The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1878-01-10
applied the lead. and was polishing up

his stove, Tattling the covers back and
forth vigorously, his hair shaking down
toward his nose, when unwonted voices
were heard in the hall, the steps of two
men, and the tap OF cane on the bare
floor.
i" The occupant of this tenement, "
said voice, Joe-now recognized as his
landlords, lis an eccentric young man,
who boards himself and supports an in
valid uncle"
Rap, rap, rap" went the cane On
Joe's door.
Joe, unaccustomed to receiving com
pany, was a trife discomposed. He
pushed the hair out of his eyes with his
wrist, and, still grasping the hacking
brush, threw open the door.
Mr. Sampson, Mr.. Sterling," said
Joe's landlord.
Joe bowed in dazed sort of way. hold
ing his gEttering hands away from con-
tact with his, clothes. and swaying the
brush in the air.
Mr.. Sampson is about purchasing
this building and is inspecting the tene-
ments,'' explained the landlord
81 think-it seems to me that I've
met you before, young man" said Mr..
Sampson.
eyes, sir; I'm the Sterling that clerks
it in your store,'' said Joe, humbly.
Bless me, SO you are Sturges at
tends to the store mainly, and I don't
have much chance to know you boys. So
you live here do you? You re ally
do %
eyes, sir. And this is my uncle, Mr..
Knowles said Joe, nodding toward
Uncle William, who was beginning to
bristle at q fancied slight.
Mr.. Sampson bowed; giving Uncle
William glance that pretty accurately
took the measure of that gentleman.
And you live here, Sterling, and
support your uncle, eh ?" said Sampson,
bluntly, and to Uncle Williams offense
q do sir, said Joe, proffering his
only unoccupied chair, and motion
ing one of his callers to the lounge
"Our apartments can't be called ele-
CANT, and all things hereabouts aren't
exactly to our tastes, but it does very
well, and we're quite comfortable.
But really-re-a ally, this is quite ex-
traordinary for the present day-for the
present day. Quite extraordinary!
May I ask what salary we are paying
you % continued Sampson, looking
about the room.
rive nunufeU year, Sir.
'tAnd I understand-excrse me,
young man, but do I understand that
you support yourself and uncle with
your salary, exclusively %
Oh, dear, no, sir p said Joe, misun-
derstanding Sampson. 81 shouldn't be
willing to spend all my salary. We put
nearly two hundred in the bank last
year "
ssTTr C+orl;,or- coil Co,,,,oeo,, l,ol,
ing Joe sharply in the face, " do you
your uncle lived on three hundred dol
lars last year ?''
Certainly, sir; and lived pretty wrll,
too; didn't we Uncle William?'
"Pretty well," said Uncle William,
family.
t You know, sir" continued Joe, s'it
isn't the necessaries of life that eat up
the boys salaries SO; it's the extras they
like, and some of which they must have,
unless they live little more quietly"
Better live more quietly, then"
muttered Sampson.
''As for myself" said Uncle William,
81 won't deny that it comes hard on me-
[ don't blame Joe, but it isn't what I've
been used to. was or ce a man among
men, even as you are, sir; free and easy
in regard to money matters, and with no
expectations of being brought down to
this. I'm nearly helpless, sir; I'm great
sufferer, and Pm
eyes I see--I see," interrupted
Sampson, impatiently. 81 beg pardon,
Mr.. Sterling; I'm greatly interested.
May I ask what are your expectations %
"They're not great" said Joe, alb
stractedly, rubbing the backing brush
over bis hand. "Mr Sturges promised
a rise in salary if I did well; and then
I've thought that if I did well, perhaps
perhaps there'd be more rises. Clerks
10 progress, you know"
"Yes; I know said Sampson, smil-
"Then Tn hoping to some day OBJ
tain pleasanter home, and better med
ical aid for Uncle William"
81 wish you success, young man. I
think I >-st speak with Sturges about
this case-yes, will speak with Sturges.
I don't care to look further at these
rooms, landlord
Sampson made a respectful bow to
Uncle William, most respectful one to
Joe, and ambled out.
Joe resumed his stove-blackiT e, clat-
tering the covers more merrilY than
ever.
'.Sturges,'' said Sampson to his part
ner next morning, SO what kind of a fei-
low do YOU call Young Sterling 81
Reliablel'' firmly replied Sturges.
"And we paying him only 500?'F
"I'm going to make it six this year" ;"
Make it seven; and, if he bears that
we'll, increase it by another hundred
next year."
Sturges opened his eyes. Sampson
gave him little recital; and, before
the end of the year, Joe was in such a
position that Uncle William began to
have a glimmering perception that,
mediately, good did sometimes come to
himself.
My dear," said Sampson to his wife,
on the 3Ist of the next December,
there's that young Sterling, of whom
I've told you so much-he seldom leaves
his uncle, evenings, and appears to have
few social pleasures. I think I'd better
invite him to dinner tomorrow. In
many respects he's an exceptional yourg
man-for the present day-for the pres
esat dag. an exceptional young man"
So it happened that. on the next New
Years eve, Joe made Uncle William
comfortable with cold turkey and plum
pudding at his right hand, and linimeRt
at his left; and, having carefully attired
himself in a brand-new suit, skipped up
town to Mr. Simpsons. Notwithstand-
ing his half-dozen eccentricities of man
ner, he created an excellent impression,
and thereafter rapidly grew into favor in
high quarters.
Five years from that time, Sampson
had gone out of the business, and Joe
had gone in. The firm had becom
"Sturges & Sterling ;" Uncle William
had SO far recovered as to be able to take
care of himself Joe had improved IL
r,oocc.4 Il, IL, he