Wilmington journal., 1873-07-04
NO. 25.

the long coiled G appended to Cole
man l. Co.
For the three succeeding years, no
a month elapsed that we did not re
ceive an order of some kind, large O
small, with the same Coleman & Co.
''per G" and then the long coil; whicl
invariably answered with Lee, ''pe
c." and flourish of the same roun,
my G.
L found myself at my majority il
what I thought then, and think now
an enviable state. I had at twenty-on,
a fair address, good health, gooi
habits, a good trade, an average educa
ton, moderate ambition, and a willing
ness to work, and three hundred dol
lars year in ready money. When my
time expired 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 palts of the State,
saying:
'.Look out for yourself as you go,
and if you find the right business
| point, let me know"
| | liked this change. I was making
a valuable acquaintance with business
men and the country, and for Il year
| longer found nothing which made me
desire change.
One night took branch road and
a new route to reach q certain point,
starting with Ga most unusual thing
for me) a racking headache, which the
jar and rattle of the cars so increased
that by ten o'clock 7 had determined
to ask for lay-ovefAticket at the next
station. / stopped not to ask where,
and arriving at the hotel, into a room
| and bed as quickly as possible. Next
morning I awoke with my head clear.
| decided me to remain where was for
that day.
After breakfast l sauntered out, 60
ing slowly up the principal street,
| gazing idly at the signs, dreamily set
tling myself with a home, and a bust
ness, and name, and my sign would
read-I started, there it was-s'Cole-
man & Co." Yes, L read it Alright, it
was Coleman & Co. ''Is this Able
town ?' 1 asked of man who was
passing. He looked hard at me, but
said clvilly enough, cit is, sir" I
crossed the road quickly, curious to
confront the bona tide personages who
had so many times appeared to me
under the jagged signature of ''Cole-
man & Co.," and singularly coiled
''per c.
I entered the open door and strolled
through the rooms. Nothing but a
nice lot of cabinet warerooms, with
the arrangements perhaps III better
taste than is usual in such establish
ments. A quiet, hght-haired young
man, my own age, came forward
"Behold per G p I said to myself He
politely waited till I had made a sur
vey of the outer rooms, and then asked
if he could be of service I said I
would like to see Mr.. Coleman. 4
slight hesitation, then he said, ''Step
this way
Beyond the salesroom a green baise
door opened into a room about twelve
feet square, neatly carpeted, furnished
with desk, chairs and scfl. Occupying
the room We're two young women
One at the desk did not raise her head
at my entrance The other rose and
bowed with an air Of II business
woman, and the grace of cultured
lady.
For myself [ could not strive to con-
ceal the awkwardness I felt. Who
could possibly expect to meet ladies in
in a ladies' parlor in a gentIeman's
counting room? [ managed to bow
and say:
"Shall beg pardon? I came in e1-
pecting TO see Coleman of the firm
of Coleman K Co.
81 represent the name" the lady
said quietly, then added, "please be
seated"
Now, if Coleman had been man,
any man, / should have had 10 diff
Guilty stepping up to him, and shaking
hands, and introducing myself and
firm, and becoming acquaintances jill
a moment. This, however, was a new
programme, and became still more
involved by my next remark, which
was that the person [ wished particIi-
larly to see was ''per c." Involun-
tarily l made circling motion with
my thumb. The girls head at the
desk bent low, over the leaves of the
ledger. The woman sitting opposite
me, with kept-bacl smile Ill her eyes
and on her lips, indicated with her
eyes the direction of the ledger, and
said, THAT is per c..
Was there ever such position? I
glanced towards the desk. The eyes
of the girl were raised from the book
and I met my doom I yielded to fate.
Henceforth, whatever befel me, my
heart and destiny was at the mercy of
"per c."
There was a pause, and growing des-
perate, I determined to explain mat
ters. Rising, s;id:
''Will you grant me grace for five
minutes %
1 had turned away from 'sper c."
and was looking Straight into the face
of the older woman. She bowed, Just
raised her eyes toward the desk, AMI I
knew then that ''per c. was looking
and listening as we'll.
Il am Louis Coleman, of Maconville.
I have written, suppose, one hundred
letters to Coleman Il Co.., of Able
town. The first I ever wrote was in
reply to an order for a superior casket
sent on the decease of Coleman, OF
Coleman & Co, I signed it per c.
and copied as nearly as I could the
peculiar signature of order sent. 1t
had been notion of mine never to put
it Oh any other letter Il wished then
I could have seen per C.'s' face.
have come to Ahbctowr quite hy acci-
dent. The sign it was which attracted
my attention. [ came to See Coleman.
| wanted to sec per g Please don't
misunderstood re. Believe me, ! did
not expec'. to tind affairs conducted by
Il wOman.
The lady l addressed. as soon as I
had finished speaking. said:
Mr.. Coleman" and bowc,. as she
pronounced my name, 4 give entire
crelence to what yoti have told ne.
Four years ago when You commenced
your business life, we, too, commenced
ours. My father was Coleman, of
Coleman II Co. He died suddenly
The Co. is Mr.. Hicksey. He is, and
has been fox ,nauv years. helpless IN
body, Eut his mind IS perfectly clear.
He always advised, but the business
was overlooked entirely Ly my father
Through my fathers short illness, my
sister and took temporary ehnrge of
correspondence, and when affairs called
for a settlement, with the consent of