, 1889-09-03
JOHN.

DOOkb ana pdpeTs 70 inc QuesIlOner, a
stalwart man, about 80 years of age,
poor, but genteel in appearance and re-
spectful in manner and speech.
'Takea chair, said the judge, politely,
motioning to one near him.
mo, hank you, sir; l prefer to stand,
If you please. This door was open and /
made bold TO walk in. / knocked several
times on the door frame, but you didn't
hear me. / came just to ask if you need
a man to do any sort of work about your
place? If you do not I'll not take up any
more of your time, as l see you're busy.
But ] hope you do. sir; l need work
badly"
You are a stranger in Pixley, are you
notI' asked the judge, leaning back in
his chair.
Partly so. lived here years ago"
your nameg'
"Call me John"
your surnamey'
81 would like you to call me just John,
sir, if you please"
Don't you know, my man, that with
holding your name is not n good recon-
m%endation, and very likely to make an
unfavorable impression?n
81 know it, sir, but if you'll only try
ne, / think you'll find that my faithful
less and desire TO do everything right
2 will make up for the rest of my name"
Something about the mans bearing
iml appearance strongly impressed Judge
Parker, inspiring a desire to know more
of him, and he said:
"Well, I'll tell you candidly that / like
your appearance and manner, but when
n man refuses to give his name, there's
always something wrong"
"There is something wrong, sir-Ill be
honest with you-there is something
wrong with the name, but not with me
not now. | could easily give you a
false name. Isn't the fact that / don't
give one, some sign of honesty, and won't
you please look at that as n recommended
ton. sirl'
at is an indication, certainly" re-
sponded the judge. "Now it just hap
pens that l do need n man about my
country place here; need one badly. Sum-
mer is upon us, bringing n great deal of
work to be done about the grounds. l
have n man for the stable and horses, so
the new hand would nave to do the rough
woodworking the lawn, raking. weed
ing, saving wood, keeping the grounds
III OIutIt running tIIdlluS anu 30 Oh.
Would you be willing to do that?'
Certainly, sir" John hopefully re-
sponded. 'Td be only too glad if you'll
try me-
"But you are an able bodied young fell
low who could make at some trade much
more than l could give you for the work
mentioned, and if l mistake not your APP
pearance, you have had higher aims than
this sort of work"
"That is all true, sir; l could make
more at other work, and 1 have had
higher aims, but you've seen how mis-
fortune steps in sometimes on our aims.
But I'd be glad to do such work as you
said for the summer, if you'll only give
me n trial"
"What are your terms?'
''That is not important, sir
"Not important? Why, my man, it is
becoming plain to me that you nave some
object other than this work; some plan
which such n position is to subserve.
Haven't your"
mot exactly a plan, but / have a rea-
son for coming to you that I'd rather not
tell, if you please. It's not n wrong pur-
pose, and l hope you won't refuse me the
work on its account"
at gives rise to unfavorable suspicious,
though. An unusual number of things
are against you. You refuse to give your
name, you seek work plainly beneath
your abilities, wages are u"nimportant,
and lastly, the work is not YOU chief OBJ
ject. You must certainly be aware that
these would be good grounds for turning
you away"
81 am aware of that. sir, and wasafraid
that when l came to you hat l would
appear in a bad light, but I concluded to
be honest about it anyhow. Try me,
though, sir; you'll not regret it. l want
the place sorely; more han l dare tell.
I'm in distress. 1 nave nothing else to
say. My appearance is my only recon-
mendation. If that won't do Unjust 60"
He looked pleadingly at the judge,
who, rising, came from behind the desk,
and standing close to the applicant, said:
"Well. John, let me tell you that your
candor and evident truthfulness have
impressed me very strongly in your
favor, despite the appearance against
you I'll try you for u month, but you
must not complain if you are denied
certain freedom and privileges that
would be accorded aman who has proven
himself trustworthy, or if your actions
are more closely watched"
i've seen those consequences, sir, and
it's all right. They are to be expected
under the circumstances, and l won't
complain. Do as you please with me
till you feel | can be trusted. Show me
the work at once, sir, if you can. 1
| couldn't find words TO thank you, sir,
even if you had time to hear them. My
work must show you how grateful
lam"
Downing a broad brimmed straw hat,
Judge Parker conducted the new man
out over his spacious estate, indicating
what work would be expected of him,
and set him to do some wedding at a
spot in sight of his study windows.
He then returned to his papers and
books, but as the afternoon wore on, he
cast frequent glances through the win
dow at John. 1t was plain that he had
become deeply interested in the man
whose history had been SO candidly and
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