Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-05-16
A MODEST YOUNG MAN
Who Wanted Work and Was Not Particu.
lar About the Wages.

C0Hisr IdUrHGI
Year before LAST ;ightlooking younG
man entered our counting room in RESPONSE
to an advertisement for an assistant ship
ping clerk. He told the usual tale of hos
he desired a position more than wages ioi
the time being, and was wiling to sccep
q nominal salary to start IN on. The Ole
man was feeling in particularly good
huuor that afternoon, and said pleasantly
to the new conner:
well. sir what would you consider q
nominal salary2 What would you De will
ing TO accept in beginning?
The young man picked ct the lining Of
his hat with his fingers, and diferentially
replied
Il want to show you, sir, that mean
business, and / viii work for enc cent the
remainder of this month, providing you
think it would not be too much to double
my salary each month thereafter"
That's q novel proposition, surely said
the old man with smile. do you know
what you're talking about, my dear boy?'
We'll, sir. my principal aim is to learn
the business" responded the young fellow,
AMI / would be almost willing to work for
nothing, but I'd like to feel and be able
to say that was earning something, you
know"
az take you" remarked the old man.
Zone cent. two cents, four cents, eight,
sixteen" he enumerated. You wont get
much for q while" be added.
He took him up to the cashier. This
is John Smith" he said. He will go to
work as assistant shipping clerk to morrow.
His salary will be one cent this month.
Double it every month from nov on"
"In consideration of my working for this
small salary might ask you to assure me
a position for definite periodY inquired
John Smi.h.
I'VE don't usually do that" replied the
governor; bat we cant loose much on you
anyhow, | guess. aud you look like On
honest fellow. How long do you want en-
ploymentY
Three years sir, if agreeable to yon."
Well, By iove, the old man agreed, and
Young Mr.. Smith on pretence of wanting
some evidence of stability of his place, got
the governor to write out and sign paper
that be had been guaranteed position IN
the house for three years on the terms l
have statep
He worked along for six months without
drawing cent. He ssid he would draw
all his earnings at Christmas. The cash
Ter one day though he'd figure up how much
would be coming to the young man. He
grew 80 interested in the project that he
kept multiplying for the three years.
The result almost staggered him. This is
the column oil figures he took to the old
man: First month, .0l second, .O2; third,
Oh; fourth, .08; fifth, .l6; sixth, 81; sew
snth, 81; eighth, 81 Is; ninth, 1886; tenth,
s. IL; eleventh. Sl0.24; twelfth, $2O.4S;
$40 96; fourteenth, 1912; fit.
eenth, $l63 81; sixteenth, S327.6S seven
eenth, $685. Sc; eighteenth, Sl,3ll.72;
g, 623 81; twentieth s., 247 08;
.wenty. first, $lO,494 10; twenty second
$40. 95S 81; tweury-third, 81 ,976 81; TWEEN
" fourth, $50 953 %; twenty-6fth, $l65,
poo SO; twenry-sixrh 1891, 8l3l2; twenty
seventh, 1868 626 "a; twenty. eighth. 81
'27, 252 4S; tWenry-ninth, 81 G54 .504 So;
hirtirta, $i,6O9, O9992; thirty first. So
SIS Ol9.84; thir'y-second. $l7,236, 039 6S;
$34 Az 07S 80, thirty-Eourth,
s63 944, l56 u; thirty fifth. $l37S88,3l3-
"a; thirty sixth, 1916, 77S.626 IS; total sal
ary for three years, $5'2, 554.2 65.
The governor nearly tainted when be I'M
ierstood how, even if he was twice as rich
- YsuderouilE he would be ruined in pay
ug John Smiths salary. He concluded
10 discharge the modest young man at once
Smith had figured up how much would he
iue him, aud reminded the old man of his
written agreement. Rather thaa take
chances in the courts and let everybody
zuog how he had been Guped, the govern
Or paid Smith s., 900 aud babe him good
1y. I've heard be tried the same dodge in
Chicago after leaving here.