The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-09-17
TAKING HIM DOWN.
W. II. sVitr IN smfG, Gray & cos Monthly.
"Nnw. Miss-er-er-NIiss=n

". II. SUicr IA SWih, tray d o. HohHH'
Now, Miss-er-er-Miss--"
"Fosdick."
Thanks, very much" Now, Miss
Fosdick, in commencing your work as
a s,enographer for tho firm OF Poplin &
Son, it is necessary for me to instruct
YOU as to your duties. l have charge OF
the houses correspondence - entire
charge. My name, Miss Fosdick, is
Nipple"
meekly.
"Iu the first place." Mr.. Nipple went
on, leaning back in his chair so as to
expand his chestto its utmost capacity,
and twisting the ends OF his moustache
with both hands as he spoke; "in the
first place, ALWAYS insist on my Ste
nographer taking me down verbatim ct
!iteratim. l suppose you know what
that means. It's Latin" no added, con-
descendingly.
Eyes, sir."
"Well, Miss Fosdick, ! have had the
houses correspondence in hands forsev-
eral wears and both Mr.. Poplins have
come to rely implicitly upon me. In
deed, do not really see how this de-
partment could move along without
me-"
The girls gray eyes looked at the in
dispcnsible clerk with an amused
twinkle.
81 think / can say, Miss Fosdick, :"
the Young man proceeded as he settled
himself more comfortably in his chair,
"and think l can say it without the
slightest egotism or desire to boast, that
| have mado the letters of Poplin &
Son famous throughout the business
world as models OF English composition
and ornate diction."
The clerk watched the countenance
Of his new assistant closely to note the
impression OF his words.
Miss Fosdick nodded understanding
" and smiled. II was sweet smile,
Tor she could not smile any other sort
had she tried,
"Those are the reasons why always
insist on absolute accuracy on the part
OF my stenographer. ! do not permit
even the alteration OF single word or
any other change whatever. trust
YOU apprehend me clearly"
"Quile so, Mr.. Nipple"
"Then we will begin"
Mabel FosdicK's first days work was
perfectly satisfactory to the hypercriti.
cal correspondence clerk. He found
himself taken down with unvarying ac-
curacy. In the transcribed letters, too,
tho words were spelled all correctly.
She never struck the wrong character
on her machine-a fault so common
among typewriterE, and one which
sometimes makes typewritten commu-
nications look like Egyptian hero
glyphics.
Thanks to Miss Fosdick's skill, Mr.,
Nipples specimens OF ornate English
composition went forth into the bust
ness world more faultlessly than ever,
and aided in making smooth the rough
places of commercial epistolary COM
munication.
The firm OF Poplin & Son had been
served BY a masculine typewriter, but
the style OF the correspondence clerk
had become too oppressive tor him, and
he had resigned. This was exactly
what Mr.. Nipple wished, for he longed
for a typewriter with laughing eyes and
golden hair, upon whom to lavish his
flowers of language-such being as he
had read about in the funny papers. At
last he had found one to suit, after
much examination OF applicants, in the
person of Miss Fosdick.
Everything went on with apparent
smoothness for month. The members
OF the firm noted with approval the
modest demeanor oil their new type
writer and the other male clerks in the
establishment envied Nipple his pleas
ant duties.
One day the elder Mr.. Poplin sent for
Miss Fosdick to come into his private
Office.
"sit down, please" no said, when she
arrived. Il have here letter from
my friend Mr.. Shaw, OF Shaw & King,
who says that a recent communication
from this firm contains much irrelevant
matter"
Popln looked over his glasses ut Miss
Fosdick and found her blushing, with
her head cast down. lie asked, not un-
kindly:
latelyW
Hes, sir"
"Then you know its character
Eyes, sir,
"What have you to say about it2"
~ wrote it down just as Mr.. Nipple
dictated it, SIR"
$50 | supposed after reading it; but is
it not rather unusual to insert in loiters
extraneous remarks made during dicta-
tion?"
"iie has always insisted on being
taken down verbatim ct literatim, sir"
tho pretty typewriter went on, with
some confusion; land really, sir, Mr.,
Nipple has annoyed me so much with
his attentions, and has refused to de-
sist, that felt must do something to
crush him. Pm sorry took the
method did oushtn't to-Oh, dear,
what shall do?"
And Miss FosdicE put her dainty
cambria handkerchief to her eyes and
her speech dissolved in tears.
"There! therel my dear girl, don't
cry," said MIR. Poplin, soo:hirgly.
lilo took her hand to assist in the
comforting operation, and placed her
head on his fa,horly shoulder. He was
not too old to ma>e menta! motto of how
long her lashcs lay Oh nor rosy cheeks,
and how dewI:ops oil tears oozed
through them.
"What am l doing?" Mabel exclaim-
cd, as she b,thought herscl. OF the pic
ture she and Sir. Poplin would present
ii anyone should come into the Office,
and she promptly raised her head,
"You did Just right, said Mr.. Poplin,
referrinr to her treatment of Mr.. Hip