National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-05-09

glad TO see you. Take cigar 2 Or
course, / never smoke. If | take n
cigar or n drink, it is all up with the
magnetism"
How do you answer him 2"
/ look serious, very serious indeed,
but am encessipciy polite. ] plead that
/ have infinite running about to do
which precludes my calling for the
pleasure of the thing. Still the bill
was handed me to collect, and il he will
name day for payment will certainly
be on hand. II ! can get his sober
attention am all right, but the chan
ces are he will chaff me two or three
times, and, as he is a good fellow, my
perseverance is rewarded at last.
Thus far don't see the dark side
of the picture"
Will come TO it presently. I must
get on methodically. You must bear
in mind, | have often a double trial. A
physician sends for me--he is desper-
ntely hard up. Take these accounts,
he says recollect, money l must
have. / go ahead. The first person l
call on flies in a passion. 1t is not
possible ! can't believe it / don't
believe it ! Why, l sent the docto-
fifty dollars last week, with word he
must wait another month for the bal
ance he sent answer il was all right,
and now he has put it in the hands of a
collector-perfectly shameful, consider
ing the amount of money / have paid
him. / try to explain. / talk of a
sudden loss, of don't know what else,
but the man has got me down on mag
netism, and he keeps me down. He
deies the doctor, and looks at me as if
| were a swindler. He will pay it in n
month, and no sooner, just as agreed
on-wouldn't pay sooner if he had the
cash in his pocket. l get out of the
house the easiest way possible. have
made no mistake, but the doctor has. I
report to him. He at once blows me
up for being too pressing too profess
sional for not managing better, any
how. accept the talk it don't mean
anything. l know that, but it isn't
pleasant--no. it isn't pleasant. The
chances are, lhs doctor will write to his
patient, tell lin a direct falsehood,
how the account got by accident into
my hands, that acted without orders
hoping the matter will be overlooked.
Poor man, to tell such n lie just for
nothing-how humiliating.
Others go further. l had bill for
nine hundred dollars against-well,
very pretty, fashionable woman. twas
for all sorts of fancy goods. The mer-
chant thought the people were getting
shaky. 1--WE must look very sharp" he
said, "or we shall lose this" / had no
idea of losing it, l called in the morn
ing, about ten my lady had not been
to breakfast. / called at one, she was
engaged at six, she was at dinner
later in the evening, she was at the
! succeeded, through the SER
want, in getting her to name an hour
when she would be at home. She was
1t home, but dressed for a drive, and
could not stop minute to see me. She
vas impertinent, very. 1 always call
hat good sign, just as getting angry is
l good sign. "Who sent me ?" she
wanted to know that. "No one sends
ne, madame" L said sit is my own
business l am conducting, which is that
If collecting bills which are considered
, little doubtful or difficult, doubt
ul do You call bill against me doubt
ul?' with entire respect, l must say
do" She rushed in the carriage in a
age, and was off. The next day she
'alled at my clients store and paid up
very cent My man was so much in
iuenced by her statement of my con-
luct, coupled with the possession of the
money, that he took me to task for do
ng my duty, although those folks failed |
n thirty days from that time. My feel
ngs were very much hurt, but | could |
ford to pity the man. l pity all who
,revaricate and lie, and he did both.
The collector drew long breath, and
continued:
Next come the unfortunates who are
% hard-pressed they really can't pay,
mt they are ashamed to own it. Why, |
{ folks would come right ont, honor
fright, and say, We can't do it, there's
10 use talking I would wait a whole
ear but they say next week. and |
next month, and in a fortnight, and
very soon indeed, probably Thursday
Iow, ARRAYS keep an appointment,
nd if you could hear how, time after
ime, running through a year or two
ears, new excuses are fabricated for |
ach occasion, you wouldn't wonder at
ny pity for these poor, wretched, de-
,raded souls"
"But l should think, understanding
heir situation, you would let them
now it kindly, and save yourself much
uaning."
That is not my occupation. Ny oc-
upation is to collect the money, and |
xpect to run after it. Yes, nobody
uns like me morning, noon, and into
he night. But | don't mind il" "
"You have said nothing of those who
impose on you"
"Ah, it is only when my people I'M
ertake to impose on me that my genius
ises to the occasion. | once had bill |
gainst club-man-only fifteen dol
lrs. You would know him if / men
ioned his name. He never pays any
hing-belongs to two first-class clubs.
followed him from one to the other
e would make appointments as often
S liked, but never kept them-was of
he pompous sort. One day he would
q going to receive a check !; another
ay he would show it to me it was to
e cashed in the morning, and l should
e paid. Then he would go to Wash
lgton, and no one knows where. I
,st his track once for three months.
t last l caught him at the - Club.
lie looked very lofty. Thomas said
e to the waiter, change this bill for
le.' The waiter took it, and presently
1t was toe large. You see
ow it is,' said the magnate if the
oy could change the note, L would give
,u your money. You will have to call
gain How large is it 1 asked
A hundred dollars said he. Il can
lanee it for yon.' (you see. the big bill