Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-11-21

nau ever Decll known, then l must take the
liberty of saying that entirely differ in opinion
with them.
Later in the evening there was a general de
nand for a dance amongst the young people,
and one OF Mr.. Maudsley's sisters, who "did
not dance, undertook to supply the music,
on the piano. Little Joe, who heard in the
kitchen the beating of the merry feet over
head, expressed strong desire to witness the
dancing, and by the contrvance of one of the
servants was Struggled behind large India
screen that had been placed in front of glass
door at the upper end of the room communi-
eating with the conservatory. Mounted on a
flower atand, and hidden from observation by
the screen, Joe Climber peeped through the
eyergreens with which it was decorated, and
beheld a scene which completely bewiIdered
him. AS the light aud graceful forms OF the
children fitted before him in the dance their
eyes sparkling with enjoyment, he iancied him
self transported to SOME fairy land his heart
beat violently, aud his eyes dazzIed with light;
he vainly tried to follow the walters in their
May round his head became giddy, and for
getting for the moment where he was, lie
cIapped his hand in uncomfortable delight,
and leaning forward with too Iitle-caution, to
get 4 nearer view OF a pretty little sylphide in
4 pale blue irock, who had, more than any of
the others, attracted his admiration, the screen
was thrown down, and Joe Climber, falling
with it. rolled suddenly in the midst OF the
dancers, general scream greeted the uneX.
pccted appearance of this strange guest, who
hastily picking himself up. would have made
a precipitate retreat had not Mr.. Maudsiey
come forward and called him to remain. Tie
matter was shortly explained, and Joe, instead
OF being ignomnious.y expelled from the
room, became an Object OF curiosity to the
company, by whom his pockets were filed
with Sweetmeals and fruit. This was Joe
Climbers first introduction into polite society.
That night he slept in a little bed made up tor
him in the garnet. Full OF the most agreeable
reflections he fell asleep, to dream that he was
transformed into gigantic snow ball. rolled
by the pretty sylphide over heaps Vi six
pences aud sugar pIuns which stuck to hiui
on every side Joe had made the first roll in
life.
A few days after the events just narrated
Joe was taken into Mr. Maudsley's Office,
where his duties consisted in sweeping out the
office and busting the desks before the arrival
OF the clerks in the morning, and in Carrying
messages and parcels for few hours during
the day. Mr. Maudsley did not, however,
stop here With his kindness, for he permitted
Joe to attend an evening school, where, true
to the maxim which he had made the rule of
his life he gathered learning with incredible
rapdity. In the house where he lodged there
also resided FTenchman who had come TO
prosecute claim for a legacy which lad been
lett him in this country.
With this person Joe formed an intimacy,
and for some act of civity rendered to him
by the boy he undertook to teach him the
French tongue; this was what he ardenlly
desired and a few months instruction made
him so proficient i'll the language that he could
not only write with ease, but converse fuenily
in it.
Three years had passed away, during which
time Joe, by his assidnity and good temper
had become prime favorite in the office;
the elderly chief clerk, and the heads OF tive
establishment, liked him for his puncuahty
and integrity, and the young men fur tile
readiness with which he executed their little
commissons-but more, perhaps, for the con.
tidence they had thai he was neither Spy"
nor ca sneak, and that their harmless "iarls"
and venal breaches of discipline would never
be brought to the cars of the governors"
through Joe Climbers inslrumentalty lie
therefore pronounced, by common con-
sent, "a trump" and when at the end OF three
years lie was promoted to a seat at a desk in
their office, he received the warm and sincere
congratulations OF his fellow clerks. AS Joe
jerked himself for the first time on to "A tall
stool which he was thencetorth to occupy in
the Office, he thought OF the snow ball, and felt
that he was then 4 much greater person than
on the evening he rolled among Tie company
in Mr.. Maudsley's drawing roou
It was some months after Joe's elevation
that a case came into the office which required
that a confidential agent should be sent TO a
neighborin city. lie was Immediately ques-
toned. and being found competent for the
duty he was inslrusted with il, and he not
only brought the affair 10 a satisfactory issue,
but laid the foundation Of very lucrative
business lor the office, which was recognized
by giving him a considerable increase OF salu-
ry and an advance in his position in the estab.
liShment. Thus, by his roll in this affair, Joe
Climber, true to his rule of lite, "a hered from
it much and lost nothing.
He was now a person OF some consequences
and being placed at the head OF one OF the de.
partments in the office, was invited as a guest
to Mr.. Maudsey's house. The little sylphide
in blue had grown into a beautiful girl, and as
JOe--we beg his pardon-Mr. Joseph Climber
was by no means bad looking fellow, 1t was
not surprising that Kate Maudsley should look
with favoring eyes upon him. An incident,
which / am obliged to confess was singularly
unromantic, led TO what in affairs of the heart
is called can interesting discovery" 1t hap
pened in this way Kate was engaged at a
table near window in the drawing room,
when Joseph entered. ooh, Mr.. Climber"
she cried, 81 am 50 glad you are come, Tor you
can help me string these beads; they have
nearly tired me out OF patience"
The young man was delighted, and immedi-
ately set about his task, but, whether from
awkwardness or his thoughts being otherwise
occupied, he repeatedly Prcked his fingers
with the needle, and at length the box contain
ing the beads fell on the floor. Climber, in
great confusion, begged pardon for his awk-
warduess, and stopped 10 gather the beads
which rolled about the carpet, at the same ill.,
slant Kate had bent forward with the same
intention. lcan't pre- tend 10 say how il occur
red, but their cheeks accidentally touched in
the same attempt; both drew back, and nu.
tually apologised; again they stopped, and
again the young lady s curs lightly brushed
the gentlemans whiskerS this ilme however,
the blush was accompanied by smile The
smile was a preface to certain disclosures
which l dc not feel myself at liberty to repeat.
may, however, state that although The beads
remained scattered on the carpet, Joe had sue
ceeded in obtaining iron the lips OF the Kate
the rapturous confession that lie was not who'll
ly Indifferent TO her. In this way did Mr.. Jo-
seph Climber gather to himself the affections
OF a lovely girl.
My readers must now leap with me over
several years, and imagine we have reached
the fifteenth anniversary Of the day on which
Joe Climber learned his great lesson Of life,
from the rolling snow ball.
1t is night; but a rich, ruddy radiance
streams from the crimson curtaned windows
of Mr.. Maudsley's house, upon the cold white
snow without. Let us enter, and see what
changes time has wrought beneath that roof
Mr.. Maudsley, haying run an honorable and