all about me and my
affairs was only less extraordinary than that
I should have always felt so strange Gu
riosity regarding him:
s'There are more things in heaven and earth,
Horatio,
Than ore dreamt of in your Philosophy"
said quoting Hamlet; but I got no salts
factory explanation of the matter by such
quotation. The most reasonable supposi-
ton seemed to be that he must have been
necessarily watching me, and this (thoug h
1 scarcely knew it) made me watch him,
and feel attracted to him in return. But
the great point, now, was-should l follow
his advice? and if SO, what did the alvice
mean?
Work! what did know about work
and how was my working to get me Julia
for wife? Certainly I had dim suspi-
cion that the old gentleman might mean,
that if I worked I should improve my in
come, and thus be entitled to ask for her
hand with better chance of success than
as an idle man with &220 year. Rather
slow process; feared; but what sort of
work was I to perform? I had no profess
sion; I was unacquainted with any art; [
could neither practice law nor medicine !;
nor could I paint or teach music. l could
write poetry, certainly; at least Julia and
I think so; but I doubt whether "!The
Man over the Way" would call that scork.
After three days Of reflection, I determ-
ined to pay the Man another visit.
"What do you want ?" he began, in just
the same tone as before.
''To work." replied I, briefly.
"Good," said he; ego and do it."
''But I don't know what to work at
have no profession"
"Go and break stoncs," he replied; "thc
work houses are empty just now-the roads
want laborers."
I turned away in disgust.
'sCan you write!' he asked. "Of course
you can, thorc2, love letters. Its not the
best hand in the world, but it way be inn
proved. You had better get a situation as
Junior clerk in merchants ofice-no SAL
ary the first year, sixty pounds the second,
eighty the third, and so on"
'EThank you said I, very angry. "Even
if I were disposed to do SO, know no mer-
camille house in London.
F'I'll get you the situation," was the re-
ply. "If you reject it, Cont come near me
again"
Who shall describe my feelings at this
moment? To fancy myself a common clerk
me ? the best dressed man of my means
in town, the most refined in taste, the
greatest hater Of everything "business like"
or common--to lie clerk, snob, quill
driver! On the other hand, to lose the
strange friend Gf could SO call him) be-
fore me or be unable to apply for his ad-
vice, to lose the chance also Of gaining
J Julia-for I did think that this would fol-
low the rejection of this ofer-what should
do?
eff I accept" said I, after pause, twill
you guarantee me-"
"Nothing?' was the reply that cut me
short; II tell you to work, and I offer you
the means of doing so-that's ALL"
~ accept" cried in desperation.
The Man took a pen and wrote short
note, which he handed me to read. It
was simply letter Of recommendation for
me, the bearer for employment in the
house Of the firm to whom it was address,.
ed.
handed it back with thanks. He wrote
the direction, and gave me the letter. 1t
was addressed, "Msssrs. Sniggles and &c" ;"
"WhyW exclaimed ], otis to the father
Of"
"Exactly-so much the better; he will
ask you no questions, but give you the sit.
uation."
He showed me out of the room; and
when I reached the street, I stood still fol
a few minutes in perfect bewilderment.- -
Could this "Man over the Way" have deal.
ings with the devil, that he exercised sc
strange an influence over me, and seemed
to guide me as he pleased? And ther
what could be his connexion with the Snig
giles family that made him SO confident o.
my procuring the situation through him
I determined to deliver the letter, at al
events.
l made my way to Thames street, where
l am sure 1 never set foot before. I foune
the house of Sniggles and Co. Eugh
how the place smelt of leather. 1 askee
for MIR. Singles, and I was shown into HI.
Office. ...:...#....s "a !. .t.:...
"Good day. sir" said snisgles, "glad t.
see you here.'' v.@~a. o-,s<
handed him the letter, which he Jus
glanced over, and then said, "Follow me- ,
He led me to the next room, where thre.
fellows were driving their quills with al
their might.
! "Mr. Jackson" cried old Snigglcs to on,