Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-07-31
81 do, indeed, and am here hoping you

| ~ do, indeed, and am here hoping yor
have work to offer me-"
He looked pleased and gratified. Sc
did my father. Mr. Lee said presently:
81 have to offer you my office work. /
YOU will engage with me for another
three years | will give you $500 per wear
and at the end of that time an additional
800, making it $1,000 for the three
years work. What think your"
Nv father then spoke:
Louis, the declension is your own bu,
the offer is fair. If you choose to take i,
your board at home is just to paw mothe,
for extra care, say two dollars per week
and if you do well will cover Mr.. Lees
800 with another 500 the day YOU are
twenty-one. Can you do better?d
[ knew | could not. l said so. Sc
again [ was back in the familiar place
with three years before me, but they
proved uneventful, save 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 flaunted with
the bill head of Goldman s. Co." Nv own
name! Just so; 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 a superior
casket,' and slip from a paper making
public announcement that the decease Of
Colman, Of the firm of Colman s. 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 s. Co, "per c.,
| 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 c."
He 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.
| returned answer to the letter, and
when finished sudden fancy possessed
me to make of my per c." the same fan
cnul con-. After few endeavors | sue
ceeded in doing this, and signed VIM. r.
Lee, per c." making of my &C." an ex-
cellent imitation of the long-coiled C. ap-
pCH1iCb W SolLIdu 20.
For the three succeeding years not a
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
ISL OF the same kind around my G..
1 found myself at my majority in what
| thought then, and think now, an envia-
bic state. | had at twenty-one a fair adj
dress, good health, good habits, a good
trade, an average education, moderate
and a willingness to work, and
$500 year in ready money. When nv
time expired with Mr. Lee, he again ask
ed me my plans for the future. Though
this time [ had many and many a 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 go, and if
you find the right business point, let me
know"
liked this change. I was making a
acquaintance with business men
and the country, and for year longer
found nothing which made me desire a
change.
One night | took branch road and
new route to reach a certain point, start
ing with "a most unusual thing for mel
racking headache, which the jar and
rattle Of the cars so increased that by ten
o'clock had determined to ask for a Law
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 posi-
bic. Next morning / awOke with my
head clear, but with feeling of exhaus-
ton that decided me to remain where |
was for that day.
After breakfast I sauntered out, going
slowl y up the principal street, gazing idly
at the signs, dreamily settling myselfwith
a home and a business and a name, and
my sign would read-I started, there it
was-"Colman & CO." Yes; | read it
Alright, it was Colman & Co. rs this Alb
5etOwn:' | asked of a man who was pass
ing. He looked hard at me, but said,
,lvlly enough, at is, sir" | crossed the
road quickly, curious to confront the bona
tide personages who had so many times
appeared to me under the jagged sigma
ure of Goldman & Co.." and singularly
eal,ed per c."
| entered the open door and strolled
through the rooms. Nothing but nice
ot OF cabinet warerOOms, with the ar
'angements perhaps in better taste than is
Usual in such establishments A quiet,
ight-haired young man, my own age,
came forward. Behold per Cn' | said to
myself. He politely waited till .had
made survey of the outer rooms, then
asked me if he could be of any service. |
said | would like to see Mr.. Colman. A
slight hesitation, then he said, Step this
yav"
Beyond the salesroom a green baize
toor opened into room about twenty
eet square, neatly carpeted, furnished
With desk, chairs and sofa Occupying
he sofa were two young women. The
me at the desk did not raise her head at
ny entrance. The other rose and bowed
with an air of business woman and the
grace of cultured lady.
For myself, could not strive to con-
zeal the awkwardness | felt Who could
possibly expect to meet ladies in ladies'
)arlor in gentleman's counting-rOom? |
to bow and say:
Shall | beg pardon? | came in expect
ng to see 'Colman,' of the firm of Colman
& Co"
Il represent the name" the lady said,
quietly, then added, please be seated"
Now, if Colman had been a man, any
man, | should have had no difficulty in
stepping up to him and shaking hands
and introducing myself and firm, and be-
coming acquaintance in a moment. This,
however, was a new programme, and | be-