Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-08-06
The Bland Drummer.

| W Ni', pbSNh WV thN Oioht Niah
mer, as he proceeded to scratch a
match on the back of his employers
chair, and light cigar, "I've report
ed as you requested; come in all the
way from Chicago, leaving a booming
trade, to see what you wanted-some.
thing important, of course. Going to
submit a partnership proposition, an
advance in salary, or send me to Eu.
rope for my health-going to do some
thing handsome, of course?" he chuck.
led, rubbing his hands together.
"You think the house should re.
ward you for the mastery manner in
which you have represented its inter.
ests ?" said the employer, adjusting
his spectacles. "You think you are
entitled to some substantial recogni,
tion," he continued, "in view of the
active part you have taken in its af,
fairs, do you?"
"My sensitive nature" replied the
drummer, twill not permit me to
speak of my individual efforts in
building up your business; men Of
my stamp are only irritated by fiat.
terry"
"Pll try and not excite you, then" I"
said the proprietor, in an insinuating
voice, as he settled back in his chair.
[ will skip formalities, and get down
to business at once. You have been
absent from New York just thirty
days; in that time you have render.
ed an expense account of 5000, not to
mention your salary. This should
warrant us in expecting reasonable
amount of business, should it not ?"
Certainly" replied the man Of
the road. 1--WE won't argue that
point. | would rather concede than
argue"
"Well," resumed the merchant,
during the period of your absence
you have sent in four orders; two OF
them were not checked, one was sold
to party who has since failed, the
other was returned because you mis-
represented the quality. You have
made cash allowances sufficient to eat
up the profits on ten bills of goods
sold last fall; involved us in law
suit by lying written impudent let
ters to our credit clerk for not per-
mitting you to overdraw your salary
engaged yourself to be married to the
daughter of a regular house custom
er, by representing to her father that
you had recently been taken in our
house as junior partner; been ar
rested twice for drunkenness and dis
orderly conduct; swindled a personal
friend of mine at poker by stacking
the cards; in short disgraced your
self and brought us in disrepute.
Want recognition, do your" contin-
ued the old man, as he brought his
fist down on the desk. "Want some
thing handsome. Well, I'll give you
what you want, and won't fatter your
sensitive nature either. I'll give
you an indefinite vacation-in short 1
discharge you."
"My gracious !" roared the knight
of the road, "you needn't have beat
all around the bush to say that; I
didn't ask any explanation always
talk to the point when you have any
thing to say. Why, bless your SIM
pie old soul, the little things you re-
corded in your indictment belong to
the ups and downs of merchantile
life; they are not worth wasting
breath on. You never would have
kicked if trade hadn't been trife
dull my past services in building
you up and making it possible for you
to do business, 60 for nothing, be-
cause your credit clerk made mis-
take in checking the wrong man, and
had the good luck to knock your old
side partner out on poker. Some peo-
pie are never satisfied; want the
earth and what's spilled over thrown
in. l can overlook good many Pc
culiarites in a house, but ingratitude
| will not tolerate or submit to.
"My object in coming in, was to
tell you if you didn't change your
manner of doing business, I'd quit
your service, but your conversation
has so wrought upon my fine sensi-
bilities that / will not hint at the
changes ! was going to suggest. /
resign right here, without any fur.
ther parley. l wouldn't take half
interest in the business with you as a
partner! Oh, you want me to recon-
ILL.,. Al. -..xl~- l. ..o.. L.