Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1875-07-31


1, William Wilders, was i'm ecstacies.
danced and jumped as If was a lunatic
and we'll might, for had been out O
employment for over year, and now
had received position as collector Iol
DObson & Co., wholesale grocers ane
commission merchants, which would pay
me a salary of fifty dollars month. Al
I had nohodv but myself to look after,
conId YnanaSe to serape through the
month and have few dollars for pocket
money.
NV desk stood in the front part of the
store, and when my pen was not gallop.
ing along the lines of my paper, of flash.
ing up formidable columns of figures
which told the story of profits for Dob
son s. Co., had very fine view of that
portion of the street fronting the store
One rainy day had nothing to do-col
fectors- never do on rainy days. haG
scrubbed my name on scraps of paper
lying loosely around, and my desf
gieamed with civilian Wilder" sW
Wilder civilian Wilder, Esq., sMr
Wilder" in every style of penmanship
had just plunged my pen into the inl
to write ssWilliam." with scientific
flourish, when heard the voice OF my
employer calling to me from his private
office 1 was surprised at this, as he had
never done this before. Could it be that
was about to be discharged? What he
had to say was said quickly. was ele-
waited to higher position and salary. /
could not find words to express my graf
itude, but | muttered something. and
went back to my desk. / sat there for
eome time building castles, and my mind
wss soon confused.
ssLannigan 81 Col Three cases hams!"
was suddenly bawled remorselessly into
my ears, and my brain worked itself back
to business.
At intervals, however, all through the
day, was conscious of disturbed con-
dition of my local atmosphere. was
thinking of the next position to mine.
book-keeper. I certainly never would
be elevated to that position, as did not
know the first thing in that branch
Could i not study it? The thought gave
me courage, and 1 determined to enter a
business college and learn the art. L
told my plans to the bO0k-keeper. He
had retained the position for years-had
been with them from an early day, and
had charge Of all the office business and
finances of the concern. had never
fancied him much. There was certain
reserve in his manner which had often
up with his lofty position, rarely dcign-
ing to notice me or any of the other
clerks. l often assisted him in making
calculations, or adding up the columns
of figures which he gave me, and for
such services he would reward me with a
bunch Of cigarettes; but even then he sell
dom said word to me.
Through my occasional sojourrls in his
office become somewhat familiar with
his studies, and learned that he had full
power of attorney for the house, signed
the firms name to bank checks and other
important documents. The two part
ners, Messrs. Dobson Sc Morrisey, were
men entirely unacquainted with the mys-
teries Of bookkeeping. They had start
ed In business on a small scale, with
small capital, keeping no books. But
their business, in few years, increased
to such great extent that they found it
impossible to dispense with Il book-keep-
er, so they secured the services of Mr..
Baker, who came to them well recon-
mended, and. finding things rather con-
fused, he proceeded to make u thorough
reconstruction. In afew months he pre-
sented to the well pleased eyes of Dobson
& Co., a splendid set of books, kept i'll the
most approved style Of single entry, and
y
fully arr lnged balance sheet, which spec
ified to cent the profits they had made.
Baker had more TO say than either of the
partners. s-Go to Baker and talk with
him. was an expression constantly made
by them. 1t was delightful for them to
have a man upon whom they could so
implicitly rely.
l had often wished to know to what ex-
tent Baker was compensated for his SER
vices. l thought his salary must be large
from the manner in which he dressed and
lived. / often saw him dine at DelmOn-
icO's, or drive up and down Fifth avenue
with the finest span of horses ever wish
ed to see. All this sort of thing consumed
money, and no small amount, either.
Whenever / went to the theatre Baker
was there in aprivate box with the ladies,
and he frequently came out OfsOme large
store on Canal street with large parcels.
One day-it was the first of the month
Il went into his office to receive my sal
airy, and, while there, some one called him
and he stepped out to see who it was.
glanced at an entry he had just made:
.Thomas Baker, one months salary,
1925.
"He can't live on that, with the way in
which he spends his money!" said to
never gave this subject any further
thought after that day, but went to learn
bookkeeping. applied myself to it
diligently, and at the end Of six months
IcOuld manage a set of books as readily
as a competent book-keeper. / plodded
faithfully along in my position, hoping
that some day or other i should become |
book-keeper.
One day Mr.. Everett, of the firm of
Everett q Co., stood near my desk, talk
ing to Mr.. DObson. l overheard, unin-
tentionally, a portion of the conversation:
"Mr. Dobson, what do you pay your
book-keeper?"
Fifteen hundred year,
4. "Has he the power of Attorney"
eyes; he signs our checks, andjhas COM
plete charge OF our finances. Why do
you ask?" ~ ~
because thought bis salary was very
large, judging from the way he is spend
ing money. think he spends great
deal more than you give him. Take my
advice, Mr.. Dobson, and examine your
books.n
The rest did not hear as was called
to another part of the store.
About e week after this conversation
recorded above, Mr.. Dobson came to nv
desk and said:
"Wilder, are you able to run over ac-
counts and papers?n
"Perfectly sir; and 1 also understand
book keeping" replied, thinking that |
was abozt to be elevated, and wishing to
let him know what knew.
"Well / am very glad; come down
here after dinner, this evening. 1 want
you for something"
l got to the store that evening very
early, not giving myself much time to
eat dinner. found Mr.. Dobson there