Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1890-02-21


for hope is as great beautifier as fresh
bonnet strings, and when reaching No.
- street she climbed the long and
rather dirty stairs until she reached the
Office of Cozzen e. Co., with hopeful
heart.
The door of the room stood open. The
opposite roofs were visible through the
unshaded windows. Some girls stood at
a table folding pamphlets; others sat at
another directing envelopes. Behind a
barricade of walnut desk and iron rail-
ing sat portly gentleman, bland. and
wearing a good deal of white hair, from
which pair of round, black eyes, and a
very round nose, blackened at the nos
trils with snuff, peered out and gave him
the appearance of one of those poodles
which bellies of years ago were fond Of
carrying about with them,
Another lady, with downcast eyes. was
gliding from the room; and another
woman, with rather a coarse manner,
tossed her head in indignation as she
pushed past the first,
Poor things! they have applied for
the place and have not got it," said
Phoebe; but she could not feel sorry.
The portly gentleman arose behind
his ratings as she looked toward him,
and bowed
"Wall in,' he said.
Phoebe also bowed politely.
Your advertisement she faltered,
Eyes, yes" said the gentleman, Il un-
derstand. We have had throngs of Ia
dies here. HIM! Sit down.
II do not know what your position is,
sir" said Phoebe, feeling very brave
almost like the son her father had al
ways wished for, she thought but !
can do my best. | have an education.
am church member. read great
deal. think can talk little ON sub
ject | understand. And amongst SO
many books'-she glanced at the shelves
-"I certainly should find the employ
ment congenial; only must 60 out of
town every night"
THAT would be very easy" said the
gentleman. You could arrange your
hours to suit yourself. You are exactly
the person we want. see in your face
that expression l look for in vain in SC
many observation-disclosures" The gentle
man gave little leap on his chair and
spread his hands abroad. "Nivacity!'
He repeated the action. "And with q
fine personal appearance. You are the
very woman we need. / speak in G
purely business way. We must think o;
these things. You suit us.
Could it be? Could il be: Phoebe
trembled with joy. Fifty dollars a week
her dreams realized-her father happy
Meanwhile the gentleman arose from hi.
seat.
"This." said he, taking q thick volume
from shelf, lis the volume"
Phoebe looked at it with a happy smile
and waited for more.
"Uave you ever taken subscriptions
asked the gentleman.
"No." said Phoebe: ''but T.
"Ah, yes. you will be very successful
l avn sure. said the gentleman. 1--WE
give you list of streets, numbers, names
of residents. You call with the book
ask to see Mrs. So and So, or Mr.. So and
So; send up your name; your card is
preferable. You rise when the person
enters; say How do you do, Mrs. So and
So? l feel that you would be interested
in this work and called to show it to
you. You then talk in such a manner
that the person subscribes for the book.
On receiving the money we give you the
percentage. You see:"
eyes" said poor Phoebe, who, under
the revulsion Of feeling, was on the verge
of fainting fit. "Yes. 1t is like the
man with 'Dosem's Family Medicine,
and the other books, who comes to our
house sometimes. But you give fifty
dollars per week."
Fifty, dear madam cried the man,
laughing and rubbing his hands gayly.
cat ten cents on each book you can
easily get hundred subscribers day
six hundred a week; sixty dollars for
the six days work. With your mesmeric
power-I see it in your eyes--you will
make more"
Poor Phoebe began to feel better. II
would be terrible work; not at all what
SIG SlipJOScb' Dut--tll1 tllluSf eiilN lAllIle Z
for father and the homestead!
This is a specimen copy" said the
gentleman. ''You buy this little book
for your names. 1t has a pencil attach
ed; twenty-five cents. And you leave
one dollar deposit for the book
SIS that necessary" sighed Phoebe.
swell, we exact it of ALL" said the
amiable Mr.. Cozzen. 'AVhat would you
have? We can't make exceptions; we
should offend Others"
Phoebe paid the dollar and quarter,
took the book and walked away, glancing
at the outline of her ''beat,' which was
far up town.
The book was a collection of receipts,
advice to youth, selections from Bryant's
poems and fun from old jest books. 1t
had also many patent medicine adver-
tisements bound between its covers, and
four or five portraits Of "beauties" with
their heads on one side and a simpering
smile upon their faces.
Poor Phoebe! she hoped against hope
as the street car took her up town, and
still cherished much more of that COM
forting emotion than could have been
expected, when her feet touched the red
hot fagstones of Fifty-seventh street,
and tho taIl residences stared down at