The Brookhaven leader., 1883-06-07


ment in the morning papers. Mr..
Olson knew that thousands of persons
were out of employment and that all of
those who could find opportunity eager
ly scanned the "want" columns of the
great dailies in hope of finding promise
Of something to do. And one morning,
not long after, thousands of eager eyes
read: "Mr. John Olson, formerly of
Pittsburgh, is requested to report at
2l5 Blank street, where he will learn of
something to his advantage" Mrs.
Olson wrote this advertisement herself,
an she prided herself on the little trick
o putting in that little word ''advant-
age This, she argued, would surely
bring the man, whereas cold, un-
promising statement would not.
The second morning after the ap-
pearance OF the advertisement, three
men were waiting for Mr.. Olson when
he entered his office. One of these en-
tered his private Office with easy as
surance, before he had removed his
overcoat, and placing the advertisement
he had clipped from the paper on MI.
Olson's desk, stated that he had come
in answer to the request contained
therein.
This man was not shabbily dressed,
and he affected the air of superior
man, compelled by circumstances to do
what he would not do were he not in
distress. Mr.. Olson had imagined that
his namesake was shallow man, with
tremendous promise on the surface, like
the smooth-faced, soft-haired individual
now before him, and he was about to
tell the story of the letter and say plain
ly that he was ready to assist the man
to help his family, when a glance from
Mr.. Bradford caused a change of pro-
gramme. This glance had the conf
dence of Figures won't lie" in it, and
intimated that the visitor was a fraud.
Mr.. Olson, without accepting the esti
mate, resolved to be on his guard. The
man stated that his name was Olson,
and in answer to direct question, said
his wife and two small children were in
the city and in condition bordering on
deStitution. He disliked to admit it,
but such was the case; he had come
from Pittsburgh just after his marriage,
and had been quite well to do until the
panic spoiled all his plans.
Mr.. Olson informed the man, who
was much inclined to enlarge upon his
woes, that he was not the person want
ed, and was at once appealed to to give
the applicant enough money to pur-
chase breakfast. The money was Civ
en-, and with profound bow of thanks
the man departed, apparently in very
happy frame of mind. Mr.. Bradford
explained that the mans name was not
Olson, and that he had made a business
of answering advertisements where as
surance and pathetic story could easi-
ly be made to do duty.
Mr.. Olson was, therefore, indignant
when the second man entered and stated
that Mrs O'Brien's boy had told him
while he was putting in Mrs O'Brien's
coal, that John Olson was wanted at
2l5 Blank street, and here he was. He
was laboring man, had always lived
in the city, and knew nothing of Pitts
burgh. He departed with: No harm
done, stranger"
The third man was stout ard hearty,
except, as he remarked, in the matter
of clothes. Mrs. Smith had told his
wife about the advertisement, and as he
came from Pittsburgh about 80 and as
his wife had insisted that it might mean
him, he thought he would call. He
didn't expect a gold mine, or anything
of that kind, but thought somebody had
a job of work that would bring in few
cents for the babies. After answering
several questions he received the an
nouncement that he was not the man in
the best humor. 81 thought so. |
never am-but wife, you know, she
thought / ought to come" This time
Mr.. Olson said: mo harm done, sir.
Leave your name and | may be able to
throw some work in your way" And
the man departed in great glee.
Mr.. John Olson was disappointed, and
as he laughingly related the circum-
stances to his wife, he asked: "Well,
what will we do next?'
They did nothing, although they felt
keenly that something ought to be done.
Two days afterward, in the midst of
heavy snow-storm, a lady in waterproof
suit entered Mr.. Olson's office to report
that, as one of the ladies' benevolent
society, she had found in her district
man who answered to the name of John
Olson, and who, she had ascertained.
had lived at Pittsburgh. This man had
been very sick for three weeks, and was
still very low. He had been cared for
during this time by family in not the
best circumstances, and although they
had borne the extra burden without
complaint, if the man had relatives or
friends they should look after him.
Her attention had been called to the adj
vertisement by a man who the day be-
fore had shoveled the snow from the
sidewalk in front of her house, and she
had called with the hope of finding help
for the invalid and relief for the family.
Mr.. Olson stated briefly the relations
he held to the case, and then went with
the lady to the house-a house with
three rooms, sheltering man and wife,
several children and the invalid. The
man had been for few days a fellow
laborer with the master of the house,
and when taken sick they took him in.
They knew little about him, and had not
known, until the fever left him, that he
was married and that his wife was liv-
ing.
The sick-bed scene was not an
unusual one, and yet it startled Mr.
Olson when he entered the room. The
attitude, expression, and general ap-
pearance of the man suggested an al
most forgotten something that he could
not recall. There was some element in
this picture that had been present in
some other picture-and yet, he could
not recall any features of the other pict-
ure. He simply entered the sick room
with more superstitious uneasiness than