Connecticut western news., 1886-06-09
HIS LITTLE GAME.
The Young Man Who Wasn't
 Particular About Wages.
An Agreement Which Proved A Disas :
 trous one for the Employer.

tr0uS one for the hmp.Oyer.
 Year before last bright-looking young man entered our countingroom in response to an advertisement for an as- sistant shipping clerk. He told the usual tale of how he desired position more than wages for the time being, and was willing to accept nominal salary to start in on. The old man was feeling in particularly good humor that afternoon, and said pleasantly to the new conner:
 "Well, sir, what would you consider nominal salary7 What would you be willing to accept in beginning9"
 The young man picked at the lining of his hat with his fingers, and deferentially replied: =...
 ''I want to show you, sir, that mean business, and I 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 boyr'
 "Well, sir, my principal aim is to learn the business" responded the young fellow, and I would almost be willing to work for nothing, but I'd like to feel and be able to say that l was earning something, you know"
 ''pll take you," remarked the old man. 'One cent, two cents, four cents, eight, sixteen," he enumerated. "You won't get much for awhile, he added. He took him up to the cashier. "This is John Smith," he said. ''He will go 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 ask you to as- sure me position for defiai period p inquired John Smith.
 'sWe don't usually do that" replied the governor; 'but we can't loose much on you anyhow, I guess, and you look like an honest fellow. How long do you want employmenta'
 'Thrce years, sir, if agreeable to you"
 Well, by love, the old man agreed, and young MT. Smith, on pretence of wanting some evidence of stability oi his place, got the governor to write out and sign paper that he had been guar anteed position in the house for three 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 uI how much would be coming to tho young man. He grew so interested 1T the project that he kept multiplying fol the three years. The result almost stag gered him. This is the column of fgure he took to the old man. First month 01; second, .02; third, .04; fourth, .08 fifth, IS; sixth, .32; seventh, GA ;eighth SIPS; ninth, $2.56; tenth, $5.12 eleventh, $10.24 twelfth, $2O.4s; thir teenth, $4o.96; fourteenth, $81.92; fiji teenth, $163.s4; sixteenth, $327. 6s seventeenth, $655. 36; eighteenth, $1, 311.72; nineteenth, $2,62354; twen tieth, $5, 2470s; twenty-irst, $1O, 494, 16; twcnty-second, $2o, 98s. 3s; twenty third, $41, 976.64; twenty fourth, $S2, 953. 2s; twenty-ffth, $1e5, soe. 56; twen ty-sixth, $331, s13.1 12; twenty $663, 626. 24; twenty-eighth, $1, 327, 252. AS; twenty ninth, $9,654, 5o4. 9e; thir tieth, $4, 6o9, oo9. es; thirty-frst, ss, SIS, O19. s4; thirty-second, $17, 236, o39. 6s; thirty-third, $s4, 472, o7s.3 3s; thirty fourth, $6s, 944, 156.72; thirty-fifth $137, sss, 313 A; thirty y-sixth, $275, 776, 626.8 8s; total salary for three years $552, 554, 253.65
 The governor nearly tainted when h understood how, even if he was twice g rich as Vanderbilt, he would be ruine in paying John Smiths salary.
 He concluded to discharge the modes young man at once. Smith had figure up how much would be due him, and re Q minded the old man of his write agreement. Rather than take chance in courts and let everybody know ho,
 he had been duped, the governor pal : Smith $5, 900 and bade him goodbye s I've heard he tried the same dodge i
 Chicago after leaving Courit 6 Journal.