Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1892-11-17
TAKING HIM DOWN.
"Now. Miss-er-er-M Miss
"Fosdick."

Thanks, very much! Now. Miss Fos-
dick, in commencing your work AS a
stenographer for the firm Of Poplin Z.
Son it is necessary for me to instruct you
as to your duties. | have charge of the
houses correspondence -entire charge.
My name, Miss Fosdick, is Nipple /"
Eyes, Mr.. Nipple. the girl replied
meekly.
''Iu the first place. Mr.. Ripple went
on, leaning back in his chair 50 as to ex-
pand his chest to its utmost capacity, and
and twisting the ends Of his mustache
both hands as he spoke; ''in the first
place, always insist Oh my stenograph-
er's taking me down verbatim ct litera-
tim. | suppose you know what that
means. It's Latin" he added conde-
scendingly.
eyes, sir
"Well, Miss Fosdick, | have had the
houses correspondence in my hands for
several years, and the Messrs. Poplin
have come torely implicitly upon me- In
deed | do not really see how this depart
ment could move along without me.
The girls gray eyes looked at the in
dispensable clerk with an amused
twinkle
~ think can say, Miss Fosdick, the
young man proceeded as he settled him
self more comfortably in his chair, ''and
think | can say it without the slightest
egotism or desire to boast, that have
made the letters Of Poplin & Son famous
throughout the business world as models
of English composition and ornate die
tion.n
The clerk watched the countenance of
his new assistant closely to note the
impression Of his words.
Miss Fosdick nodded understandings "
and smiled. 1t was a sweet smile, fer
she could not smile any other sort ha
she tried.
s'Those are the reasons why always
insist on absolute accuracy on the part
YoE my steil6S1ap apllet. 60 ilJ5 i55liAIfz
even the alteration Of single word or
any other change whatever. trust
you apprehend me clearly
"Quite SO. Mr.. Nipple.
Then we will begin
Mabel Fosdick's first days work was
perfectly satisfactory to the hyper
critical correspondence clerk. He found
himself taken down with unvarying
accuracy. In the transcribed letters,
too, the words were all spelled correctly.
She never ssruck the wrong character
on her machine-a fault SO common
among typewriters, and one which some
times helps to make typewritten com
munication resemble Egyptian hiero-
glyphics.
The firm of Poplin & Son had bee1
served by masculine typewriter, but
the style of the correspondence clerk had
become too oppressive for him. and he
had resigned.
This was exactly what Mr.. Hipple
wished, for he longed for a typewriter
with laughing eyes and golden hair
upon whom to lavish his flowers Of Ian
guage-such a being as he had read
about in the funny papers.
At last he had found one to suit him.
after much examination OF applicants,
in the person of Miss Fosdick.
Everything went on with apparent
smoothness for about month. The
members of the firm noted with ap-
proval the modest demeanor of their
new typewriter, and the other male
clerks in the establishment enyied Hip
pie his pleasant duties.
One day the elder Mr.. Poplin sent for
Miss Fosdick to come into his private
Office.
"Sit down, please, he said when she
arrived. II have here letter from my
friend Mr.. Shaw, OF Shaw q King, who
says that communication from this
firm contains much irrelevant matter.
Poplin looked over his glasses at Miss
Fosdick and found her blushing, with
her eyes cast down. He asked, not un-
kindly:
''Did you write letter to that firm
lately!"
YES, sir
"Then you know its character"
Eyes, sir"
what have you TO say about it,"
II wrote it down just as Mr. Nipple
dictated it, sir"
$50 supposed after reading it; but
is it not rather unusual to insert in let
ters extraneous remarks made during
dictation!"
HE has always insisted on being
taken down verbatim ct hteratim, sir,
the pretty typewriter went on with some
confusion. "and really, sir, Mr.. Nipple
ass annoyed me so much with his at
sentions and has refused to desist that
| felt must do something to crush him.
I'm sorry ! took the method | did
oughtn't to-oh, dear, what shall | dos'
And Miss Fosdick put her dainty cam
brio handkerchief to her eyes, and her
speech dissolved in tears. er.
"Therei therel my dear girl, don't
cry" said Mr.. Poplin soothingly..
He took her hand to assist i'll the COM
forting. operation and placed her head
on his fatherly shoulder. He was not
too old to make mental note Of how long
her lashes lay on her rosy cheeks, and
how dewdrops of tears oozed through
them.
"What am l doing?" Mabel exclaimed
as she bethought hefseH OF the picture
she and Mr. Poplin would present If
any one should come into the office. aud
she promptly raised her head
ssYou did just right, said Mr.. Poplin,
referring to her treatment of Mr. Nipple.
"The presumptuous rascal Never mind,
little girl-er-M Miss Fosdick. I'll settle
with Mr.. Nipple myself. In the mean
time you may take compile OF days off
Go home right away. and I'll SEQ that he
annoys you no more.
After the fair typewriter had put on
her wraps aud gone home Mr. Hipple
was called into the private office and
Mr.. Poplin asked him:
Are You in 6habit Of res.dii arc
signing the firms letters after the type
writer has taken them from your dictt-
ton and transcribed them, Mr. Hipples
When Mr. Pon1in took the extra tir1.