Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1872-06-06
Miscellany.
SMITHS NEW CLERK.

0kl . IN w OLLhAs
JENKINS met Smith, his senior partner,
at the depot, who had been absent on a
business tour.
"How's business?" inquired the latter.
cali right; got new clerk"
'sGot new clerk, eh? Where's Joness"
discharged him. An idle, extrava-
CANT young dog!'
"True enough, and the new one won't
do any better Drinking, gambling, late
hours, fast horses-that's the way with
them ALL"
And Smith groaned.
Jenkins eyes twinkled He well knew
the peculiarities of his good-hearted but
eccentric bachelor partner
"Well, the new clerk don't drink nor
gamble, I'm certain of that, and has thus
far been very Industrious and attentive"
THUS far? Oh, yes. Wait a month.
New brooms sweep clean"
s'Oh, well, if the new clerk don't suit
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 a name?"
he remarked, dryly.
"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, with
out 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 in the store.
As his eye fell upon the occupant of a
desk near the door he started.
whats that?' he said, turning sharply
upon his partner, who had followed him.
jenkins gazed very composedly upon
the slender form, whose graceful head
was bent intently over ledger that lay
open upon the desk.
"That /? Why that's the new clerk"
Smith rubbed his eyes, and looked
again.
"Why, it's woman !" he exclaimed,
with an air of incredulity and horror
81 should say it was," said jenkins,
coolly, land a confoundedly pretty one
at that
Smith gave his partner look of virtu-
Gus indignation.
''Mr. Jenkins, this is no place for
woman p
ssThink Now it strikes me that she
fits the place very nicely"
The proper place for woman is the
sanctuary of home"
This was pet observation of Mr..
Smiths, which he had read somewhere,
and which he considered as clincher in
such an argument.
."But suppose she hasn't any ?"
This was poser, and in his efforts to
surmount it, Mr.. Smith got excited.
Hasn't any? Why, sir, she must
she ought to have one."
every true In fact, so confident am
I on this point that / have thought of
offering her mine-or, at least, to share it
with her.
''Mr jenkins, this is not fit subject
for jest!''
s1It's a serious matter, know so, on
the whole, perhaps I'd better think it over
while longer Besides, there is no
knowing if she would accept my offer to-
gether with the incumbrance that goes
with it."
jenkins" returned Smith, severely,
"aoiW you cease trif1ing and attend to the
business in hand? This woman must
CO."
every well; you told me you wanted
clerk that would be faithful and indus
trieus that didn't spend his salary, and
all he could steal, on fast horses, and the
like, and got you one. It's an easy mat
ler to send her off,
sOf course it is" rejoined Smith,
Frightening at the suggestion. "Just
tell her she don't exactly suit, and that we
shan't need her after to-day"
But she does suit-me; and if you are
not suited, all you have got to do is to
tell her so'
'sYou hired her."
sAnd for that reason, won't dis
charge her without some good cause"
tNo matter" returned Smith, with an
air of indifference 81 can discharge her
I think am equal to that much"
Jenkins, who had left the room, put his
head back minute later.
Bet you hundred dollars you don't
dositn
With this parting shot he disappeared.
Now Smith had nervous horror of
women, as his partner well knew-es-
pecially young wonderland never spoke
to one if he could help it.
Had it been man he would have known
what to say, and experienced no difficulty
in saying it, but a woman was quite an
other thing
But his partners last words had touched
his pride, and summoning all his resolu-
ton he opened the door and walked in.
But his courage failed him as he came
opposite the desk where she sat, and he
passed by, glancing sideways at the un-
conscious occupant, who did not lift her
head as he approached.
p After speaking to clerk at the further
end of the room, he walked slowly back
to where the young lady sat- and who, as
he paused by the desk, raised a pair of
soft blue eyes. shooting swift bewilder-
ing glance in Smiths, that he felt to the
toe of his boot.
"Miss-Miss"-he stammered
My name is Georgiana," said the
young lady, smiling. sSome call me
George for short"
-a"Well, Miss George-Georgiana, Pm
afraid that you will find vour situation
rather unpleasant"
s'Not at all, sir. On the contrary, find
it very pleasant and comfortable
"Ahem!-but I fear you will hardly be
equal to the discharge of its duties'
- II hope not. If you will run your eye
soverthe balance-sheet you will find every
thing correct
With desperate hope that there would
be something amiss, Smith did so, but
was disappointed.
xi7s"I hope you have no fault to find %
said the clerk, rather anxiously, on per-
ceiylng that he hesitated.
- :. ou are woman
dOlO, WnCtAeT dudSneu ny Inc SuQQeu
display of dimples in the pink cheeks,
that grew still more pink at his rather un-
necessary assertion, Smith came to an
abrupt pause.
3 At this the smiling face settled into an
expression of demure gravity.
. 81 must plead guilty to the charge OF
being woman. But though it may be a
misfortune, it can scarcely be called a
fault; at any rate, it is one for which am
mot answerable."
You misunderstood re, ma'am What
X meant to say was, that there are certain
duties connected with your office, such as
Q opening the store, going to the post-office
etc, which you cannot very well per.
form.n
81 assure you, sir, that I shall like moth
: ! ing better than an occasional walk in the
open air. And as to opening the store
saand sweeping and dusting, l don't know
81 why it should be the harder to perform
that Office for store than for a house."
aias"I claim no consideration for my sex,
resumed the young lady, casting a re