Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-03-27
UNCLE SILAS' WAY.
A Satisfactory and Successful Civil-serv-
ice Examination.

A Satisfactory and successful CiNh-ScrN-
ice Examination.
"Tut-tut-tut!" exclaimed old Silas
Wetherel, as he entered his office, one
morning.
He had advertised for boy, and no
less than twenty applicants were pres
ent. After a cursory examination, he
dismissed all of them but three, who
were about the same age.
Two of them, Fred Baylis and Harry
st. Clair, were evidently the sons of
well-to-do parents. The attire of the
other boy, whose name was Charley
Benson, indicated that he belonged to
the poorer class.
"Well, / want but one boy" Uncle
Silas said, as he settled down into his
chair, a Eliminating look on his face.
''How am l to make selection?"
He was a stout, jovial, loud-voiced
gentleman, eccentric in his ways, par
tial to boys, and always ready to poke
fun" at them.
''We'll have civil-service examine
ton" he announced, u flash OF humor
Frightening his face. 'Where is the
Westminster Abbey OF American"
That was a puzzler, and the boys
glanced into one another's faces.
AT Cambridge" Frad Baylis hesitat-
ingly said.
"At Princeton" suggested Harry St.
Clair.
81 don't know" was Charlie Benson's
reply.
sQuestion number two," Uncle Silas
said. "How is the word 'so-met-i-mes'
pronounced?" and he spelled the word
with the pauses indicated.
"So-met-i-mes," replied Fred Baylis,
plunging headlong into the trap set for
him.
at is Latin, isn't itP" asked Harry ST.
Clair.
Il would pronounce it sometimes, "
said Charlie Benson.
Uncle Silas laughed heartily, and
Fred and Harry grew red in the face.
please hang up this picture" Uncle
Silas said, as he offered Harry St Clair
a small picture, and pointed to the wall.
No sooner had Harry complied than he
was ordered to return TO his desk.
'Where was it that twentY-seven
thousand men were killed by the fall
ing of a wall?" asked Uncle Silas.
1t was an odd question, and rather an
indefinite one.
81 don't know" frankly admitted Har-
ry st. Clair.
II never heard of such a dreadful ac-
cident," said Fred.
IAN account Of it is given in the BIZ
ble," quietly replied Charlie Benson.
Uncle Silas flung up his head in
pleased way.
"Where?" he asked.
SIN the first Book OF Kings. 1t hap
pened in the city of Aphek."
'How many Israelites were killed."
''None, SIR" replied Charlie. They
were Syrians."
"You are right, declared Uncle Silas.
He rubbed the end of his nose for
few moments, and then, designating
Fred, ordered him to hang up the pict-
ure. Fred complied, but thought it
funny proceeding.
''You may bring it to me again." I'm
Gle Silas said. The picture on his desk
once more, he asked: SIS this a correct
sentence: Your trunk has Gomez"
A short silence ensued.
''It is" said Fred Baylis.
at is" declared Harry st. Clair.
Uncle Silas looked at Charlie Benson,
who said:
at is dramatically correct"
'sBut is 1t correct?" asked Uncle Silas.
at isn't correct statement" Charlie
slowly said. "A trunk is an inanimate
thing. 1t can not come. To say your
trunk has been brought would be more
precise"
pretty well taken" Uncle Silas said,
laughingly.
.'Of course, 1 thought you meant its
grammatical construction" Fred re-
marked.
''It is a quibbs, (" declared Harry.
please hang up this picture" Uncle
Silas said, extending 1t to Charlie, who
complied with the request, and it was
not followed with another to return it.
Il am sorry that two Of you are to be
disappointed, Uncle Silas said. "But
how can help it9 There are three
nails in the wall Master Benson hung
it on the proper one, with delibera-
ton and an artistic eye. You will OBJ
serve that it is equally distant from the
corners Of the wall, and the same height
from the border that the other pictures
are. 1t was trifiing test, but there is
a good deal in it have concluded to
engage Charlie Benson"
IAN right" said Fred, rising. Good
for Charlie Benson; he scored one every
timeI"
Twas a fair field, aRd you won.
every timel good for you, old fellowr'
said Harry.
Tbs boys showed their admiration in