Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-06-21
Is it Luck!

Mr.. Johnson said, "that for his part
he had always noticed that people went up
just as high as the power inside of them
would take them"
Yes,' said Miss Hunt, ''as a general
thing we make our own fortunes. Each
one carves for himself, or for herself, his
or her own niche to stand in I can see
how my scholars make places for them
selves in the estimation of the school,
some by their good heartedness, some by
their brightness, some by their truth, some
by their untruth, some by their meanness,
some by their jollity, and so on"
Il know young man." said Allen,
who went into a large dry-goods store
and in very short time was made head
salesman. Some people said, What a
lucky fellowr One day l was speaking
of this to the proprietors. They said luck
had nothing to do with his case, but that
he had, in him, exactly the qualities
which make frstrate salesman. Take no.
tice that they said in him. Business be-
ing dull, several of the clerks had been
dismissed. One of them-I'll call him
Ben-was particular friend of mine; an
honest, steady fellow. | asked one Of the
prOprietOrs how they happened to select
him to send away. 'Ohn said he, ''there's
no happening in these matters any more
than there is in luck. In ordinary times
we should have kept Ben, but in times
like these we keep the ones who are the
most valuable to us. Ben did all that
was strictly required of him, but nothing
more. He never eXerted himself for tn e
interests of the firm, and he was particu-
lar not to work over hours. AS we can't
keep all, we spare those who can best be
spared. There are some we can't afford
to keep, and some we can't afford to let
GO He said he supposed it would be
just The same in a milliner's or dress
makers establishment In dull times the
best workers would be surest of staying
You know how it is aboard a ship, in a
gale said he, the least necessary arti-
cles are thrown over People talk about
luck. [ don't believe in it. Why take
even servant girls; good one is always
sure of a good place.
=" We might put it the other way" said
Miss 'Cindy, and say a good mistress is
always sure of a good girl. Yet [ have
heard women complain of their bad luck
with girls
q don't believe this matter depends
altogether upon luck" said Miss Hunt
My Aunt Catherine says-and she
speaks from experience and observation
that if a woman is herself what she ought
to be, and knows how to manage her help,
and how to treat them, they would fulfill
their duties as we'll as the rest of mankind
fulfill theirs. But some women are fuSSy,
and some are fault-inding, and some ex-
pect too much, and some are ignorant,
and some are Grabbed and some are
dOmineering, and some hayeno considera-
zion in piling on the work; and these are
| the ones, Aunt Catherine says, who are al
ways complaining they have no luck with
| help.
"Eunice and [ were saying the other
day." said Allen, q" that whoever has a
good article finds a market for it. A
peddler came to our house with extra
nice butter. We had butter enough, but
bought some of his because it was extra
nice. The people in the next house did
the same, and for the same reason. Gen
orally speaking, it is just so with things.
If a painter has first-rate picture he can
sell it. If a writer has a frst-rate poem
or essay or story, some publisher will
want it. If a carpenter is a first-rate
workman, he'll find work plenty If a
| professor eXcels in mathematics or chem
istry or philosophy, or any other science,
some college will be in hurry to get
hold OF him. If man has business tai
ent and good judgment, and a reputation
for uprightness, mercantile establishments
will Overbid each other to secure him. If
young man has ability, energy. integ-
| rity, activity and industry, some business
| firm, Or other master workman will pay
for his services. "-Centr0J Christian Id
|