Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-10-21
THE STORY OF DAD.

Fifty years ago--long before my time
Dad entered the firm of Wentworth &
Son as Office boy Old Josiah was chief
then, and the firm did fine import trade.
1t was in George Wentworth's day that
Che house lost importance. George was
just about Dads age, and sometimes old
Josiah would bring him down and let
him play with the boy among the bales
and boxes, and that is how Dad and
George came to be such good friends.
Dads real name was Henry, and it
wasn't until he had been with the house
40 years that he was called anything else.
Then the young fellows rechristened him
and the name held.
Dads father was rather well to do
merchant in the retail line, and he APP
prenticed Dad to Wentworth & Son that
the boy might learn what business
really was But he went under be-
fore his time was up, SO that when
he was Of age the young man
thought Tho best thing he could do
would be to stick to the firm for awhile
at least, although the salary wasn't much
20 speak Of, for old Josiah was pretty
closefsted.
Dad was the most faithful fellow in the
world he used to come back to the office
after night and work, and make slave
of himself generally, TO please old Josiah,
and all he ever received in return was an
approving pat on the head from the old
man.
When Dad was about % or "a he fell
in love. I've seen picture of the girl,
and never saw O sweeter face. She vas
one of those confiding, clinging, sweet
little things who take notion a fellows
a hero and then won't give up the idea.
Annie thought Dad was the best and no
blest man in the world II believe she
wasn't far wrong), and simply idolized
him. Whatever Dad said was law and
gospel to her, and when she passed the
dirty little office she held her breath, it
seemed such sacred place because he
spent his time there.
One evening when Dad and Annie
were taking a stroll, he told her he loved
her and begged her hand, which she was
only too glad to give him; and they
would probably have been married soon
after If it hadn't been that Dads salary
was small SO he could only say:
"We can't be married at once, Annie,
dear; but expect the governor to do
something handsome soon, and we can
wait bit, can't we, dearest?"
-Of course. dear Harry" and Annie
Just put her hand in his and was very
happy. and 80 was he.
Poor old Dadl Often, when he called
on Annie, he met her with such cheer
ful smile that she would cry, "Oh, has
he raised your salaryf" and he would
shake his head and say, Not yet, but he
viii soon;" and Josiah, the old screw,
never thought of -raise, but chuckled
when he thought he was getting two dol
lars work for one dollars pay, and patted
Dad on the head. And any time Dad
could have had a much higher salary il
he had left Josiah; but he had queer
ideas Of being faithful, and stayed there.
And so year after year passed and lit
tIe Annie waited and waited, until one
day she died and left this world Of
trouble.
That shook Dad considerably, and
think he rather blamed old Josiah and
might have left him, for the truth was
Annie's heart had broken with hope de-
ferred but Josiah fen III and called his
faithful clerk to him. and told him how
thankful he was for his services, and that
he hoped that he would stay with
George, who was to run the business
lad stayed, and old Josiah died soon
after, and George was a gay fellow and
didn't half mind the business, so that it
dwindled down almost to nothing. George
didn't care much; he had enough 10 live
on handsomely without bothering about
trade. And Dad had nothing to live for.
except The firm, which he worshipped,
and he worked away, day after day, with
not thought Of anything beyond it. He
had little picture of Annie over his
desk, and whenever he had an extra hard
day he just looked up at that and smiled,
and then all was right with him.