The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1881-02-25
MY MASTER AND /.
BY BARBARA rEcuroN.

s lETANTED--A Cashier. Must mite =
w good hand, and besinteHigent. Apply
between ten and twelve at = Broadway"
Such was the advertisement that met
my eyes as / looked anxiously over the
columns Of Female Help Wanted in
| the Herald. read it over twice, then
cut it out, and put the slip in my pocket
book, determined 10 call at No. - that
morning.
There were two Of us, Meta and my
self; she was the child OF my step
mother, upon whose death she had come
| to live with me. Neither OF us having
any relatives able to help us. and very
little money, times were very hard. So
for the past weeks, and, indeed ever
since / came to the city, / had studied
the papers daily, and done great deal
of travelling in answer to advertisements,
but without any good result. However.
was not easily discouraged, and, after
dispatching Meta to school, sailed
forth.
No. - proved to be large retail and
stationery house. M. A. Chisholm !"
was the sign. There were number of
clerks about; to one told my errand,
and was conducted to the upper end Of
the long store, where, standing and sit
| ting, were some six or seven females,
who all looked severely at me; but, moth
ing daunted, sat down and awaited
my turn.
/ A little distance from us was an in
closed Office, wherein, no doubt, was the
party who was to decide the momentous
question; and as each one went in and
came out with flushed or disappointed
face my heart sank lower and lower, and
throbbed SO when my turn came that l
could scarcely speak.
AS the office was dark the gas was
| lighted; at low, wide desk almost COW
cred with papers and writing materials
sat gentleman. He must have heard
me come in, but he did not stop writing,
nor even lift his eyes; so, low chair
being near me, quietly sat down, ex-
aiming first the countenance of M. A.
Chisholm (for he it was), and then the
comfortably furnished Office.
The gentleman was not at all good
looking; he was very dark, sallow, in
fact, With very black hair and heavy
mustache; the nose was too large for
i beauty, the mouth and chin square and
determined, the forehead prominent,
with creases between the heavy brows as
il from constant frowning; shoulders
broad and head we'll set on them. The
tout ensemble that of q man who would
not take thwarting kindly.
/ The surroundings were pleasant red
carpet, several Office chairs, two desks,
Zone occupied), waste paper baskets,
\, files, &c. Ny survey completed, my
gaze went back to Mr.. Chisholm, when
was considerably disconnected at meet
ing two keen brown eyes fixed coldly
and calmly on me.
"Well,a he said, presently, with ex
trefne politeness (sarcasm, | called it)
81 trust you adRire my Officer"
eyes, sir, l do" I answered, feeling
uncomfortably warm. tEr.
"Humphl". after another cool glance,
$50 You would like to be my cashier
Know anything about arithmetic?"
eyes, sir, something = not much
though, " trying in vain to steady m.
voice. H
Write good hand?"
Eyes, sir" wondering if my cheek
and ears could possibly burn more. :"
write distinct but not pretty hand.
"Made up of negatives, eh?' he que
ried, sharply fare you bright and IN
telligent2"
III leave that fer you to Judge, sir"
exclaimed, quickly, almost determined
to get up and go away.
"Oh. you dol Well, If you get tn
position you will have TO sit at that desk
take charge Of the cash, and write sucl
letters as I shall dictate to you, beside
assuming a part of the correspondents
yourself, Now write your name there.
With trembling fingers l wrote M
name: never, it seemed to me, had
done 50 badly; the "M" looked wea
|. and uncertain while the OK" was de
! cidedly broken backed. My heart sanA
, was that good hand? felt sure th
! next words would be my dismissal.
He looked. at the miserable scraw
. then at me, with a.scarcely conceale
smile.
.fI swell" !" he said, after a pause @pel
haps you may suit; at any rate you ma
|, come and try. Now abont salary,
naming a. sum which to mycountrY idef
seemed very. generous. Enough, chi
! with a Keen glance from under u
: heavy eyebrows g Can You come +
morrow? Then that will do. Goo