Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-03-25


seventy.Gve 0lsons 10 town, SIR"
"What?"
There was so much astouishment in this
tremendous what" that Mr.. Bradford
came forward ts explain. k
How many John Olsons 2" questioned
the thuudcrstruck owner of the much.used
name.
Two four, eight, twelve, sixteen. tweu-
ty, twenty-fuur-Do, twenty three, sir.
Two artists, one blacksmith, four carpen.
ters, five clerks, two book-keepsrs, one
glaz'er, seven Iaborers, two merchants,
and"
That will do. Let me take the d.
rectory, please"
One glace at the pages of the directo-
ry convinced Mr.. Olson that Mr.. Brad.
ford had stated the case correctly. He
looked at the long list of Olsons in stupid
astonishmeut, not unmixed with indigna.
ton. Here was muddlc. How could
he find the right man in such town? He
settled one question. however. He en-
closed FIVE dollars in blank sheet of pa
per, and putting this in an envelope, mail
ed il at once to the unfortunate Mary j.
Olson, saying to himself that he would
look up Mr.. John Olson at his leisure.
He retured the letter to the post.ofhce,
with the endorsement, Opened by mis-.
take, by John Olsen, 2l5 Blauk street, "
and forgot the man for the day.
He told the story to his wife that even
ing, and she was intensely interested, and,
practical little woman as she was, she
proceeded to consider plans for finding
the man. 1t was finally agreed that the
compaign should be opened by inserting
!, an advertisement in the morning papers.
Mr.. Olson knew that thousands ofpcrsons
were ou. of employment, and that all OF
those who could fud opportunity, eagerly
scanned the "want' columns Of the great
dailIes, in hope Of finding something TO do.
And one morning, not long after, thou
sands Of eager eyes read "Mr. John Oh.
sod, formerly of Pittsburg, is requested
to report at 2l5 Blank street, where he
will learn of something to his advantage" "
Mrs. Olson wrote this advertisemnt her.
self, and she pridcd herself on little
trick Of putting in that word"advautage."
This, she urgod, would surely bring the
man, whereas cold, unpromising state.
ment would not
The second morning after the appear
ance of the advertisement, three men
were waiting for Mr.. Olson when he en-
tered his office UOe of these entered his
private Office with easy assurance, before
he had removed his evercoat, and, plac-
ing the advertisement clipped from the
paper on Mr. Olsou's desk, stated that he
came in answer to the request contained
therein.
This man was not shabbiy dressed,
and he affected the air of a superior man,
compelled by circumstances to do what he
would not do were he not in distress. Mr..
Olson had imagined that his namesake
was shallow man, with tremendous prom
ise on the surface. like the smoth. face,
sott-hared individual now before him, and
he was about to tell the story of the let.
ter and say plainly that he was ready to
assist the man to help his family, when a
glance from Mr.. Bradford caused n change
of programme. Thus glance had the cou-
fideDce Of figures went lie" in 1t, and
intimated that the visitor was fraud.
Mr.. Olson. without excepting the estimate,
resolved to be on bis guard. The man
stated that his name was Olson, and. in
answer 10 direct question said his wife
and two small children we're in the city
and in condition bordering on destitu.
ton. he disliked to admit it, but such
was the case he had come from Pitts
burg just after his marriage, and had been
quite well to do until the panic spoiled all
his plans.
| Mr.. Olson informed the man, who was
much inclined to enlarge upon his woes,
that he was not the man wanted, and was
at once appealed to give the applicant
enough money to purchase breakfast.
The money was given, and with pro-
found bow Of thanks tho man departed,
apparently in very happy irume ofmind.
Mr.. Bradford explained that the mans
name was not Olson, and that be made n
business of answering advertisements as
surance and a pathetic story could easily
be made to do duty. n
Mr.. Olson was therefore indignant when
the second man entered and stated that
Mrs. Q'Brien's boy had told him, while
he was putting in Mrs. O'Brien's coal,
that John Olson was wanted at 2l5 Blank,
and here he was. He was laboring man,
bad always lived ip city, and knew