Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-07-24


time | had actually taken no serious
thought of the future. Punctually then,
but with 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."
"RelaXation," promptly replied.
docs it pay" he asked
"lt has so far was my response.
Then | suppose you expect to go to
work sometime?" ?" said he.
The satisfaction of returning to my
everyday work came suddenly to me
then, and said, with animation
Il do, indeed, and am here hoping you
have work to offer me-"
He looked pleased and gratifed So
did my father. Mr. Lee said presently:
Il have to offer you my office work. If
you will engage with me for another
three years will give you $500 per year,
and at the end Of that time an additional
800, making it $1,000 for the three
years work. What think you?'
My father then spoke:
Louis, the declension is your own; but
the offer is fair If you choose to take it
your board at home is just to pay mother
for extra care, say two dollars per week ::
y L.
800 with another 800 the day YOU are
twenty-one. Can you do better?6
| knew | could not | said so. SO
again / was back in the familiar place,
with three years before me, but they
proved uneyentful, save the first links
which connected me with the firm of
Colman & Co.
The first duty assigned me in my new
n0SItInn IN pf
and the first letter | opened flaunted with
| the bill head of "Colman & Co" NV own
name! Just so; some day | should send
| out large sheets and bills with Just such
a heading! SO | raised an air castle.
But this heading contained, besides the
order, some reference to a superior
casket," and slip from a paper making
puDllc announcement that the deCeaSe Of
Colman, OF the firm of Colman & CO.,
would not alter the business arrangements
of the firm. 1t would still be carried on
at the old stand, with the same name.
Signed, Colman q Co, ''per c."
| handed the letter to Mr.. Lee, who
said:
See to your order Immediately, and
make note of the reference to casket.
and file the letter on hook c."
lie rose, took down package of letters,
saying to me:
Look at these curious signatures; Col
man always signed like that, with long
coil. The son has, | suppose, inherited
or acquired the same curious coil to his
signatures -
l returned answer to the letter, and
when finished a sudden fancy possessed
me to make of my per c." the same fan
clful coil. After few endeavors | sue.
in n IDi,, J, ,,e- ny
Lee, per c." making of my &C." an ex-
cellent imitation of the longcoiled C. ap
pended to Colman & Co.
For the three succeeding wears not q
month elapsed that we did not receive an
order OF some kind, large or small, with
the same Colman & Co, per c." and
then the long coil which | as invariably
answered with Lee, per c." and a flour
lsh OF the same kind around my c.
| found myself at my majority in what
| thought then, and think now, an envia-
be state. had at twenty-one fair adj
dress, good health, good habits, a good
trade. an average education, moderate
ambition, and willingness to work and
$500 year in ready money. When my
time expired with Mr. Lee he again ask
ed 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 differ
ent parts of the State, saying:
Look out for yourself as you 90, and if
you find the right business point, let me
know"
l liked this change. I was making
valuable acquaintance with business men
and the country, and for IA year longer
found nothing which made me desire a
change
One night I took branch road and
new route to reach certain point start
ing with "a most unusual thing for me) a
racking headache, which the Jar and
rattle of the cars so increased that by ten
O'Clock | had determined to ask for lay
over ticket at the next station | stopped
not to ask where, but threw myself into
an omnibus, and, arriving at the hotel
into room and bed as quickly as possi-
bic. Next morning | awoke with nv
head clear, but with feeling of exhaus-
ton that decided me to remain where |
was for that day.
After breakfast [ sauntered out, going
slowly up the principal street, gazing idly
at the signs, dreamily settling myselfwith
Il home and business and name, and
my sign would rcad--I started, there it
was-"Colman q Co." Yes: | read it
Alright, it was Colman & Co. is this Alb
betown:" | asked of a man who was pass
ing. He looked hard at me, but said,
civily enough, at is, sir" | crossed the
road quickly, curious to confront the bona
ide personages who had so many times
appeared to me under the jagged sigma
ture OF "Colman d Co.. and singularly
called per c."
| entered the open door and strolled
through the rooms. Nothing but a nice
lot Of cabinet warerooms, with the ar
rangements perhaps in better taste than is
usual in such establishments A quiet
lIght-haired young man, nv own age.
came forward Behold per on | said to
myself He politely waited till | had
made a survey of the outer rooms then
asked me if he could be OF any service.
said | would like to see Nr Colman. A
slight hesitation, then he said, Step this
way
Beyond the salesroom q green baize
door opened into a room about twenty
feet square, neatly carpeted, furnished
with desk, chairs and a sofa. Occupving
the sofa were two young women The
one at the desk did not raise her head at
my entrance. The other rose and bowed
with an air of a business woman and the
grace Of Il cultured lady.
For myself, | could not strive to con-
ceal the awkwardness | felt. Who could
DNSSIhl pXnprf n moot IaiipS II, ladies,