, 1877-02-23
81. vsaIa asrh.

A retail dry goods dealer on sixth
avenue hal a couple of visitor the
other day uhen be- expected couple
of customer. A woman Appearing b.
b. about fifty years old. entered the
store in company With her daughter.
a thin-farcd old maid II about thirty.
and when the clerk slid forvarl the
mother sail:
NO, any dry goods to-day. Where
j. the owner"
DO you wish 10 sc the Froprietorg-
asked the clerk.
Hes the man.
They were shown into the Office.
The merchant supposed they owned a
village store and desired 20 stock up.
and he welcomed them with a winning
smile.
MY daughter Minerva - Minerva
Bolton, said the lady by way Of intro
duction.
Minerva and the merchant shook
hands, chairs we're placed, and as the
two sat down the old lady said:
"She's one of the best girls in the
State of New York"
I "No doubt-no doubt, madam"
"And after she's been in the store
one month you would not part with
her for ten dollars q day." said the
mother.
"Ah-yes-yes.
"She's smart on figures, honest as an
old-fashioned winter, and she wouldn't
be giggIing round with the clerks"
"I-I hardly understand you" said
| the gentleman.
"I want a place for Minerva. She's
signing and dying to be a clerk"
"Ahl But 1 have no vacancy just
now"
"I don't want any vacancy. I want
Minerva to be clerk. She's just as
smart as wolf, and if she comes here
I shall, of course, do all my trading
with her. 1 don't know but I'd take
some bed-ticking home with me to-day,
for they say ticking is on the rise"
Yes-but-but-"
az 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 a 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 a yard, how
much would the whole thing come
tor"
..Forty cents, of course" drawled
Minerva.
"See there-see thereP' exclaimed the
mother. "Have you a clerk in the
store who can reckon figures as fast as
but have all the clerks / want, he
managed to get in.
"You might discharge that crosseyed
young clerk out there and give this
poor girl chance for her life," pleaded
the mother. eff she doesn't get a
place she will certainly go into decline
and die"
Yes-yes-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?"
proudly inquired the mother. eff you
take her you can depend upon her. She's
always home nights, is not hearty
eater, can put up with children, and I
know your wife will like her. She can
sort o. do housework in the morning
and after dark, and so you'll be killing
two birds with one stone"
81 can't take her-no-no. Got all
the help wantl" replied the mer-
chant
"Three dollars a week and board
takes my daughter" persisted the
mother.
Jan't-cant do itr'
''Say two dollars"
"No-nop
'Thst settles that" remarked the
mother, as she rose up. ST see your
object. You want me to come down to
one dollar a week, but I'll see you hung
first. Come on Minerva. I did think
of looking at some bed-ticking, but
wen go up the street. I'll get you
clerkship where you can look right
down on this store as a horse looks dswn
on grasshopper."
PRoDUcTIoN OF ANmER.-The little
fishing village of Schwarzort, situated
on the shores OF the Baltic, between
Memel and Dantzic, about two leagues
to the south of the former place, has
within the last three years acquired
certain importance owing to the discov-
cry of q large bed of amber. This bed