The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-12-09
OLD DUMPS.

They used to make fun of him at the office
He was Il queer old fellow, a solemn face, anC
what we thought, ridIculously polite ways
He'd take off his hat when he came in, ant
say, Good morning, gentlemen, trust | see
You all in good health this fine day"
And some ofthe boys would nod-and some
wouldn't do anything; but | never could
help standing up and bowling, perhaps be-
cause | knew that my mother would have
said ought to do It.
70 be sure he was only on salary, like our
selves, but had been at Il Il B's. twenty five
years, and young fellows had come and gone
and there he was.
| And, you see, it was geutlemanly Of HIM,
said; and if he was a creature with a queer
| little wig, why, he looked something like q
| gentleman, too. | sad once 10 Merrivaic,
next desk to mine; but-wcll-I did not try
| It again.
| You see Merrivale was up to everything
almost, and I'd come from a country town,
and he was a city man.
Nobody was down on "Old Dumps" rs he
was, especially after he made US that speech
about our conduct to the ladies.
Dumps made the speech you know; and II
was Merrivale who had said the LADY only
came in TO look at him.
I'm sure she really wanted to know the
coorod ana hurried out
And Dumps, with his brown wig, looked
on ne like the gentleman that day; and Mer-
rjvalc, with his fine curling hair and black
mu"ache and broad shoulders, like a puppy.
THE man who calls blush to the cheek
of good woman by look or tone must have
forgotten his smother," said Old Dumps.
when that lady asked you civil question
she relied on her belief that you were Il gen
tleman, Mr. Merrivale When you answered
her rs you did, any one could read your in.
sulting thoughts, Mr. Merrivale; and you did
not even rise from your seat, sir. You proved
that she was very much mistaken"
"AIcan 10 say | am no gentleman said
Mcrrivalo.
In this Instance. sir" said Ola Dumps.
"yoG certainly have not conducted yourself
as one should
Mcrriyalc pulled his coat hali off and pulled
il on again.
"Pshaw:" SAID lie; "hc knows hes safe
Thcre'd be- no fan in knocking down IN old
bag ol bones like that. | could do il with my
little finger Ru, YOU attend 10 your own bust.
ness, VIII YOU, ola Dumps" | can behave
myself without Your advice. and that amt the
first woman that's come In just for a sort of
Irritation. I'm used 10 that sort of thing,
am"
.Ii' t'ului'> j IlEAl thls 'ii"V' 'it" !.
BAH said Aerryale, you're from tie
country"
Thanh: heaven for it, then, my Young
friend, said Dumps, and sat down.
Alrr that NnrrvaIe was never even half
way civil tn Dumps. and the boys followed
Mcrriyalr's lead But liked the old fellow.
When We net in the street Ia take of my
hat, snl shake hands. aud say some OF those
polite things mother used 10 teach me 10 say.
And | wrote OF him ih my mother. and she
,aId Size was glad that her boy knew what
was due Ia ~ good old gentleman. But after
all, in the Office, You know what the boys
ihoBght and SAID had its iilunencr
Who wege the huysg Why. there was McT-
rivale, with his dsrlinC airs and his way Of
letting YOU know that he was a favoriie with
,he Women AMI Caiberry. who didn't care
about style, and knew the city. And Slower,