Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-10-02
WORDS OF CHEER.

genteel IN appearance and respectful IL
manner and speech.
, Take chair" said the Judge, polite,
ly mOtioning to one near him.
No, thank you, sir; prefer to stand
If you please. The door was open and ]
made bold to walk in. | knocked several
times on the door frame, but you didn t
hear me. came In to ask if you need a
man to do any sort of work about your
place! If you do not II not take up any
more OF your time as ! see you're busy.
| But | hope you do, sir; | need work
badly"
You are a stranger in Pixley, are you
not! asked the judge, leaning back In
his chair
Partly so. lived here years ago
| ~ our name?"
John
Your surname?"
| Il 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 good recon-
lnendarlon, and is very likely to make an
unfavOrable impression 90
- know it, sir; but if you ii only try
me. think you'll find that by faithful
ness and desire to do everything right will
|
Something about the man s bearing and
appearance strongly impressed Judge
Parker, inspiring desire to know more
of him, and he said
well, I'll tell you candidIy that like
your appearance and manner, but when a
man refuses to give his name there's al
WAYS something wrong
There is something wrong, sir Ii be
with my name, but not with me-not now
] could easily give you a false name.
Ain t the fact that don't give one some
sign of honesty, and won t you please look
at that as a recommendation, sir?'
ut is an indication, certainly re-
sponded the judge. Now it just hap
pens that | need a man about my country
place here; need one badly. Summer IS
upon us, bringing a great deal of work to
| be done about the grounds. | have a man
for the stable and horses, so the new hand
would have to do the rough work-mow-
IN" the lawn, raking, wedding, saving
/ wood, keeping the grounds in good order,
running errands, and so on. Would you
be willing to do that!'
Certainly, sir, John hopefully respon-
ed. III 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 | could give you for the work
mentioned, and if | mistake not your APP
| pearonce, you have had higher aims than
| this sort of work"
That is all true. | could make more at
other work, and have have had higher
aims, but you We seen how misfortune
| steps in sometimes on our aims. But
I'd be glad to do such work as you said
for the summe-, if you will only give me d
trial"
wv hat are your terms?'
THAT is not important, sir
Not important? Why, my man, it is
becoming plain to me that you have some
object other than this work; some
plan which such position is to subserve
Haven you?"
Not exactly plan. bat have a reason
| for coming to you that d rather not tell.
if you please. It's not wrong purpose,
and | hope you won t refuse me work on
| its account.
1t gives rise to unfavorabe 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 unimportant, and
lastly, the work is not your chief object.
! on must certainly be aware that these
would be good grounds for turning you
| away.
Il am aware of that, sir, and was
afraid that when | came to you | would
appear in a bad light; but concluded to
be honest about it, anyhow. Try me.
though, sir; you'll never regret it.
want the place sorely; more than | dare
tell. I'm In distress. | have nothing
else to say. My appearance is my only
recommendation. If that won t do must
GO
He looked pleadingly at the judge, who
rising, came from behind the desk, and
standing close to the applicant, said:
We'll, John. let me tell you that your
candor and evident truthfulness have i'm
pressed me very strongly In your favor.
despite the appearances against you. I'll
try you for month. but you must not
complain if you are denied certain privi-
eyes that would be accorded to a man
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 not to be expected
| under the circumstances, and won't COM
plain Do as you please with me till you
feel that can be trusted. Show me the
| work at once, sir, if you can. | couldn' t
find words to thank you, sir, even if you
had time to hear them My work must
show you now grateful am" 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 spot in sight OF
his study windows.
He then returned to his papers and
books, but as the afternoon wore on. he
cast frequent chances at John. 1t was plain
| that he had become interested In the man
whose history had been so candidly and
honestly withheld. He could not tathom
the mystery with which the applicant
chose to envelope himself, but he trusted
that his purposes were honorable, though
| he was somewhat suspicious.
Judge Parker was large-hearted man
| widely known and beloved for his GEM
ality, benevolvence and uniform justice
| The humblest citizen, if worthy, might
apply to him for help, certain of patient
response and hearing. Knowing that his
| liberality had drawn to him many I'M
worthy applicants, he now suspected that
John shad some design upon his phllan-
thropy, and accordingly believed he need
ed watching.
1 But each glance through the window
| showed John working lndustrlously, with
an earnest vigor and care that cut the
sharp edges from his suspicion.
And so he worked throughout the trial
month. Faithful and pains-taking in
terest were stamped upon each detail of
his work, many persons commenting to the
judge upon the improved appearance of the