Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1871-07-28
THE GAZETTE.
CEDAR FALLS. JULY 20, 1871.
Smiths New Clerk.

Smiths New Clerk. Via,
Jenkins met Smith, his senior
partner, at the depot, who had been
absent on q business tour. .r ~.
"How's business?" inquired the
Halter. "a s.
.All right; got new clerk"
"Gota new clerk, eh? Where's
Jones % # #
Discharged him. An idle, extrav-
agant young dogp' se.a
"True enough, and the new one
won't be any better. Drinking,
gambling. late hours and fast horses,
that's the way with 'em ALL"
And Smith groaned. -
Jenkins eyes twinkled. He we'll
knew the peculiarities of this good
hearted but eccentric bachelor part.
ner.
"Well, the new clerk don't drink
nor gamble, I'm certain of that, and
has thus far been very industrious
and attentivs.p #s& 81 ...-
Thus far: Oh, yes. Wait a
month. New brooms sweep clean"
"Oh, well, IL the new clerk don't
suit you, you can send the new clerk
adrift, that's all. only took her
-ah'm-the new clerk on trial"
Mr.. Smith stared at his partner. %.
81 suppose the new clerk has
name ?" he remarked driiy."
"Oh, yes. Her, that is to say the
new clerks name Is Gardner. But
here we are.'
AS was his usual custom, Mr..
Smith went through the store. past
the array Of clerks on either side of
the counter, without glancing to the
right or left. But when he reached
his private office, at the further end,
he looked through the glass door,
which was so situated that he could
see all that was going on I'm the
store. .H .
AS his eyes fell on the occupant of
a desk near the door he started.
whats that?n he said, turning
sharply upon his partner, who had
followed him.
Jenkins gazed very composedly
upon the slender form, whose grace
full head was bent intently over a |
ledger that lay upon the desk. ~.''
''That? Why, that's the new
clerk.nE #SE g &S .-
Smith rubbed his eyes and looked
again.
"Why, that's woman !" he ex-
claimed with an air of incredulity
and horror. { , n
~ should say it was," said Jen-
kins cody. "and confounded pretty
one at that"
"Smith gave his partner a look of
virtuous indignation"
"Mr. Jenkins, this is no place for o
woman"
"Think not? Now it strikes me
that she fits the place very nicely"
"The proper place for woman is
in the sanctuary of home"
This was pet observation of Mr..
Smiths, which he had read some
where, and which he considered as q
clinoher in such an argument.
"But suppose she hasn't any ?"
"Tnis was q poser, and, in his eff
forts to surmount 1t, Mr.. Smith got
excited. ....
Hasn't any? Why, sir, she must
have one !"
Every true. In fact so confident
am I on that point, that have some
thoughts of offering her mine-or, at
least to share it with her."
"Mr. Jenkins, this is not fit SUBJ
ject for jest"
sit Is serious matter / know so,
on the whole, perhaps I'd better
think 1t over while longer. Be-
sides there's no knowing IL she
would accept my offer, together with
the encumbrance that goes with
It." '@#
jenkins" !" returned Smith severe
ly, twill you cease trifiing and attend
to the business In hand? This wo-
man must CO." ~ rfr..
Every well, you told me you want
ed clerk that would be faithful and |
Industrious; that didn't spend his
salary and all that he could steal on
fast horses and faster women; and 1
got you one. It's an easy matter to
send her off,"
"Qf course it is," rejoined Smith,
brightning at the suggestion. "Just
tell her she don't exactly suit, and
that we shan't need her after to-
day. ssts o. E&.c
'::You hired her." - /
"And for that very reason I won't /
her without some good
cause" r~aI
"No matter" returned Smith with |
an air OF lofty Indifference. .'I can
her. I think am equal
to that much s. r-Fg r-. d"
Jenkins, who had left the room,
put his head back a moment later.
"Bet you q hundred dollars you
don't do it! -..-sl
With this parting shot he disap
peared. Fgr ~
Now Smith had nervous horror
of women, as his partner well knew
especially young women-and
never spoke to one II he could help
It. fE
Had 1t been he, he would know
what to say, and experience no diff
Guilty in saying it; but woman was
quite another thing.
But his partners last words had
touched his pride, and summoning
all his resolution, he opened the door
and walked out.
But his courage failed him as he
n 4 A. q