Middletown transcript., 1895-10-19

gretful dismissal-reason unassigned
Matt was so careless in his dress, ,an(
his hands were SO evidently at homs
with the dust oft earth, that, Will
a short lecture on cleanliness, he was
summarily dismissed.
| Joe Mccarthy was too rough. The
clerks complained OF his insolence
within half All hour. And Tim Nc
Carthy, his cousin, proved an invet-
crate liar.
So they came and went, good lin
spots), bad and Indifferent.
1t was almost two weeks after the
sign had first gone up that Charley
Winchester applied to the office.
In all that time no boy had seemed
to suit. Evidently the need was not
a pressing one; there were plenty of
clerks. seemingly, and fairly good er-
rand boy. The Adams store seemed
able to exist without that peculiar
kind of a boy, and yet its owners were
still on the warpath. apparently search
ing for some as yet unheard of speci-
men of boyhood.
Charley had thought of applying al
first. He was attening school, and
working hard and steadily every mo-
ment outside of school hours; for the
Winchesters were poor. altho they had
once known better days. That pow
erty is the hardest of all to bear, as
Charley we'll knew; aud it was his hope
and his aim to bring about brighter
times as soon as he could.
He was anxious to be in school; for
he realized that his education would
fit him to fill higher position than he
coul1 find without it. But after a
talk with the principal, with the min
lister, and leader of night school, he
found that he could advance as rapidly
by attending the evening classes, with
the addition of two studies in which
the principal could still allow him to
continue, as tho he were to remain In
the High School. And he had learned
from the other boys that the sub-clerk
was to have two hoursa day free for
school work; for Mr.. Adams knew
very we'll what was the value of an
education.
About ten O'Clock on Charley's first
morning, Mr., Adams, Sr., came down
the store to the counter, where his
young sub-clerk was doing up little
bag of nails for Johnny Smith.
Charley smiled pleasantly at the lit
tie fellow and he evidently was as
courteous to such customers as to their
dignfied elders.
"Oh, by the way, Winchester" said
Mr.. Adams, 81 wish you'd tackle the
old back store room, the ell to the
large store room we use now. The
old one has been waiting some time for
a good cleaning out. You can begin
when you see chance, some time" I"
That was leaving Charlie quite mar
gin; and Author or Tom, his prede.
cessors, would surely have put it of
until a more convenient season-till
tomorrow, at any rate.
But Charlie soon found out from the
clerks that be was not needed in the
store, and would not be, probably, fol
the rest of the morning, and he went
at once on his fatal expedition. He
discovered the same chaos which had
conquered the explorers before him,
but he set resolutely to work. He
could not help wondering at, and
rather criticising, the carelessness oi
his employer, tho be tried to excuse
him as far as he could.
81 suppose he has SO much to attend
to,n he said to himself-there was nc
one else, unless you counted the rats,
who now and then scampered out
from their hiding places to too see who
their invader was, to whom he could
talk. "But if were the proprietor, I'd
see that my clerks or somebody, kept
things in order, if didn't do it my
Self"
Nevertheless, Charley determined
that order must be restored, even at
this late day; and how he did work
All the rest of the morning he rolled
and piled the barrels and boxes, until
he had the "center of the deck cleared
for action" as he put it. Then what
do you think he tried next? Something
that boys don't especially enjoy.
And how Mr.. Adams eyes danced,
when he looked in about noon, to see
young Winchester down on his knees
scrubbing with all his might
Charley Strengthened himself with
as dignified an air as possible under
such circumstances (his sleeves were
rolled up, and he was wearing ~ an
apron large dus ting cloth which hap.
pened to be the only clean thing An.
derson, one of he clerks, cuuld find fol
him). lie flushed g little, nut tried to
make his greeting very quietly court.
eous and Indifferent.
SIT is rather damp here for you, ]
fear, Mr.. Adams. You will find that
place rather soapy. Pm just letting
the soap sink in on that spot as the
only way to take it out. Towards the
left you will find it drier, l think"
| There was little defiant ring in the
boyish voice, but Mr.. Adams could
easily pardon that. He knew that
boys do not especially enjoy being
caught in such attire or doing '.girl's
work." as some rather foolish fellows
ciloose to designate it.
Il He noticed that the windows were