River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-08-08

ginning a downward path. My father
restrained her fears, saying:
''Give him his time, a week, wife let
him run TO the end of his rope. | think
he will begin TO pull in them
even deserted the family pew on
Sunday, a thing unheard of before,
and looked in at the different faiths
around but no comment was made.
Until the appointed time, had actu-
ally taken no serious thought of the
future. Puctually then, but with a
sigh, / presented myself to Mr.. Lee.
My father was also there. Mr.. Lee
smiled as came in, and said:
"Well, Louis, what do you call your
last weeks work 2"
" Relaxation, " / promptly replied.
Does it pay Z" he asked.
" 1t has so far, was my response.
But | suppose you expect TO 90 TO
work sometime z" said he.
The satisfaction of returning to nv
every day work came suddenly upon me
then, and | said with animation:
" do, indeed, and am here hoping
you have work to offer me-"
He looked pleased and gratified. So
did my father. Mr.. Lee said pres.
emily:
" have TO offer you my Office work.
If you will engage with me for another
three year | will give you 5000 per
year, and at the end of that time an
additional 800, making it $1,000 for
the three years work. What think
you 2"
My father then spoke:
:" Louis, the declension is your own
but the offer is fair. If you choose to
tai G 1T your board at home is Just to pay
mother for extra care, say So per week,
and if you do well / will cover Mr..
Lees $100 with another 800 the day
you are twenty-one. Can you do bet
teri"
! knew / could not. / said so. So
again / was back in the familiar place.
with three years before me, but thew
proved uneventful, save as the first
links which connected ME with the
firm of Colman & Co
The first duty assigned me in my
new position was the opening of some
letters, and the first letter / opened
Haunted with the bill head of Goldman
some day should send out large sheets
and bills with just such heading
So | raised an air castle. But this
heading contained, besides the order,
some reference to Superior casket,
and slip from paper making public
announcement that the decease of Col
man, OF the firm of Colman & Co,
would not alter the business arrange
ments of the firm. Ii would still be
carried on at the old stand, with the
same name. Signed, Colman & Co.,
"per G"
handed the letter to Mr. Lee, who
said
" See to your order Immediately, and
make a note of the reference to casket,
and file the letter on hook G."
lie rose, took down package of let.
ters, saying to me:
Lock at those curious signatures
Colman always signed like that, with a
long coil. The son has, suppose, in
herlted or acquired the same curious
coil to his signature I"
! | returned answer to the letter. and
when finished sudden fancy possessed
me to make of my "per g. " the same
fanciful coil. After few endeavors |
succeeded in doing this, and signed
VIM. II. Lee, "per c.. making of nv
&C. an excellent imitation of the long
colled &. appended to Coleman 4 Co.
/ For the three succeeding years not
month elapsed that we did not receive
nm order OF some kind, large or small,
with the sa ne Colman 4 Co, "per G. .
and then the long coil which [ as
invariably answered with Lee, "per
c., aud flourish of the same round my
10.
l found myself at my majority in
what thought then, and think now.
an enviable state, | had at twenty one
n fair address, good health, good
habits, good trade, and average
education, moderate ambition, and n
willingness to work, and 5000 n wear
in ready money. When my time ex-
pircd with Mr.. Lee, he again asked me
my plans for the future. Though this
time had many and many one, they
were very indefinite and none of them
practical. Mr.. lee, as before gave
advice and opportunity. He sent me
upon business of his own through
different parts of the state saying:
Look out for yourself ms you 90,
and ii you tind the right business
point, let me know"
liked this change. was making
valuable acquaintance with business
men aud the country, and for year
longer found nothing which made me
desire n change.
/ One night took branch road and
n new route to reach n certain point,
starting with Ga most unusual thing
for mel a racking headache, which the
jar and rattle Of the ears 80 increased
that 10y 10 o'clock had determined 10
ask for lay-oyer ticket at the next
station ! stopped not TO ask where.
but threw myself into an omnibus.
and, arriving at the hotel, into o room
and bed AS quickly as possible. Next
morning | awoke with my head clear.
but with feeling of exhaustion that
decided me TO remain where was for
that day.
After breakfast sauntercd out. going
slowly mp the principal street. gazing
IDLY ~ the signs, dreamily settling my.