Mower County transcript., 1890-02-05

osAo GOV oAo CAA"ucu tN0 long ana
rather dirty stairs until she reached the
office Of Cozzen & Co., with q hopeful
thear.
The door Of the room stood open. The
opposite roofs were visible through the
unshaded windows. Some girls stood
at table folding phanphlets; others
sat at another directing envelopes. Be-
hind barricade of walnut-desk and
iron railing sat q portly gentleman,
bland, and wearing good deal of white
hair, from which pair of round, black
eyes, and very round nose, blackened
at the nostrils with snuff, peered out
and gave him disappearance 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
and bowed.
''Walk in," he said.
Phoebe also bowed politely.
"Your advertisement she faltered.
eyes, yes," said the gentleman, II
understand. We have throngs of ladies
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 I
can do my best. have an education.
am a church member. I have read
great deal. I think can talk a little
on subject understand. And amongst
so many books"-she glanced at the
certainly should find the
employment congenial; only I must go
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 look for in vain in so
many observation-disclosures" The gentle
man gave little leap on his chair and
spread his hands abroad. "Vivacity!"
He repeated the action. "And with a
fine personal appearance. You are the
very women we need. speak in a
purely business way. We must think
of these things. You suit u.s.
Could it be? Could it be? Phoebe
trembled with JOY. Fifty dollars week
her dreams realized-her father hap
py! Meanwhile the gentleman arose
from his seat.
''This," said he, taking thick volume
from shelf, ''is the volume"
Phoebe looked at it with happy
smile, and waited for more.
"Have you ever taken subscriptions?"
asked the gentleman.
''No," said Phoebe; ''but -
"Ah, yea, you will be very successful,
I am sure," said the gentleman. I'VE
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 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 inter-
ested 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 a fainting fit. Eyes. tits like
the man with 'Dosem's Family Medi-
cine,' and the other books, who comes to
our house sometimes. But you give
fifty dollars a week?"
"Fifty, dear madam!" cried the man,
laughing, and rubbing his hands gayly.
"At ten cents on each book, you can
easily get hundred subscribers day
six hundred week; sixty dollars for
the six days. work. With your mesmer-
ic power-1see it in your eyes-you will
make more'
Poor Phoebe began to feel better. It
would be terrible work; not at all what
she supposed; but-any thing, any thing
for father and the homestead
'This is specimen copy" said the
gentleman. "You buy this little book
for your names. It has pencil at
tached; twenty-five cents. And you
leave one dollar deposit for the book, 1"
:Is that necessary7" sighed Phoebe.
swell, we exact it Of ALL" said the
amiable Mr.. Cozzen. "What would YOU
have? We can't make exceptions; we
should offend others.'' g..
Phoebe paid the dollar and quarter,
took the book; and walked away, glanc-
ing at the outline Of her "beat," which
was far up town.
The book was collection of recipes,
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