The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-07-01
@iseellauy.
CALEB BYLES & co.

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Some twenty-five years ago l wa
corresponding clerk in the good Olt
shipping-ho of Caleb Byles & Co.
India wharf, Boston, Mass.
We were such an old and so respecta
BILE firm, that it was passport into {
good society, letter of credit, and .
certificate of honesty and good bust
ness habits, to have even the remotes
connection with us, and /, as a conf
Dental correspondent and attache o
ten years standing, felt my importance
in a proportionate degree.
1t was the Summer of 1912; haC
been mischievously hot, and I wa
considerably weakened with my year,
hard labor, when the annual periot
came for my two weeks vacation, an(
/ was daily expecting the customary
summons to the office to make the nee
essary arrangements.
So, one morning, sitting on my stoo
tanning myself, not being Otherwis,
occupied, 1 was not greatly surprised
when one of the messengers came tt
my desk, and apprised me that our re
nior wished to see me.
was not often called into the pres
ence of the head of the firm, my lint
of business belonging chiefly to the de
partment of Mr.. Scarble, the junior
partner; so, with something like flut-
ter, plumed myself a little, put Oh
my best appearance, and proceeded tc
report myself.
Our office was one of the lowest and
dingiest on the wharf, and we almost
wrote by lamplight in the best of sea-
sons; the private offices were COM
prised i'm q small den in the extreme
rear of the building, and consisted OF
two rooms; the first occupied by Mr.
Scarble, the other by the senior part
ner. Passing through the outer room,
which was vacant, / tapped at the
door of Mr.. Byles' sanctum, and was
told to come in by that gentleman him.
self; entering l found myself in the
presence of the two partners. .
Caleb Byles was little withered
old fellow in knee-breeches, and buck
led shoes, and looked altogether like an
eighteenth century portrait just stepped
out of the frame. He was noted as
one of the keenest men on D venture
one who seldom met with loss; care
full to the verge Of cowardice, and ac-
counted as honest and conscientious as
a man well could be without danger of
exploding with the consciousness of his
own virtue.
Caleb Byles had ships on every sea,
and i'm those days of nOn-telegraphic
intercourse, he knew the state of the
markets from Boston to Trieste, from
santa Cruz to Singapore, before his
neighbors had an inkling of their fluc-
tuation. Thus he had grown to be one
of the richest merchants in New Eng
land, while as he grew in wealth, he
grew in grace, and in favor whitman,
at all events; as to his standing above,
perhaps this story may give hint to-
ward just conception of it.
Mr.. Scarble, on the contrary, was Mr..
Byles' opposite in everything, at least
as far as the world knew. He was
large, portly. and pompous; his voice
was loud, and though his enunciations
were but the reflection of his seniors
ideas, he gave them so much of his
own individuality that they crrried his
mark, and seemed his property. Only
in the presence of the head of the firm
was he obsequious, mild, and retiring,
and this conjunction we were permit
ted to witness but seldom, as their con-
ferences were always held with closed
doors. ..
When entered the room, Mr.. Byles
sat at the desk, with his hands on his
knees, and his spectac.es on his fore
head. Mr.. Scarble stood by the dirty
old cobwebbed window, leaning with
his elbows on the window sill. They
both regarded me attentively, and as I
bowed respectfully, Mr.. Byles pointed
to a chair before him, and requested
me to be seated.
Mr.. Byles commenced at once i'm his
soft, slow tones:
"Mr. Garfield, it is about time for
your vacation, I believe, and you have
done so well during the year that We
Mr.. Scarble and myself-(here Mr..
Scarble bowed and rubbed his hands,
have concluded to give you proof of
our appreciation of your services and
worth, and, at the same time, of our
in you, by extending your
time for relaxation, while you attend
10 some special and confidential busi-
ness for the house."
Here Mr.. Byles took his spectacles
from his forehead, and placing them on
his nose, proceeded to regard me very
benignly, but could not help remark
ing very earnestly. Turning to Mr..
Scarble for an instant before I replied,
observed an anxious look in his cOun-
which, however, changed in
to a flattering smile, when he caught
my eye.
OF course, there was nothing for me
to do but to thank the firm for their
and proposed kindness,
which / did accordingly, when Mr..
Byles said: ss
"Now, Mr.. Garfield, in a few words
let me explain to you what we desire.
We are in expectation of the arrival of
q large and very valuable cargo, to be
landed on the coast of Cuba, and be-
ing anxious to have the business prop
erly conducted we.propOse to send you
down there to meet the consignees and
the affair. AS, for business
we wish the matter kept Sc
cret,. you will be good enough to an
nounce that you are going to take your
annual vacation, which will, on this
occasion, be prolonged by our express
permission. Do you understand ?'
signified that I cOmprehended,
when he went on:
"You will leave on the day after to-
morrow by ship; your passage will be
engaged, and Mr.. Scarble will give you
all the necessary directions. Your sal
ary will be increased from this day, if
you complete this abusiness-as ! am
sure you Enthusiastically. Good
byeu And 1 found myself shaking
his hand, bowling, and out in the other
office, before / had time to answer him.
it was better as it was; he
was a man of few words, and liked the
same, and, as of course there could be
no question about my acceptance of SO
and confidential mission,
what difference did it make? To be
sure, i would prefer to go to a cooler
but then to see Cuba aud Ha-
vana, and; here was interrupted in
the swift current of my thoughts by
Mr.. Scarble, who tapping me OH the
shoulder, appeared as bounceable as
ever. tt.- t. -
"Well done, my MANI said he, in
his loud, jolly voice. "You will have
a capital time, and have done well to
accept Mr.. Byles' proposition; make
your arrangements to go on board the
brig tomorrow night, and come to me
in the morning for your directions"
So saying, he ushered me into the main
office, and l went to my desk with my
brain full of pleasant anticipations of
my West India trip.
That night l packed my trunk, and
by Mr.. Scarble's directions, had it sent
on board the brig Catharine, for Hava-
ma, and then lying at anchor in the
stream, waiting for wind. The next