The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-01-05

"It's no use, Reuben, nobody is coming
in as long as the hand-bills are not dis
tributed," said one of the men. Bring
out a stack OF them small bills and get
some man to distribute them. 1t ought
to have been done two hours ago."
"I should be only too glad to take the
job, SIR. / even think have capabili-
ties for that kind of thing" said John,
stepping to the front.
swell you as anybody else," replied
the clerk; "here, take hold" and John
had some reams of papers stuck into his
arms. "It's Is cents an hour until
o'clock. Now, work your passage and
deal 'em out lively. When all your bills
are out come in for more.
Fifteen cents an hour Sixty cents;
that was bread for another week. John
Austin went to work cheerfully, though
perhaps scarcely discriminatory, for he
insisted on giving the shabbiest and
most poorly-clad of the passers-by his
hand bills. "If," thought John, 81
only had the faith of the Buddhists who
distribute pictures of prancing horses to
weary travellers, or gayly- painted boats
to those foundering ut sea, every one OF
these poor fiimsy bits of paper, with
probably specious announcements of
shoddy coats printed on them, would be-
stow in an actual way on shivering hui
manity the heaviest kinds of ulsters and
the warmest of pea jackets"
What harvest John Austin sowed out
side to be garnered inside will never be
known. AT o'clock 90 cents was handed
him, and he was discharged. Sixty cents
would buy him hot meal, and the man
had not had one for week. He knew
where Is cents would get coarse
but satisfactory dinner. 1t was
thriftless on his part, but he dived down
narrow street leading to the North
river in quest of food. just block
from Broadway street-vender pushed
doll into his face. 1t was coarse,
vulgar, rubicun6 doll, Of primitive type,
decidedly archaic in character. 1t had
gorgon eyes, with flat plastered hair,
with no possible regard to proportion,
sawdust perhaps refusing to mold itself
into anything symmetrical. Had he bar
gained an instant for the doll or exam
ined it critically, he would have per-
ceived that the doll was minus leg.
"But 10 cents was very cheap" John
Austin thought, for even an ugly doll
with squeak in it." He had quite de-
cided idea that somebody wanted doll,
and vaguely now that somebody else
wanted a dinner. He bought the doll
with the same airy grace that would
have shown young millionaire disdain-
ing to chatter with jeweler as to the
price of solitaire diamond which was
to deck the hand of his betrothed on
Christmas day. 1t was foolish thing
for man with 50 cents in the world.
He pushed the doll, now done up in a
piece of coarse paper, into his pocket.
Don't" said the vender "don't ram
her in your pocket that way, or you
will bust her, and then your little 'un
would be disappointed. "Oh, thank
you" said Austin, as he extricated the
doll and carried it in his hand.
1t was half-past when John Austin.
still hungry, remembered that he had
better go to that office where shipping
clerk was wanted, and get back his
papers. He knew that he had not even
the ghost of chance.
The Office was empty now.
"Back again Well, now, / closed
up that annoying advertisement bust
ness some three hours ago." said the
clerk. Didn't tell you you wouldn't
suit We are just shutting up. Don't
bother. The place is filed"
"Would you kindly return me my
letter of recommendation
"Your papers Oh, you are the
party that showed papers on mel In
deed Just as if my life wasn't worn
out by everybody in the world showing
papers on me. Do you suppose / am
going to hunt them up now9 Just as
likely they are in the waste basket. See
here, you are regular nuisance hanging
around. All you fellows answering ad-
vertisements are just the same. Pa
pers Stuff Get somebody else to
write you up brand-new lot of pa
pers.
But" gasped out John. The slide
before the pigeon. hole was pushed to
with a snap, and voice cried out from
behind the partition, "Clear out.
didn't tell you to leave your papers,
did II"
John was dismayed. His poor, use
less old letter he felt was the barest
shred of seeming responsibility which
was left him. He had been treated
most discourteously. There was table
near. John dropped his package on
the table, and raped vigorously with
both hands on the glass partition.
eff you are going to make a row."
said the voice, :" if can't put you out
the porter must"
John Austin was on his mettle now,
and felt prepared for any emergency,
when gentleman of about Johns age
entered. "What is this most unseemly
Disturbance What is the matter2
What do you want2 This is my Office,
SIR" Saying this the gentleman, who
had several bundles under his arm,
placed them on the table.
"Simply this, sir, said John Austin;
"I answered in person an advertisement
for ashipping clerk--reference required.
/ left letter of recommendation with
your clerk. He refuses to return it to
me, and has been, il not uncommonly
rude, at least singularly abusive. These
papers are all have in the world"
But, SIR" said the clerk, addressing
his principal, CT told this party not to
leave his papers, and the party forced
them ON me. might find them, of
course. If tho party will call tomorrow
mo, that is Christmas-on Monday