Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1892-06-22
A PATHETIC STORY.
He Went Down with the Firm and Died
q Sandwich Man.

the safe and then replaced them.
There were twenty-seyen of them in all,
and in the making of each of them he
had had part.
Half mechanically he mounted the
well-worn stool again and gazed through
the little glass window utinto the great
warehouse for the last time.
The rooms were empty and deserted,
for the bailiff's sale, held three days be-
fore, had cleared them ettectually of
their stock.
81 want you to see the last of Twichell,
Glance & Co., Ham," the senior partner
had said that morning, when he
been with us since the beginning, and
| dare say you'll like to see the old firm
out. We're all in the same boat, how
ever-you, who have lost the few little
hundreds that you saved from your
salary, and /, who have lost my many
thousands. The whole concern has
gone to the bottom, Ham, and the shoe
pinches equally all round.
eff nv name will be of any use to
you-though it is not held in the great
est esteem at the present moment" he
added, with bitter smile, "use it, of
course. But then, with the wide eN-
perience you've gained since you've
been here, people will be only too glad to
snap you up"
"Ah, yes, sir" Ham had answered,
"but / amt what 1 used to be, you
know. 1t amt that I'm SO old amt
so as yet; but the doctor says if | don't
have lots of fresh air it's only question
of time"
"Confound the doctors! They're
lot of croakers. You're all right tor an
other half century. Now, goodbye,
Ham, and good luck to you"
He held his hand out, and, as old
Jared Ham grasped it, the senior part
ner, whose mad extravaganza and fool
hardy tactics had brought the old firm
to shipwreck, seemed to fade away, and
in his place there stood a curly haired
little fellow, who used to come down to
the office with his father now and then,
"God bless you, Master Charlie !"
Ham had said; and then. waving his
hand airily to him, the senior partner
had taken his leave.
Ham was free noW-of for an indeti-
mite holiday, at nobody's beck or call.
Years and years ago, when he had first
come to the city from his Hampshire
home, he had dreamed of time of this
sort, when he should be absolutely his
own master.
Only he was to have been rich man,
according to the dream, and not book
keeper out of employment, with lit
tie less than ego to his name.
If the old people had been alive he
would have gone back to them, confident
even thus late in the day of loving well
come home. But they were dead, and
there was only Rosie who would care
about seeing him now-and Rosie was
married.
And he knew that it was all his own
fault-that was the worst cut of all. If
he had only written now and then, or
gone to Hampshire when his holiday
came, things might have turned out diff
ferently. But there was no use of talk
ing Of that now.
"Just think" he said to himself;
"supposin' I was to die now, there amt
a livin' soul but Rosie would care a bit.
Likely as not she'd never hear of it,
and as | amt got money enough for
gravestone, after my funeral expenses
are paid, wouldn't be bit better off
than them poor creatures as lies in pau
pers' graves"
Days passed, and weeks, but he heard
of no opening. His funds ran very low.
Help came that night from very I'M
looked-for quarter.
On the floor below him lived an old
man and his little boy and girl. Ham
and the children were great friends.
He used to spend the greater part of
his spare time there helping the boy,
Leo, to sort stamps.
There was a hospital somewhere in
the country which had offered a cot to
any invalid who would collect million
postage stamps. 1t was the one ambi
ton of Leo's life now to gain that
prize.
But on the evening in question Ham
met Leo's father for the first time.
Cow de do, Mr.. Amp" he ex-
claimed, coming forward and shaking
hands. Il was just telling Leo as I've
just 'eard of situation as would suit
you nicely. It's open air work and
very ,ealthy. I'm in the same business
myself for a firm in Regent Street.
This situation is in Holborn, where the
waiking's particularly good, and I can
recommend the boards they use as be-
ing very light. I'm p sandwich man,
you know, and SO you'll be before long,
| 'ope."
It took Ham some little time to grasp
the situation. and it took him still
longer time to consent.
But it was no time for reflection. He
was happy here, and the thought of GO
ing out into the world again fairly ap-
palled him. so he accepted the position
and began his duties on the morrow.
Really, all things considered, after a
months trial, Jared did not fad it as
trying position as he expected. And
there was one great thing about it, it en-
abled him to help Leo.
He made friends with all the shop
boys along his route by degrees, and
got them to save all the stamped en-
velopes for him, and in the evening he
would take them away.
In return there were many little fav-
ors he did for them. There was one
little Office boy in the grocery at the
corner to whom he was boon. 1t was
part of his duties to add the accounts
up, and this formed the bane of his
small existence.
Sometimes he would be awaiting
him on the doorstep, and as Jared
passed, slip of paper covered with
figures and q pencil would be
pressed into his hand, while the boy
remarked, soto voice:
81 say, do it for a Teller, will yer?