The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-04-27
story of IA Proper Young Man.


admission to the bar, after which lie came to
New York, and tried very hard to get into
practice
Unfortunately for Mr. Garthman he discoy-
cred that there were already 5000 lawyers in
this city, all trying to get into practice, and
there was about as much chance for him rs for
being elected to the Presidency. Office rent
and board bills soon consumed the little means
he had and he was at the end of his string. As
he was IA month in arrears his landlady com
menced TO regard him with looks not altogeth-
cr pleasant, and the rigid bondhoder vino
owned the Office he occupied, notified him to
pay or get out. Mr. Garthman discovered that
while there was plenty of room on the upper
shelves it would require many years OF climb
ing, and that he would probably starve to death
great many times before he could even reach
the lowest Of the said upper shelves. 80 he
determined TO quit law and try SON ctling else.
He was a sensible young man, and so he ana not
Write for the newspapers.
Ask for the management of Il manufacturing
corporation. -.
Apply for position of actuary in life In
surance company.
ASK for the presidency of the board of edu-
cation. E.
paper. ..,;
Apply for u clerkshlp ola bank, or anything
of thc Kind. But he did find something lie
was fit for Down in one of the streets close by
Wall ST., in under the sidewalk of Il popular
restaurant he noticed light, clean open space
that was unoccupied He went to the proprle-
tor of the restaurant and took that space at Il
nominal rent, and promptly pawning his Ill
ster to procure stock, opened business there as
bootblack
As matter of course he did not desire to
be known as IA polisher of boots up town, for
he was living in q rather exclusive boarding
house. to which only the mostrcSpectable were
admitted 1t was no trouble to conceal his
identity. Some old clothes, a smulch of black
artistcally placed on his face, his pantaloons IN
his boots and no human being could recognize
in Mr.. Garthman, bootblack, the fashionable
and elegant Mr. Garthman of Twenty first
street.
His venture was entirely successful. He was
something of a wit in his way, and entertained
his patrons judiciously, while he polished their
boots. And then there was something about
him which attracted the young brokers who
frequented the restaurant and he entered upon
a career of prosperity that was delightful. His
earnings ran as high as Sc day, and his bust
ness in two weeks increased 50 that he had to
employ an assistant
His changed condition was often noticed at
his boarding house. 1t had become well known
that he had been impecunious, and now the
fact that he had better clothes and was again
carrying his watch, and paying his bills prompt
ly, led to much comment
Had he abandoned law? Yes, and gone into
business? Polishing calf skin. And he was
congratulated at his success, and became very
popular young man, and was received into the
very best boarding house society.
Was it possible that a young man like John
j. Garthman should go thro' life without love
Never! In the same house resided an old gen
tleman, n merchant who knew just when to
quit, who, with his daughter occupied the
best apartments in the house. Lille Pckham,
the daughter, was delightful girl, and Garth
man and she became very much attached to each
other, and there was decent prospect that in
time they would make up their minds to go
through life together.
But Garthman had, as who has not, hated
rival A broker named Bathurst VINO lived in
the same house had cast his eyes on the girl,
and intlamcd by her eXcellencies Us well as the
comfortable fortune she was sure to have, de-
termincd to possess her-Lillie favored Garth
man, and the father favored Bathurst; so it
was about an even race between them.
Bathurst did not believe in Mr. Garthman's
business, for there was something queer about
it. Garthman, when asked where his place OF
business was, had always replied vaguely
clown town. with sweep Of the hand that
took in the whole lower part of the city. Ba-
thurst had searched all the directories for in
formation in vain. No such name appeared
and no such business either And so he piled
the old gentleman with suspicious, intimating
that probably the young man was , dealer in
faro bank, smuggcr, lottery dealer and
all that till both he and Lille were nearly era
~. Finally the following conversation ensucd
Mr.. Garthman, insist before you are seen
with my daughter any more upon knowing
who you are, and what YOU are doing and where
YOU are dong it,
MIR. Pickham, a. John /. GartLman. Il
earn enough to su 20. your daughter proper
", and for the res; must decline to answer
You decline q" YOU? No man who has
anything to COnCc'u shall have anything 20 do !
with daughter O. nine
And SO IA strict iuaction was LAID upon the
girl to see him - more, which she violated
just as often as ST. could get ont of the house
One day Mr.. j. Vrst entered the restaurant
in which Mr. G.. nan oiled his brush. and
sat down in the c. Ia have his boots cleaned.
Mr. Garilman kci ais .ace ayerted as much
as possible, but Mr.. Bathurst observed him
closely He was shincd, paid his ten cents and
went out In an hour he came back and
though his boots were yet clean, he sat down
agan.-At the conclusion Of the operation he
remarked:
'Ha ha! Mr. Garhman; this is the polish.
ing of calf skins you do; ha, ha"
And taking IA carriage he FASTENED up town,
full of the discovery. He had a iva! in his
power. Now Miss Lille would throw Garth
man over; now the elder Pinckham would in
sist that all intimacy between them cease at
once, for, of course, he would never allow his
daughter TO marry boot black And he lost
no time in finding the old man and telling his
discovery.
DO you pretend to say that John Garthmau
is backing boots in Il basement"
Certainly, do. He has an old suit OF clothes
which he wears during the day. and then when
his work is done he pats on his good clothe,
and comes up here, imposing himself upon u
as a gentleman. He is an imposter'
He was lawyer wasn't he"
Yes
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