Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1886-09-04
HIS LITTLE GAME.
The Young Man Who Wash I
Particular About Wages.
IN Agreement Which Proved A Disas
trous one for the Employer

Year before last a bright-looking
young man entered our counting room in
response to an advertisement for ~ as
sistant shipping clerk. lie told the
usual tale of how he desired a position
more than wages for the time being, and
WAS willing to accept q Eominal salary 10
start in on. The old man was feeling in
particularly good humor that afternoon,
and said pleasantly to the new conner
"Wcll, sir, what would you consider
a nominal salary7. What would you be
willing to accept in beginning2'
The young man picked at the lining of
his hat with his fingers, and deferentially
replied:
81 want to show you, sir, that mean
business, and | will work for one cent
for the. remainder of this month, pro-
viding you think it would not be too
much to double my salary each month
thereafter"
"That's novel proposition, surely"
said the old man with smile. 'Do YOU
know what you are talking about, my
dear boy?"
''Wcll, sir, my principal aim is to
learn the business" responded the young
fellow, and ! would almost be willing to
work for nothing, but ia like to feel
and be able to say that | was earning
something, you know
'Ill take you," remarked the old
man. Zone cent, two cents, four cents,
eight, sixteen" he enumerated "1ou
won't get much for awhile, 3" he added
He took him up to the cashier This
is John Smith," he said. Gle will 60
to work as an assistant shipping clerk
tomorrow His salary will be one cent
this month. Double it every month
from now on.
''In consideration of my working for
this small salary might l ask you to as
sure me Il position for a dcfaite period ~
inquired John Smith.
We uOH usually w lildt ItplCtt
the governor; "but we can't loose much
on you anyhow, / guess, and you look
like an honest fellow. How long do
you want employment"
Three years, sir, if agreeable to you. y
Well, by Jove, the old man agreed,
and young Mr.. Smith, on pretenee ,of
wanting some evidence of stability lot
his place, got the governor to write out
and sign paper that he had been guar
years on the terms have stated.
!. He worked along for six months with
out drawing cent. He said he would
draw all his earnings Christmas The
cashier one day thought he'd figure VI
how much would be coming to the
..young man. He grew so interested il
~ the project that he kept multiplying fol
the three years. The result almost stag
ucrcd him. This is the column Of figure.
he took to the old man. First month
Of; second, .02; third, .04 fourth, .0s
fifth, IS; sixth, %; seventh, 81 eighth
$12s; ninth, s. 5G; tenth, s.. IL
eleventh, $10.2i; twelfth, SEQ thir
teeEth, $40.96; fourteenth, $S1.92; ff
tcenth, s163- ST; sixteenth, 1927. GS
seventeenth, $65j 30; eighteenth, 81,
311.72, nineteenth, 81. G23 81, TWEEN
tictb, s., 241.0s; twenty first, SO, 494
| 1G twenty second, $50, 9ss 30; twenty
third, s41, 91G.Gi; twenty-fourth, $50,
953. IS; twcntyfifth, S1GJ,9o6. 90 twcn
, ty-siSth, 1881, ,S13. IL, twenty-s vcnth
, 1903, 626. "A; twenty eighth, 81, 327, 252
; As; twenty ninth, s., ,G5i, 504. &c; thir
} ticth, 81, Go9, oO9 %; thirty-tiret, IS,
els, o19 81; thirty second, 1926, 039.
! 6s; thirty-thirl, s34. Az, ,01s IS; thirty
fourth. SOS, 944. 15G -; thirty-fiftf
s137, ~ss, 313 Il; tAirtysiNtll, $2775, 1'6
} 626. IS, total salary for three year:
4 500, 554. 253G5
c The governor nearly tainted when h
understood how, * n If he was twice ;
rich as Vanderbilt. he would bc RUNE
. in paving John Smiths salary.
: He concluded to discharge the mode,
Young man At once Smith had figure
up how much would bc due him, and T
minded the old man If his write
p agreement. Rather Than take chance
= IN courts and - every ..s4dy know ho
! l. =. 3a. 49,