The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-01-03
She Would be q Cler

She Would be Cler
A retail dry goods dealer on Sixth
avenue had couple Ct visitorSthe
other day when he expected couple
of customers. A woman appearing to
be about fifty years 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.
mot any dry goods to-day. Where
issthe owner
EDO you wish to see the proprietor!''
asked the clerk.
sHe's the man.
They were shown into the Office.
The merchants supposed they owned q
.villa9e store, and. desired to stock up,
and he welcomed them with a winning
smile.
..My, daughter Minerva
Bolton. I. raid the lady by way of intro
Minerva and the merchant shook
hands, chairs were placed, and as the
two sat down the old lady said:
''She's one of the best girls in the
State of New York.
mo doubt-no doubt, madam
'sAnd 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.' .>.E
''She's smart on figures, honest as an
|old-fashioned winter, and she swouldn'
be giggling round with the clerks.''
81 hardly understand you," said
the gentleman.
81 want a place for Minerva. She's
signing and dying to be clerk
''Ah But l have no vacancy just
now
81 don't want any vacancy. want
Minerva to be a clerk. She's just as
smart as wolf, and if she comes here
shall of course do all my trading
with her. I don't know but I'd take
some bed-ticking home with me to-day
for they say ticking is on the rise.''
ssYes-hut-but -
81 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 a yard, how
much would the whole thing come
to!''
'sForty cents, of course drawled
Minerva.
"See there-see there - exclaimed
the mother. "Have you a clerk in the
store who can reckon figures as quick
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 de-
Yes-but-but-"
"Minerva. if you sold four punches
of hair.pins for six cents per bunch.
how much money would you have2''
"Twenty four cents-any fool knows
that replied the daughter.
''Can you beat that in this store?''
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 like her.
She can sorto do Homework in the
morning and after dark, and so you'll
be killing two birds with one stone.'
81 can take her-no-no. Got all
the help I want!'' replied the mer-
chant
ssThree dollars a week and board
takes my daughter persisted the
mother.
Can t-can't do it's
"Say two dollars
tsNo mo -
ssThat 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. l did
think of looking at some bed-ticking,
but we'll go up the street. I'll get
you clerkship where you can look
right down on this store as a horse
looks down on grasshopper.
A Spirit That Failed to Appear.
There was during Irving's life