Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-02-14

q 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-fve pounds a year.
But he did next to nothing for the money,
and she did the work of three men. being rs
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
with 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 kinds of genealogical work
which kept her all day long and very often
ell the evening as well She was nineteen
years Of age, and she knew-by heart.
think-nearly every genealogical work that
exists in the vernscular OF course Mr..
Murridge did not wholly trust her; perhaps
ho was afraid she might make discoveries
and keep them to herself, and make her own
market out of them--he had done 50 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-
able to trust anybody who ly He might
very well have trusted 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 ali their lives upon a wage,
and nobly rejoice when the smallness OF
their own salaries has brought wealth to
their employers Therefore she was honest,
and carried 10 Mr.. Murridge everything she
found, and never dreamed Of Withholding
the least scrap of information. This is
praiseworthy in every walk Of life, but
especially lau liable in a genealogist because
this least scrap is always the thing which Is
of the greatest importance Such a simple
thing, for instance as single one-lined
entry in parish register concerning a mar
riage a hundred years ago, has been known
to prove very gold mine to the discoverer
No man in the city had g more valuable
clerk than Mr.. Muiridgs, or 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 the objection. though
it is not. i believe, felt by some of the gen
tlemen who employ girls to sell gloves and
bonnets and beer, and soda and brandy, nor
was it felt 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 student at Uni-
versity College hospital. there was, just
then, less Than usual Whenever Mr. Muir
ridges orders were imperfectly obeyed or
neglected, be swore at her. Why notf When
he was q prentice he had been sworn at every
day, cuffed, caned and kicked, until he be-
came a smart prentice and good engraver
Why should he not swear at his own clerki
He did, and with sad, wearisome iteration Of
one word that Norah grew to loathe that
word, and to take any amount Of pains and
trouble in order not to hear it
Norah had now, however, been 50 long
with Mr. Murridge, and had worked for
him 20 well-pedigree hunting is matter Of
instinct with some, like finding old books or
picking up old coins-.hat he had almost
ceased to use Language" even in her pres
ence He knew her value, and in his softer
he had thoughts even Of raising
her salary.
At half-past ten In the morning all city
offices are in their first fresh vigor and
early morning enthusiasm of work The
glow of the dawn, 50 to speak, is upon them
The glow fingers till about half-past eleven,
when fatigue and languor begin among
the younger brethren; at twelve many
have visibly relaxed and have begun
to glance at the clock ard 70 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
possible, because there was no labor either
for Mr. Richard or for the boy. 1t was
season Of forgetfulness No work had been
given to Dick for three weeks, and except in
the evening. when there ware letters to be
put through the press, no work was ever