Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-03-19

Mr. Murridge's confidence was enjoyed, to
a certain extent, by young lady named
Norah Cronan, who called herself his private
secretary. He called her his clerk. but it
made no difference in The salary, which re-
manned at the same figure as that enjoyed by
Dick, namely, seventy-five pounds a year.
But he did next to nothing for the money,
and she did the work of three men, being as
sharp, clever, industrious and Jealous girl as
ever man had the good fortune to engage in
his service. She came every morning at
eleven, and generally spent an hour or two
will her employer before she went off to the
museum, to the record office, to consult
parish registers, to read wills, to make ex-
tracts and do all kind, of genealogical work,
which kept her all day long and very often
all the evening as well. She was nineteen
/ years of age, and she knew-by heart. 1
! thina-nearly every genealogical work that
exists in the vernacular OF course Mr..
Murridge did not wholly trust her; perhaps
he was afraid she might make discoveries
and eep them to herself, and make her own
market out of them-he had done so himself
in the old days; perhaps there were certain
risky connections in his pedigrees which he
did not wish to expose to the girls sharp
eyes; perhaps he was constitutionally un-
81 able to trust a1yhodva who iyss HsS fssi-,iis
! very we'll have trus ed her, because she had
never yet suspected that she might become a
money winner instead of salary Garner
most men never do learn this lesson; still
fewer women ever learn it. and so are con-
tented to go on all their lives upon wage,
and noby rejoice when the smallness of
their own salaries has brought wealth to
their employers. Therefore she was honest,
and carried to Mr.. Murridge everything she
nd of Al olJ
the least scrap of information. This is
praiseworthy in every walk Of life, but
especially lau able in genealogist because
this least scrap is always the thing which is
of the greatest importance. Such simple
thing, for instance, as a single one-lined
entry in a parish register concerning a mar
rlage hundred years ago, has been known
to prove very gold mine to the discoverer
No man in the city had a more valuable
clerk than Mr.. Murridge, or a cheaper clerk.
Some there are who object to girl clerks
on the ground that, although they are al
ways honest, and may be underpaid and
overworked to any extent, and though they
never grumble and always carry out orders
literally and exactly, one cannot swear at
them. There is force in tne objection. though
it is no l believe, felt by some Of the gen.
tlemen who employ girls to sell gloves and
bonnets and beer, and s~da-and-brandy, nor
was it fe by Mr.. Murridge, who, when No
rah first came to him, swore at her every
day. She did not like being sworn at 1t
made her limbs tremble and her face turn
red and pale, but she thought it wisest to say
nothing about it at home, for the usual rea-
son that there was not much money going.
and her small salary was useful; and, be-
sides. her brother being a student at Uni
versity College hospital there was lust
then, less than usual. Whenever Mr. Muir
ridges orders were imperfectly obeyed or
neglected, he swore at her. Why nots When
he was prentice he had been sworn at every
day, cufed, caned and kicked, until he be-
came smart prentice and good engraver
Why should he not swear at his own clerk?
He did, and with sad, wearisome iteration of
'-tpe word that Norah grew to loathe that
word>snd to take any amount of pains and
trouble in o6ff;Ser not to hear it.
Norah had now however, been SO long
with Mr.. Murridge, an s1..-1had worked for
him so well-pedigree hunting Is natter OF
instinct with some, like finding old booRs~or
picking up old coins-that he had almost
ceased to use Language" even in her pres
ence. He knew her value, and in his softer
moments he had thoughts even of raising
her salary.
AU udll-pdSU Gou LII Lilo IuOIulQR all Guy
offices are in their first fresh vigor and
early morning enthusiasm of work. The
glow of the dawn, SO to speak, is upon them.
The glow fingers till about half-past eleven, i
when fatigue and languor begin among |
the younger brethren; at twelve many |
have visibly relaxed and have begun |
to glance at the clock and to wriggle on |
their seats 1t is not, however, until five in |
the afternoon that the curse of labor is
really felt to weigh heavily upon the shout
ders of the young clerk In Mr.. Murridge's
outer office there was no languor or fatigue
poss ble because there was no labor either |
for Mr. Richard or for the boy. 1t was a !
season of torgetfulness. No work had beeE
given to Dick for three weeks, and except in
the evening, when there were letters to bs
put through the press, no work was ever
given to the Office boy: During this enforced
ldleness Dick Murridge sat the whole day at
his table by the window, which CO nmanded
view of back yards chimneys and OUT
houses. He amused himself by drawing
girls heads upon his blotting pad in pencil.
When one page was covered he turned itover
and drew on the next, that the pad was
become perfect gallery of loneliness. By
d1nt OF long practice ne could draw girls
face very well whether full or in profile, or
three quarter face. He looked at his watch
good deal and he grumbled good deal,
and if the office boy made any noise he used
bad language, but not loud enough for his
father to hear, because Mr.. Murrdge was
one OF those parents who re- rye certain
vices for their own use and f. | them to
their sons
The office boy sat at another table, on
which was a copying press. He had nothing
to do, as rule, except to copy letters by
means of the press and go on errands.
But this boy never found the day too
long or the golden hours dull This was
because his table had drawer. Even to an
industrious clerk drawer is standing
temptation To the lazy clerk it is an ever
present snare; to the clerk who has nothing
to do the drawer is a never failing solace
and resource This boy, city-born boy,
with sharp eyes, pasty face and common
place features, was able, by means of his
drawer, to live all day long in another
world He kept it half-open, so that at the
least movement or sound from the inner Of
flee, or change of position in Mr.. Murridge,
who sat with his back to him, he could, by
quick, forward movement of his chest,
shut the drawer suddenly and noise,essly,
and be discovered, so to speak, in the atti.
tude OF the expectant. ready and Jealous
clerk, eager to do something which would
lessen the drain of his three half-crowns
week. Inside the drawer there
was always a story--one Of those
spirit-stirring, exciting and romantic stories
of adventure which can be bought for
penny, and which never pail upon the reader.
So that this boys days were passed in de-
icious and delirious dream of adventure,
love AMI peril, tempered only by the fear of
being suddenly found out and horribly cuffed
y. !