Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1864-06-14

Where is young Parsonsf' asked the
President, on looking through the Office,
and seeing his desk vacant.
He's been absent for day or two was
replied.
Sick p
NO.
What's the matteri Too many hands
for the work p
so Tar from it, We are really shorthand
ed. Every clerk is overtasked.'
why, then, is Parsons absentf
Kali and reed birds are in season. He's
of shooting
Hadn't you better fill his desk 2 said
the President. q little snerily.
", no. He's faithful, and does his
work we'll. You can't always count on
him, it is true (; but, for the desk be occu-
pies. don't think ] could find better
man.
o, we'll, that is for you to decide. But
1t wouldn't do for me to have him in my
ofhce. l want 6rSt.rate man for p
station. Who shall take Parsons was
in my mind but this rail shooting has set.
tied him.
When Edward Parsons returned from
bis three days sport in the marshes, suu.
Drowned and feverish from exposure Of
miasma, he learned that his desk com PAM
ion. who came in the Office only a year be-
fore, had been sent to F. station on
salary of eighteen hundred dollars q
year. .....
Il heard the President asking for you,
said fellow clerk. If yon had been
here, I've no doubt you would have got
the appointment
The miserable. Responding answer we
have already heard-'Just my luck =
1t was the rail shooting that did the
business for you,' said the other.
Not was my lack = Ill had rec
manned at my desk, the President wouldn't
have come. I'm bafflei and tantslized in
this way, until Pm out of heart. A fellow
like Jones for F. station It's too bad !
It's just the place wanted. ! would have
had some chance to show what is in me
some chance to have rewards. As to veg
statiDg here, it doesn't suit me at oil.
shall try something else if there isn't q
change very soop.'
Thirty years have passed since my first
observation of Edward Parsons. His ill.
lock- was just then beginning He had
failed to graduate. and been put back q
year. His 'ill-luck has logged bis steps
even to the age of fifty. saw him last
week. He looked worn and baggard-a
disappointed and disheartened man.
More i'll luck. be said, in answer 80 q
question about his affairs. Things al.
ways go against me-
what mas happened 2 asked.
Well. you see He talked earnestly.
After fighting for it almost a year, got O
contract from the government. had to
bid low of course, but took good care as l
thought, for margin. Well, I've worked
on the contract for six mouths. and deliv.
cred over fifty thousand dollars worth of
goods. set my profit down at twenty
five per cent. and therefore ought to have
made ten thousand dollars. Think of my
disappointment at discovering myself actu.
ally ten thousand dollars in debtP
How can that be 2 asked.
He shrugged his shoulders, looked
wretched, and replied:
An error in calculation. was late
with my proposals. and went owe: The fig
ures hurriedly. Putting four instead Of
three made all the difference. 1t was
one too many on the wrong side. dis
covered the error last week aud threw 10
the contract, a ruined man.
Very unfortunate Z I said. -
On, it's just nv luck = he answered.
i might have known how it would be. If
you or any other man bad obtained the
contract, a fortune would have been made;
| lost the little had, aud am thrown in
debt. But it's my luck the Fates are
against mep
And be turned from me, as miserable G
looking man as had seen for year.
What think you, my young friend, Just
starting in the worldf Was il all luck p
II may be worth your while 70 determine
the question.