The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-04-30
sILAS SOMERBY'S SUCCESS.
How his Industry Resulted i'm {
Rapid Advance i'm Wages,

How his Industry Resulted i'm a
Rapid Advance I'm Wages,
I never lag behind in my pursuit of
the nimble and elusive dollar but think
of Silas Somerby, and straightway push
on refreshed. In the hope that it may
encourage some fel!ow-toiler, l will
briefly set down the story of his great
success.
He began his business life in the en-
ploy of his father, in whose establish
ment he still remains, universally looked
up to and honored by all whose position
in the house is inferior to his own. 1t
was arranged in the beginning that he
was to live at home. and that he was to
receive a salary of $40 week, half of
which was to be deducted in payment of
his board. His father designed thus not
inculcate at the very outset sound prin-
ciples of economy, and to accustom his
offspring to the now almost obsolete
practice of laying aside q certain fixed
! percentage of his income to meet living
expenses.
The son repaid the fathers kindness
| with earnest effort, and at the end of six
months he was one day summoned into
hlo PioSoHiIoi Pil'"'o oihoo. dhu CHu'
addressed:
''silas, I have observed with great
pleasure your diiigent attention to bust
ness, and have decided to raise your sal
ary in practical recognition of your in
creased value. After to-day you will
draw SIS week, instead OF $40, as here
tofore. And, by the way the father
added, as Sias turned to go, Gas your
| ho
increased scale of expenditure more in
keeping with your augmented income, 1
shall hereafter deduct $40 a week, instead
of S., for your board.''
Filled with a gratitude too deep for
expression, Silas left the paternal pres
ence resolved to deserve his kindness or
perish He redoubled his efforts, and in
six short months more he again stood
one day, by particular request, before
his father, who said with a broad smile
of satisfaction draped about his penevo-
lent ceuDtenance:
''My boy, youare exceeding my fond
est an'icipations. Such endeavor as
yours shall not go unrewarded. have
decided to raise your salary for the sec
ond time. Twenty-Five dollars is the
figure of the future, and may God bless
you."
Here the old man paused; and in a
voice trembling with genuine emotion
Silas stammered forth his thanks AS
he was leaving the room his father added,
without raising his head from some
papers over which he was busted:
ooh, Silas, one thing more. l was
about to add that this change in your
circumstances will make a great differ.
ence in your mode of life. You will ca:
more, drink more, in fact, lead broader
and fuller life in every respect. l shall,
therefore, charge you $50 a week for
board after this date. Good morning" :"
In the next six months Silas surpassed
himself, and doomed things to a per-
fectly phenomenal extent. He was not,
consequently, wholly taken by surprise
when he found on his desk one morning
note in his fathers familiar hand
Hastily tearing open the envelope with
hands trembling with peasurable an
ticipation, he read as follows:
NY DEAR SoN-I cannot express to you
my deep satisfaction in your wonderful pro-
gress, nor shall try. Words are cheap, but
cash is in such cases, the most accomplished
conversationalist. Continue your efforts at
double your present salary lnclOsed please
find ok. for this week. Your affectionate
FATHER.
The inclosure bore in the lower right
nand corner the flowing signature of the
senior Somerby, and in the upper left
the symbol S, followed by the figure 5.
In an ecstasy of gratitude Sias pressed
the letter to his lips. AS he did so he
observed the legend "Turn OVER OBJ
scurely placed in the lower corner, and
following instructions he read as fol-
lows:
P. S.-Your pecuniary clrcumst ance5 are
now such that you will no longer feel the need
of economizing. A variety of mild extrava-
gances hitherto made inaccessible ty limita-
ton of income, are now within your grasp
You will feel like branching out in many
directions. Men in your circumstances
smoke fiften-cent cigars. and drink wine
upon occasions. Their board sometimes costs
them as much as S45 week. Yours will cost
you precisely that amount
Stimulated by these practical proofs
of parental pride, Silas fairly bumped
himself, SO to speak, during the next
year, and, despite the distracting inhu-
ence of a large income, attended more
strictly than ever to business. One day
toward the end of the year he received
a summons from his father, whom he
found standing before the fire in his
private office Judge of his surprise
when the good old man, laying his
hand affectionately upon his sons should
er, said:
"silas, my boy, you have been doing
nobly, l have long intended to more sub
stantially reward your efforts than by
mere words of praise, and have dccid-
ed to let that reward come in the form
of raise of salary. l am aware that
salary of 500 week will
place you in society to which your
poor old father can hardly aspire.
it will be your proud privilege to give
suppers and to assist in booming the
hack interests of this great metropolis.
|, alas on account of deficiencies Of
early training and education, and
lack of funds, cannot tread these fowery
paths with you; But the father is con
tent to live again in the son, and to en-
Joy his triump phs in back seat. l can
scarcely hope" he continued, his voice
trembling slightly, and big tear rolling
down his cheek, ''to keep you at home
with us any longer. Your new life will
be at variance with our simple ways.
You will, no doubt, feel like going to
one of the principal hotels, and, perhaps,
pay as much as 800 week for board