The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1876-10-04
OLD DUNE.


with a solemn face, and what we
thought ridiculously polite ways. He'd
take of his hat when he came in, and
say:
GOOD morning, gentlemen. trust
| see you all 10 good health this fine
day."
And some Of the boys would nod
and some wouldn't do anything but
| never could help standing up and
bowing, perhaps because l knew that
my mother would have said that /
ought to do il.
TO be snre, he was only on q salary
like ourselves, but had been at r. &
B.. for twenty-five years, and young
fellows had come and gone, and there
he was.
And, you see, il was geutlemanIy of
him, ! said and if he was little
creature with queer little wig, why,
he looked something like gentleman,
too. ! said so once to Merrivale, next
desk to mine but-well-I didn'ttry
it again.
You see, Merrivale was up to every.
thing, dressed elegantly, sneered at
everything almost, and I'd come from
a country town, and he was a city
man.
Nobody down on "Old Dumps" as
he was, especially after he made us
that speech about our conduct to the
ladies.
Dumps made the speech, you know,
aud it was Merrivale who had said the
lady only came in to look at him.
I'm sure the lady really wanted To
know the way to the street she asked
for; and how she colored and buried
out.
And Dumps. with his brown wig,
looked to me like the gentleman that
day and Merrivale, with his fine curl
ing hair and black moustache and
broad shoulders, like puppy.
"The man who calls blush to the
cheek of good woman by look or
tone, must have forgotten his mother"
said Old Dumps. "When that lady
asked you civil question, she relied
on her belief that you were a gentle
man, Mr.. Merrivale. When you an
swered her as you did, any one could
read your insulting thoughts, Mr.. Mer.
rivalo; and you did not even rise
frotu your seat, sir. You proved that
she was very much mistaken"
"Mean to say l am no gentleman ?"
said Merrivale.
"In this instance, sir" said Old
Dumps, "you certainly have not con-
Quoted yourself as one should"
Merrivale pulled his coat half off,
and pulled it on again.
"Pshaw," said he "he knows he's
safe. There'd be no fun in knocking
down an old bag of bones like that. /
could do it with my little finger. But
you attend to your own business, will
you, Old Dumps? can behave my
self without your advice, and that ain t
the first woman that's come in just for
a sort Of Irritation. I'm used to that
sort of thing, am"
"Mr. Dumps is right this time, "
said l.
"Bah!" said Merriyale, you're
from the country"
"Thank Heaven for it, then, my
youRg friend" said Dumps, and sat
down.
After that Merrivale was never even
half way civil to Dumps, and the boys
followed Merrivale's lead. But liked
the old fellow. When we met in the
street, I'D take off my hat and shake
hands, and say some of those polite
things that mother used to teach NE
to say. And l wrote of him to mother
and she said she was glad her boy
knew what was due TO a good old gem
tlemau. But, after all, in the Office,
you know, what the boys thought and
said had its influence.
Who we're the boysS Why, there
was MerriVale with bis darling airs,
and the way of letting you know he
was 3 favorite with women.
And Carberry, who didn't care about
style, and knew the city.
And Slower, who used to come with
red eyes and headaches, and boast that
he'd been making a night Of It.
| / was lonely enough in the great
city, and / should have liked to join
company with Dumps, and walk home
with him from church sometimes, but
was afraid of meeting one Of the boys
and l never did. But would bow to
him, and we took our hats of to each
other always.
Sometimes, when lived at Hare
dale with mother, I've seen the sky
beautiful and bright and blue one
hour and tha navt hiack with the