River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-12-28
pa. 1 suppose you'd have 10 be tried by
a inrY of hald.headed men"
She Wsuld be a CLERK.


A retail dry goods dealer ON Sixth
avenue had couple of visitors the
other day when he expected couple
of customers. A woman appearing to
be about fifty wears old, entered the
store in company with her daughter,
a thin-faced old maid Of about thirty,
and when the clerk Slid forward, the
mother said:
Not any dry goods to-day. Where
is the Owner!
"Do you wish to see the priprietorl'
asked the clerk.
lies the man..
They were shown into the office.
The merchant supposed they owned
and he welcomed them with a win
ming smile.
"My daughter Minerva-Minerva
B olton, said the lady by way of intro
duction.
Minerva and the merchant shook
hands, chairs were placed, and us the
two sat down the old lady said
"She's one of the best girls in the
State of New York"
''No doubt-no doubt, madam.
.And after she has been in the store
one month you would not part with
her for ten dollars day, said the
mother.
'Ah-yes-yes.
"She's smart on figures, honest as an
old-fashioned winter, and she wouldn't
be giggling round with the clerks. )"
IL hardly understand you" said
the gentleman.
Il want a place for Minerva. She's
signing and dying to be a clerk.
"Ah But l have no vacancy just
now"
Il don't want any vacancy. | want
Minerva to be u clerk. She's just as
smart as a wolf, and if she comes here
| shall of course do all my trading
with her. | don't know but I'd take
some bed-ticking home with me to-day
for they say ticking is on the rise"
es-but-but-'
~ know how you feel, she inter-
rupted. ''but you can depend on her.
Our Postmaster, Squire johnson, and
heaps of others, will recommend
her. She's got good character, that
girl has. You might leave million
dollars with her and feel perfectly
safe. Minerva, if you sold four yards
of factory at ten cents yard, how
much would the whole thing come
to y
Forty cents, Iof course" drawled
Minerva.
"See therc-3ee there :" exclaimed
the mother. "'Haye you clerk in the
store who can reckon figures as fast
as that %
''But | have all the clerks ] want,
he managed to get in.
"You might discharge that cross
eyed young clerk out there, and give
this poor girl chance for her life, "
pleaded the mother. eff she dOesn' t
get place she will certainly go into a
decline and die.
eyes but-but-'
minerva, if you sold four punches
of hair-pins for six cents per bunch.
how much money would you have -
"Twenty-fOur cents-any fool knows
that, replied the daughter.
''Can you beat that in this store Z"
proudly inquired the mother. "If you
take her you can depend upon her.
She's always home nights, is not a
hearty eater, can put with up children,
and | know your wife would ike her.
She can sort o. do homework in the
morning and after dark, and 50 you'll
be killing two birds with one stone.
~ can't take her-no-no. Got all
the help | want - replied the mer-
chant
.Three dollars week and board
takes my daughter" persisted the
mother.
Can t--can' do it.
Say two dollars.
''No no -
"That settles that, remarked the
mother, as she rose up. Il see your
object. You want me to come down
to one dollar "A week, but I'll see you
hung first. Come on, Minerva. | did
think of looking at some bed-ticking,
but Wen go up the street. III get
yOIa clerkship where you can look
right down on this store as Il horse
looks down on a grasshopper.