The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-06-08
Do send mo little money, IL it's only
9 dollar, and tell me what To do. T.
"Yopr loving wife,
"MARY ]. OLSON"

MARY u, OLSoN.
Mr.. John Olson, Of tho ofllce.chair,
was shocked beyond measure. he
pushed the letters with money in aside
for his book!keeper, and thinking the
man to whom the letter was addressed
must be found Immediately (Alr. Olson
had resolved To go to him, explain how
the letter came into his possession, and
help him, II need bel, he called: r.
Mr.. Bradford, take the directory
and see how many olsons there are in
town, will YOUR '4s.g s5..t
Mr.. Bradford, from behind his high
desk in the next room, said, Eyes,
SIR" and there was quiet. Mr.. olson
had been married two years. Here was
a woman who wrote almost as good q
hand as his wife-in fact, the writing
Of tho two waslYery much alike-desti.
tute, and desperate. he could not
imagine what his wife would do under
like circumstances, and yet, with bank.
rurt firms nll about him, he understood
that present prosperity afforded little
guarantee against poverty he ,abso-
lutely Shivered Us he Thought Of the liz!
tie woman who lad followed him to the
door that morning 10 kiss him and eau,
tion him about going down the steps,
and about getting on the cars-he
sliiyered us he thought Of her, desh-
tute and desperate, and subjected to
rudeness, and }he was shaking his fist
mentally al tho offending ruffilns, when
tho crisp voice OF Mr.. Bradford eiaeula5,
ted with statistical bluntness, " Two
hundred aud seyenty.ilye, sir"
"What do you mean ~ questioned
the unreaizing Mr.. Olson. .-oIf ~
"That there nre two hundred and
seventy. Eve Olsons in town, sir?"
(" IKhat3"
There was SO much astonishment in
this tremendous "whats that Mr..
Bradford came forward to explain.
"How many John olsons2" ques-
toned the thunderstruck owner Of the
much.used name. yN
"Two, four, eight, twelve, sixteen,
twenty, twenty.four-no, twenty three,
sir. Two artists, one blacksmith, four
carpenters, Ave clerks, two book-keep.
ers, one glazier, 'seyen 1laborers, two
merchants and" va G,
\ 4That win DO, Let me take the dl.
rectory, please" T
Ono glancS at the pages Of the direc.
tory convinced Mr.. Olson that Mr..
Bradford had stated the case correctly.
He looked at the long list o., olsons in
stupid astonishment, not tlnrnixed with
indignation. Hero was q middle. How
could he find the right man In such q
town? He settled one question, how.
ever. He enclosed five dollars in d
blank sheet OF paper, and putting this
in an envelope, mailed it nj once to the
unfortunate Mary J. Olson, saying to
himself that he.would look up Mr.. John
Olson at his leisure. He returned the
letter TO the post-ofIlco, with the en-
dorsement, aopened by. mistake, BY
John Olson, 2lb Blank street, land for.
got the man for tho day, - - ~
He told the story to his wife that
evening, and she was intensely inter
ested, and, practical little woman Us
sho was, she proceeded to consider
plans for finding tho man.. It was
finally agreed that the campaign should
be opened by inserting IN advertise
ment in the morning papers. Mr.. OIL
son know that thousands OF people1Yere
out Of employment, and that all of
those who could find opportunity,
eagerly scanned the "-want" columns
Of the great doilies,- in hopoof finding
promise OF something to do. And ono
morning, not long after, thousands Of
eager eyes read "Nlr. John Olson,
formerly Of Pittsburgh. is requested 70
report at 215 Blank street, where he
will learn OF something to his advan.
tage." This, she argued, would surely
bring tho man, whereas n cold, un-
promising statement would not, j. u
The second morning after the ap-
pearance Of the advertisement, three
men were waiting for Mr.. Olson when
he entered his Office. One Of these en-.
tered his private Office with easy as
surance, before he had removed his
oyercoat, aud, placing the adyertises
inent clipped from tho paper on Mr..
Olsorl's desk, stated that he had come
in answer to the request contained
therein.
This man was not shabbily dressed,
and he affected the air of q superior
man, compelled by circumstancest to do
what he would not do wero he not in
distress. Mr.. Olson Ind imagined that
his nameslke was shallow man, with
tremendous promise on the surface,
like the smooth-faced, soft.haired in.
dividual now before him, and he was
about to tell the story Of the letter and
say plainly that lie was ready to assist
the man to help his family, whenla q
glance from Mr.. Bradford caused 0
change Of programme. This glance had
the confidence OF Figures " won't lie"
in IL, and intimated that the visitor was
q fraud. Mr.. Olson, without accepting
the estimate, resolved 10 be on his
guard. Tho man stated that his flame
was Olson, and, in answer to o direct
question, said his wife and two small
children were in the city md in q con-
dition bordering on destitution. He
disliked to admit II, but such was the
case lo had come from Pittsburgh
Just after his marriage, and had been
been quite well.to-do until the panic
spoiled oil his plans.
Mr.. Olson Informed the man, who
was much inclined to enlarge upon his
woes, that he was not the person want.
ed, and was OF once appealed TO TO give
the applicant enough money to pur.
chase q breakfast. The money was
given, and with o profound bow OF.
thanks the man departed, apparently
| in o. Very happy frame ofmind. Mr..
Bradford explained that tho mans name
was not Olson, and that he made q