Connecticut western news., 1877-07-13
'ss OLD DUMPS"


 a solemn face, and, what we thought, ridiculously polite ways. He would take off his hat when he came in, and say = -.- -.'' '' ..'.'' ''' Il ''''.'.
 "Good morning, gentlemen.- trust I see you all in good health this fine day.'' 4 4...st; ...s. .: h3...,. .F Laa- ...
 And some of the boys would nod and some wouldn't do anything; but l never could help standing up and bow ing, perhaps because I. knew that my mother would have said I ought to do it. ..-....,..'.... ..
 To be sure he was only on salary like ourselves, but he had been at R---& B-'s 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 llteie wig, why he looked something like gentleman, too, I said once to Merrivale, next desk to mine; but-Well didn't trv 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 city man.
 Nobody was down on "Old Dumps" as he was, especially after he made us that speech about our conduct to the ladies.
 Dumps made d speech, you know; and it was Merrivale who had said tue ady only came in to look at him.
 Pm sure she really 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 nloustache and broad shoulders, like puppy.
 ''The man who calls blush to the cheek of good woman by look or tone must have forgotten his own mother," said Old Dumps. -.5r
 "When that lady asked you a civil question, she relied on her belief that you were gentleman, Mir. Merrivale. 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 ?" said Merrivale.
 s'In this instance, sir" said Old Dumps, "you certainly have not con- tI fn1 cho
 | Merrivale pulled his coat half off, and pulled it on again. . l "Pshaw," said he; Che knows he's safe. There'd be no fun i'll knocking down an 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, I can behave myself without your advice, and that ain't the first woman that's come in just for g sort of irritation. Pm used to that sort of thing. am." "
 ''Mr. Dumps is right this time,' 2 Sd d I. . ,.......G
 "Bah!" said Merrivale. "You're from the country" ....-
 "Thank Heaven for it, then my young friend" said Dumps, and sat down.
 Alter that Merrivale was never even half way civil to Dumps, and the boys followed Merrivaleis 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 say. And wrote of him to mother, and she saiC she was glad that her boy knew wha was due to a good old gentleman. But after all, in the office, you know what the boys thought and said had it's in. tiuence.
 Who were the boys? Why, there wal Merrivale, with his darling airs, ant his way of letting you know he was I. favorite with the women.
 And Canberry, who didn't care abou style, and knew the city.
 And Stover, who used to come witt red eyes and headaches, and boast tha he had been making night of it.
 It was lonely enough in the grea city, and should have liked to join the company with Dumps and walk home with him from church sometimes, bu I was afraid of meeting one of the boys and I never did. But I would bow tt him, and we took our hats off to eacl other always.
 Sometimes, when I lived at Haredal, with my mother, I've seen the six, beautiful and bright and blue one hour and the next black with the clouds of
 thunder storm. Just that way my trou
 ble came to mean awful trouble-sucl as could not have dreamed of. I had written to my mother that was doing well and liked my business and would be down to see her on Sun - day, when was sent for to go into tn : inner office; and there-I can't g through with it-I can t, even remembe l details! But was charged with beini } a thief. ..c..,.
 : You'd have to understand our par } ticular business, ae we'll as bookkeep ing, to know how 1 was supposed t have done it; but they believed I ha robbed them of one hundred pounds. They urged me to confess. was in nocent, and I said so., Then they tol me they did not wish to be hard on me 3 I was young. The city was bad plac 5 for boys. They would be mercifui, an . only dismiss me without Il recommends tion! All 1 could say had no effect They proved me guilty before they ac cused me they said; and at last staggered out into the office. The boy were getting ready to go home. l sa, , they knew what had happened. ''None of you believed this of me,