Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1868-12-23

where his duties consisted in sweeping out
the office and dusting the desks before the
arrival of the clerks in the morning, and in
carrying messages and parcels for few
hours during the day. Mr. Maudley 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 rapidity In the
house where he lodged there also resided a
Frenchman, who had come to prosecute a
claim for a legacy which had been left him
in this country
With this person Joe formed an intimacy,
and.for some act of civility rendered to him
| by the boy he undertook to teach him the
/ French tongue; this was what he ardenty
desired; and a few months instruction
made him so proficient in the language that
he could not only write with ease, but con-
verse fiuently in it.
ThSe years had passed away during
which time Joe by his assiduity aud good
! temper, had become prime favorite in the
office ; the elderly chief clerk, ard the heads
| of the establishment, liked him for his
punctuallty and integrity, and the young men
! for the readiness with which he executed
| for the confidence they had that he was nei-
| ther spy" nor "a sneak, =" and that their
| harmless ''larks' and venal breaches of dis
| cpline would never be brought to the ears
of the ''goyernor" through Climbers instru-
mentality. He was therefore pronounced
| by common consent "a trump" and when
at the end of three years he was promoted
to a seat at desk in their office he receiv-
| ed the warm and sincere congratulations of
his fellow clerks As Joe jerked himself
| for the first time on to tall stool which he
was thencetorth to occupy in the office, he
| thought of the snow ball. and felt that he
was then much greater person than on the
! evening he rolled amongst the company in
Mr.. Maudsley' drawing room.
| 1t was some months after Joe's elevation
| that a case come into the Office which re-
| quired that confidential agent should be
sent to neighboring city. He was imme-
diately questioned, and being found com
petent for the duty. he was entrusted
with it, and henot only brought the affair
| to satisfactory issue, but laid the founda-
tion of very lucrative business for the of:
fee, which was recognized by giving him a
considerable increase of salary and an ad-
vance in his position in the establishment
| Thus, by his roll in this affair, Joe Climber,
true to his rule of life, gathered from it
much and lost nothing
he was now person of some consequence,
and being placed at the head of one of the
departments in the office, was invited as
guest to Mr.. Maudsley's house. The little
sylphide in blue had grown into a beauti-
full girl, and as Joe-we beg his pardon
Mr.. Joseph Gimber-was by no means a
bad looking fellow it was not surprising
that Kate Maudsley should look with favor
ing eyes upon him. An incident which |
am obliged to confess was singularly unro-
mantle, led to what in affairs of the heart,
is called " an interesting discovery" 1t
happened in this way: -Ka;e was enga-
ged at a table near a window in the drawing
room, when Joseph entered. oh! Mr..
SLc CIlSus diil 81 Sldu YOU diG
come, for you can help me string these beads;
they have nearly tired me out of patience. "
The young man was delighted, and imme-
diately set about his task, but whether from
awkwardness or his thoughts being other
wise occupied. he repeatedly pricked his
fingers with the needle and at length the
box containing the beads fell on the floor
Climber, in great confusion, begged pardon
for his awkwardness, and stopped to gather
the beads which rolled about the carpet at
the same instant that Kate had bent for
ward with rhe same intention. | can pre-
tend to say how it occurred, but their cheeks
accidentally touched in the same attempt
both drew back, and mutually apoogized
again they stopped, and again the young la
dy's curls lightly brushed the genteman's
whiskers; this time however, the blush
was accompanied by smile. The smile
was preface to certain disclosures which |
do not feel myself at liberty to repeat |
may, however, state that, although the beads
remained scattered on the carpet, Joe had
succeeded in obtaining from the lips of the
fair Kate the rapturous confession that he
was not wholly Indifferent to her. In this
way did Mr. Joseph Climber gather to him
self the affections of lovely girl
My readers must now leap with me over
several years, and imagine that we have
reached the fifteenth anniversary of the day
on which Joe Gimher learnt his great les
son of life from the rolling snow ball. 1t is
night; but a rich, ruddy radiance streams
from the crimson curtained windows of Mr..
Maudsley's house, upon the cold white snow
without. Let US enter, and see what chan
ges time has wrought beneath that roof
Mr.. Maudsley, having runan honorable and
| prosperous career has retired from active
| business life, and transferred his interest in
the banking business to his n-iaw, Mr.
Joseph Climber, now the second partner IN
the firm.
Age has, it is true, taken from the old
man much of his elasticity OF mind and body,
but he can still calmly enjoy the pleasures
of existence, aud minge in the festivities of
Thanksgiving, which are kept mp with
much genial hospitality by the children, in
uhom he liyes apain Of my hero IL is en-