The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1870-07-01
SIistelIamu.
CALEB BYLES 6 co.

I
| We were such an old and so respects
bic firm, that it was a passport into
good society, a letter of credit, and
certificate of honesty and good bus
ness habits, to have even the remOtes
| connection with US, and I, as conf
Dental correspondent and attache {
| ten years standing, felt my impOrtanc
in a prOpoTtiOnate degree.
It was the Summer of 1912; ha,
| been mischievously hot, and 1 wa
considerably weakened with my year
hard labor, when the annual periO
came for my two weeks vacation, an
I was daily expecting the custOmar,
summons to the office to make the nee
essary arrangements.
So, one morning, sitting on my stoo
| tanning myself, not being Otherwis
occupied, I was not greatly surpriSel
when one of the messengers came t.
my desk, and apprised me that our sc
niOr wished to see me.
was not often called into the pres
ence of the head of the firm, my linz
of business belonging chiefly to the de
partment of Mr.. Scarble, the JUNO
partner; so, with something like afiut-
ter, I plumed myself a little, put OF
my best appearance, and proceeded t.
report myself.
Our office was one of the lowest anC
dingiest on the wharf, and we almOs
wrote by IampIight in the best of sea
sons; the private offices were com
pTised in a small den in the extreme
rear of the building, and consisted o.
two rooms; the first occupied by Mr.
Scarble, the other by the senior part.
ner. Passing through the outer room
which was vacant, l tapped at the
door of Mr.. Byles' sanctum, and was
told to come in by that gentleman him
self; entering I found myself in the
presence of the two partners.
Caleb ByIes was a 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 a venture
one who seldom met with loss; care
full to the verge Of cowardice, and ac-
counted as honest and conscientious as
aaARn we'll could be without danger of
exploding with the consciousness of his
own virtue.
Caleb ByIes had ships on every sea,
and in 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 fuc-
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 q hint to-
ward just conception of it.
Mr.. Scarble, on the contrary, was MIR.
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.. ByIes
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 l
bowed respectfully, Mr.. Byles pointed
to a chair before him, and requested
me to be seated.
Mr.. Byles commenced at once i'll 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 a 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
to 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,
I observed an anxious look in his cOun-
tenance, which, however, changed in
to flattering smile, when he caught
my eye.
OF course, there was nothing for me
to do but f. thank the firm for their
.-e,-IndeTce andn proposed kindness,
which I did accordingly, when Mr.
Byles said:
q Now, Mr.. Garfield, in a few words
let me explain to you what we desire.
We are in expectation of the arrival of
a 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
complete the affair. AS, for business
we wish the matter kept a 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 ?''
l signified that I cOmprehended,
when he went on:
You will leave Oh the day after to-
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 ,business-as am
sure you Will-successfully. Good
byev And l found myself shaking
his hand, bowling, and out in the other
office, before l 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,
WHdt ulIlSIelCe uIu IL IndhG 10 OS
sure, l 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 on the
shoulder, appeared as bOunceable as
ever.
We'll done, my manv 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 1 went to my desk with my
brain full of pleasant anticipatiOns of
my West India trip.
That night 1 packed my trunk, and
hY Mr. ScarhlelS directions. had il sent