The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-09-28
OLD DUMPS.

office. He was queer old fellow, 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 in 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, per-
haps because l knew that my mother
would have said ought to do it.
To be sure, he was only on salary like
ourselves, but had been at r. IL BIS
twenty-five years, and young fellows had
come and gone, and there he was.
And, you SEE, it was gentlemanly of
him, / said; and if he was little crea-
ture with queer little wig, why, he
locked something like gentleman, too.
| said so once to Merrivale, next desk TO
mine; but-well-I didn't try it again.
You see, Merrivale was up to every
thing, dressed elegantly, sneered at every
thing almost, and I'd come from coun-
try town, and he was city man.
Nobody down on cold Dumps" as he
was, especially after he made us that
speech about our conduct to the ladies.
Dumps made the speech, you know;
and it was Merrivale who had said the
lady only came in to look at him.
Pm sure she ally wanted to know
the way to the street she asked for; and
how she colored and hurried 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 a
civil question, she re)i' d on her belief
that you were gentleman, Mr.. Merri-
vale. When you answered her as you
did, and spoke of her as you did, any
one could read your insulting thoughts,
Mr.. Merrivale; and you did not even
rise from your seat, sir. You proved
that she was very much mistaken"
"Mean to say | am no gentleman 2"
said Merrivale.
"In this instance, sir" said Old Dumps,
"you certainly have not conducted your.
self as one should"
Merrivale pulled his coat half of, and
pulled it ON again.
"Pshaw!' said he; "he knows he's
safe. Tbere'J he 10 fun in knocking
down All old bag of bones like that. l
could DO it with my little finger. But
you attend TO your own business, will
you, Old Dumps? / can behave mys If
without your advice, and that amt the
first woman that's come in just for sort
of Irritation. I'm used to that sort OF
thing, ! am"
"Mr. Dumpsjs right this time," said l.
"Bih!' said Merrivale. "You're from
the country"
"Tbank Heaven for it, then, my young
FRIEND" said Dumps, and sat down.
After that Merrivale wa, never even
half way civil 10 DUMPS, and the boys
followed Merrivale's lead. But l liked
the old fellow. When we met in the
street, I'd take of my hat and shake
hands, and say some of these polite
things that mother used to teach me to
say. And l wrote of him to mother, and
she said she was glad that her boy knew
what was due to good old gentleman.
But, after all, in the Office, you know,
what the boys thought and said had its
influence.
Who were the boys? Why, there was
Merrivale with his darling airs, and the
way of letting you know he was afavorite
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 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 1 was afraid
Of meeting one of the boys, and ! never
did. But would tow to him, and we
took our hats off to each other always.
Sometimes, when i lived at Haredale
with mother, I've seen the sky beautiful
and bright and blue one hour, and the
next black with the clouds of thunder
storm. Just that way my trouble came
to mean awful trouble-such as /
could not have dreamed Of.
/ had written TO my mother that l was
doing we'll and liked my business, and
would be down to see her on Sunday,
when was sent for TO 20 into the inner
Office; and there-I can't go through
with it, can't even remember details;
but was charged with being a thief.
You'd have to understand our par
ticular business, as well as book. keeping,
to know how | was supposed to have
done il; but they believed ! had robbed
them of one hundred pounds.
They urged me to confess. / was in
nocent, and / said so. Then they told
me they did not wish TO be hard on me.
/ was young. The city was bad place
for boys. They would be merciful, and
only dismiss me without recommenda-
ton. All / could say had no effect.
They proved me guilty before they ac-
cused me they said and at last / stag
gered out into the Office. The boys were