The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-10-28
From an English Paper
SNAGSESs.
A GO0D STORY FoR Young CLERKS.

When the widow Templeton obtained a
situation for her son George in the office OF
Messrs Longhurst, Latimer & Co., she
Thought herself peculiarly favoretl, and felt
very sure that her boy would be successful.
AS for himself, ne was confident of risirg to
be a partner, and IN (imagination) saw his
own name in the firm. George was fourteen
wears old. His mother mad done ali she could
to prepare him for a situation III Il respectable
office he could write good hand was
quick at accoun's; an intelligC mt, civil, oblig-
ing boy. wiling to learn, and wiling 70 work,
and perfectly trustworthy, SO everybody
thought.
The hrm of Longhurst, Latimcr, & Co.,
was an old established concern the sort of
place in which it is difficult to obtain situ.
zion without first-rate recommendations
But Mr.. Latimer attended the same chapel
as Georges mother, he was kind hearted
man and took fancy TO her boy; and so it
came to pass that, when George was old
enough, he offered to take him into his en-
ployment and to give him one pound and
four shillings per month. One pound and
four shiilings per month was great sum, so
George thought, and so thought Georges
mother. Six shiillngs per week-ngh Il
shilling day-sureiy it was very fortune
heavy. George had to 90 at nine in the
morning, aud he left at six in the evening,
and he had one hour in the middle of the
day for his dllDer-time aud what he had TO
do IN the ot1ice was to sit on high stool,
and look through little trap in a wa.nscot-
ted Partition, and answer people who make
inquiries, sometimes having 10 write messages,
sometimes TO address envelopes, and always
to keep charge OF the postage stamps. For
this purpose quantity ofpoStege stamps was
given into his care, and he had TO keep ac
count how many were used. All this was
very easy. Anybody" as Snacsbv said
''could do it," And SO they might.
Who was Snagsby? Snagsby was another
lad IN the Office, age sixteen. who wore a
tailcoat and stuck-up collar, and tried to
look like a man, Ill which he never very well
succeeded. But Snagsby soon became
Georges oracle-that is to say, his che
counselor. George believed III Snagsby
Snagsby patronized George. Snagsbv treat
ed George an inferior, as a small boy, a:
one who knew nothing, but one whom he
Snagsby the great-condescended to notice
and for which act of kindness the gratitude
and fidelity of George were but poor repay
ment to Snagsby! Why, Snagsby had beer
t. the races he had the honor of being ae
quainted with somebody who had known
somebody who was great fighting man, anC
kept public house some place III the Strand
besides, he was often going to the theater
and knew heap of things all unknown Il
George. OF course he did not tell the firm
of Longhurst Latimer L Co., what remark
able man he (Snagsby) was, and how prou'
they ought to be to have him in their office
but he told George so, and he believed him
Neither did he, in any communication wit
the firm address them as the "Governors,
nor describe his salary as ''mean screw !;
neither did he inform them that "Snagsb
had his eyes OPEN" All this sort of thin
was reserved for George, and George believe
in Snagsby.
l mentioned that it was part of George
duty to look after the postage stamps
Nothing surprised him more in attending t
this part of his work than the number @