The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-07-13
HIS LITTLE GAME.
The Young Man Who Wasn't
Particular About WAGES.
An 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 an as
sistant shipping clerk. He told the
usual tale of how he desired a position
moro than wages for the time being, and
was willing to accept a nominal salary to
start in IN. The old man was feeling in
particularly good humor that afternoon,
and said pleasantly to the new conner:
"Well, sir, what would you consider
n nominal salarya What would you be
willing to accept in beginning"
The young man picked at the lining of
his hat with his fingers, and deferentially
replied:
II want to show you, sir, that I 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 a novel proposition, surely"
said the old man with a smile. s.Do you
know what you are talking about, my
dear boyW
"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 I was earning
something, you know"
"Ill 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. s'This
is John Smith," he said. she will 90
to work as an assistant shipping clerk
tomorrow. His salary will be one cent
this month. Double it every month
from now on"
"1n consideration of my working for
this small salary might 1 ask you to as
sure me a position for q dciaitc period?"
inquired John Smith.
eve don't usually do that" replied
the governors; shut we can't loose much
on you anyhow, I guess, and you look
like an honest fellow. How long do
you want employment"
"Three years, sir, if agreeable to you"
Well, by Jove, 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 a paper that he had been guar
antecd a position in the house for three
years on the terms 1 have stated.
He worked along for six months with
out drawing a cent. He said he would
draw all his earnings Christmas. The
cashier n day thought 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 stag
gered him. This is the column of figures
he took to the old man. First month,
OF; second, .0e; third, .04; fourth, .Os;
fifth, 10; sixth, .32; seventh, "a eighth,
$1.2s; ninth, $3.50; tenth, S.. 10;
eleventh, $1o.24; twelfth, s2O.4s; thir-
tenth, $40. 90; fourteenth, $s1. 90; ff-
teenth, $685. "a; sixteenth, 1927. 6s;
seventeenth, $685. 6; eighteenth, 3d.
311.72; nineteenth, So, 623. "a; twen-
tieth, s., 247.0 s; t~wenty-irst, SO, 494,-
16; twenty-second, $40, 9ss. 80; twenty
third, $41, 076. "a; twenty-fourth, $751;
053. 90; twenty-ifth, $165, 900. Sc; twen-
ty-sixth, 1881, s13. 10; twenty-scventh,
1908, 6s6. "a; twenty-eighth, 81, 1877, 252.-
49,; twenty-ninth, So, 654, 5O4. 90; thir-
tieth, 81, 900, COS. 90; t~hirty-frst, S.
61s, 019. "a; thirty-second, ST., 1886, 0s9.-
So; t~hirty-third, $s4, 47s, o7s. SO; thirty
fourth, sos, 944, 156. 72; thirty-ffth,
$137, 1888, 1884; thirty-sixth, $s75, 77e,-
626. SO; total salary for three years,
$3.50, 554, 1856 |.
The governor nearly tainted when he
understood how, even if he was twice as
rich as Vanderbilt, he would be ruined
in paying John Smiths salary.
He concluded to discharge the modest
young man at once. Smith had figured
up how much would be due him, and re-
minded the old man of his written
agreement. Rather than take chances
in courts and let everybody know how
he had been duped, the governor paid
Smith IS, 900 and babe him goodbye.
I've heard he tried the same dodge in
Chicago after leaving here.-Courier
Journal.
Rnelnass Com, ltcotI