The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1881-02-24
MY MASTER AND t.
BY BARBARA YECHToN.

eWTANTED-A Cashier. Must write =
w good hand, and bo intelligent. Apply
between ten and twelve at - Broadway"
Such was the advertisement that met
my eyes as I looked anxiously over the
columns of "Female Help Wanted" in
the Herald. l read it over twice, then
cut it out, and put the slip in my pocket
book, determined to call at No. - that
morning.
There we're two of us, Netta 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 we're very hard. So
for the past weeks, and, indeed, ever
since came to the city, 1 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 a number Of
clerks about; to one I told my errand,
and was conducted to the upper end Of
ting, were some six or seven females
who all looked severely at me; but, moth
ing daunted, I 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 30 when my turn came that I
could scarcely speak.
AS the office was dark the gas was
lighted; at low, wide desk almost Gov
cred with papers and writing materials
sat a gentleman. He must have heard
me come i'll, but he did not stop writing,
nor even lift his eyes; so, low chair
being near me, 1 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
beauty, the mouth and chin square and
determined, the forehead prominent,
with creases between the heavy brows as
If from constant frowning; shoulders
broad and head well set on them. The
tout ensemble that of O man who would
not take thwarting kindly.
The surroundings were q pleasant red
carpet, several Office chairs, two desks.
Gone occupied), waste-paper baskets
files, &c. My survey completed, nv
gaze went back to Mr. Chisholm, when T
was considerably disconnected at meet
ing, two keen brown eyes fixed coldly
and calmly on me.
WELL. he said, presently, with ex-
treme politeness (sarcasm, called it),
81 trust you aduire my Officer"
eyes, sir, [ do" I answered, feeling
uncomfortably warm.
Humph!" after another cool glance.
$50 you would like to be my cashier?
Know anything about arithmetic?"
Yes, sir, something - not much.
though" trying in vain to steady my
voice.
"Write .' Writ q good hand?"
"'Yes, SIR" wondering if my cheeks
and ears could possibly burn more. "I
write O distinct but not pretty hand"
"Made up Of negatives, eh?' he que
RED, sharply. care you bright and in
telligent?"
Il" I leave that fer you to Judge, SIR" 7
exclaimed, quickly, almost determined
to get up and go away.
ooh, you do! Well, if you get the
position you will have to sit at that desk,
take charge of the cash, and write such
letters as shall dictate to you, besides
assuming q part of the correspondence
Yourself. Now write your name there. "
With trembling fingers wrote my
name; never, it seemed to me, had I
done so badly; the "M" looked weak
and uncertain, while the "K" was de-
cidedly broken-backed. My heart sank;
was that a good hand? I felt sure the
next words would be my dismissal.
He looked at the miserable scrawl,
smile.
"Well," he said, after pause, "per-
'haps you may suit; at any rate you may
come and try. Now about salary"
naming sum which to my country ideas
seemed very generous "Enough, eh?"
with keen glance from under his
heavy eyebrows. "Can YOU come to-
morrow? Then that will do. Good