The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-06-29
The True Ring.


street.
This was the advertisement that APP
peared in one of the morning papers of
large city. Many young fellow
who had been seeking employment for
weeks felt his hopes rise as he read it.
Fred Baker heard it at the breakfast
table the day after il appeared; his
sister Louisa said: "Oh, Fred for
got to tell You that | saw in yesterdays
paper that Mitchell x Tyler want
clerk; that will be the place above all
others for you. 1t is splendid store.
OF course you can get the place if you
are not too late. You can take letter
from Uncle Horace; his influence and
your appearance will settle the matter.
/ heard Mr.. Mitchell was real fussy
about his clerks, but I'm sure he can
find nothing to object to in my hand
some, well-dressed brother" and the
elder sister looked admiringly at Fred's
fair face, smooth locks and well-ftting
suit
Perhaps I'll call around there after
a while" Fred said, carelessly.
Please hurry and go now, won't
you?" his sister said Pm afraid some
body has snatched up the place before
this time.
Fred finished his breakfast in leis-
urely way, put a few extra touches to
his already-careful toilet, lighted a
cigar and sauntered forth.
Better throw away your cigar be-
fore You go in. Mr. Mitchell may OBJ
iect to that, said Louise, who stood in
the front door as he passed out.
Hell have to take me as l am, ]"
Fred said with a lofty air; "all gentle
men smoke. | do not propose to be a
slave to him or any other man"
He called in at his uncle's office on
the way and procured letter of recon-
mendation. Thus equipped, he felt
confident of success.
Just behind him there walked with
bright step hoy of 10, year or
two younger than himself. This was
David Gregg. He, too, had seen the
advertisement, and was on the way to
$50 Washington street. He was the
eldest of family of children whose
father had died at the beginning of this
long winter David had tried hard to
find employment, had improved every
moment by doing odd Jobs for anybody,
had studied the papers and answered
advertisements until he was well-nigh
discouraged. The places were sure to
be filled by persons who had intluen-
| tial friends; he had none, for his father
had removed to the city from the coun-
| try only short time before his DEATH
and now more because he applied for
] a L., s.
| hope of success, he had risen very early
| that morning, made the fire, and while
his mother was preparing breakfast
put himself in the neatest possible or
der to go to Mitchell q Tylers.
When he appeared at the breakfast
table looking so bright and neat, his
mother thought he was son to be
proud of, the handsomest boy in the
city; vet. his face was actually homely
as far as beauty of features was con-
cerned: his clothes were coarse, and he
had no flashing pin, or gold cuff buttons
like the elegant young gentleman who
now walked before him.
What was the reason that among the
! large number of boys who filed in and
out of Mitchell & Tyler's private Office
no one of them had been selected to fill
the vacant clerkship? Mr.. Mitchell,
the senior partner of the firm, had asked
some plain, straightforward questions
of them. where do you spend your
evenings?" "Do you play cards, go to
the theater?" etc, for Mr.. Mitchell had
declared TO his partner, "If there is a
boy in the world who has good habits
and right principles, I'm going to hunt
him up if it takes all winter" SO it
turned out that many of the boys could
not give satisfactory answers to the
searching questions, and others, when
Mr.. Mitchell sounded their knowledge
of figures, were not ready reckoners.
They came and went for one whole
day, and as soon as the door was opened
the next morning candidates came
focking in like birds.
And now it was Fred Bakers turn.
He stood before Mr.. Mitchell, his hat
on his head, his cigar removed from his
month, it is true, but the smoke thereof
curling up into the merchants face.
He presented his letter of introduction.
Mr.. Mitchell read it, then asked few
questions. Meanwhile his practical eye
was taking it all in-the cigar, the i'm
itation diamond, the large seal-ring, the
flashing hectic. He knew in a twink.
ling where Fred Baker probably spent
his evenings, and that it would take
more money to indulge his tastes than
he could honestly earn.
To Fred's astonishment he presently
heard. Il do not think, young man, that
you are just the one we have in mind
for this place" Then, before he knew
il he was bowed out.
The next boy who was admitted did
not advance with such an over-confident
air. He held his hat in his hand and
spoke in modest, respectful manner
"Have you any recommendation
mo, sir; L have none," David an
swered, little dejectedly. I'VE have
not been long in the city"
swell, you need none, If l can trust
my eyes" Mr. Mitchell remarked tc
himself. The bright, frank face and
the manly air of the boy impressed hin
most fayorably He was still more