The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-02-13
A Business Lesson.

gether after business hours in hand
some office in Detroit, talking over the
months business.
Eyes, sir. It's impossible to get on
much longer without help. l work
cary and late, but the business grows.
You'll have 10 give me one of the boys,
as l asked you last month. 1t will
save hiring an assistant bookkeeper. /
can train the boy to fill the place. Both
Mills and Porter are wide.awake, hon
est boys; and both are pretty well up
in figures and the business. But Mills
needs the promotions; he's poor; Por-
ter's family is well-t0-do."
The bookkeeper was poor himself,
and was prejudiced in favor of his class.
Mr.. Helfy laughed.
"Tut, tut, Petelsl That isn't bust
ness. Business knows no partiaities.
Which is the better boy for the place?
That's the only question"
"Well, sir, there isn't much choice.
Mills is the carefullost boy ever knew
to obey orders exactly, and do all his
work, and more, too. He's slow but
good at figures, and he'll make solid
and safe business man some day. But
Porter has born business head; he's
sharp as a needle, with no end of tact,
quick to catch customer, pleasing and
popular and ambitious. He'll be
clipper some day-for himself, any
way"
"H'ml Well, you shall have one of
few days, and let you know my choice"
If the bookkeeper was prejudiced in
favor of Mills because the lad was poor,
L. ,lT aa;a IL; 4
in favor of Porter because Porter's
family were well.to-do, and had some
business influence. Mr.. Helfy liked
the lads alertness, his Ct nteel manners,
neat dress aud general popularity. Por-
ter inherited success; Mills was of a
slower, sturdier, long struggling family.
But Mr.. Helfy was conscientious
master; he meant to give each of the
boys an equal chance. For week he
watched them closely, his prejudice in
favor OF Porter increasing. The boy
was unusually bright and "taking,"
Mills was unusually painstaking and
thorough, but plain as poverty in his
apparel and manners, more safe than
sharp, and more useful than proposes
sing.
On Saturday afternoon Peters gave
Porter half dozen papers and parcels
to deliver. AS the lad was going out
Mr.. Helfy stopped him, saying:
"By the way, Porter, here's a note
you may deliver any time tot day. You
need not report at the office again until
Tuesday morning. Monday will be a
legal holiday. Good time to you, my
boyl"
Thank you, sir. hope you'll en-
JOY the holiday your self, SIR"
The note handed to him by Mr.
Helfy, Porter noticed, did not look like
business matter. 1t was not enclosed
in an Office envelope, but in small =,
white envelope. 1t might be private
social message; perhaps an invitation
to dinner.
AS the bright-faced, confident, we'll
dressed lad went briskly out, Mr.. Helfy
thought, " shall have to give him the
promotion. He'll be a credit to the
office. Yet l don't know. Mills does
as bright, pleasing, and well dressed as
Porter. He certainly tries harder to do
his level best; but it doesn't come as
easy to him by nature"
Half an hour later Peters sent out
Mills with parcels and papers. AS he
was about to start, Mr.. Helfy stopped
him and gave him duplicate of the
note taken by Porter, but addressed to
different name, with the same direc-
tions to deliver it, and that he need not
report again until Tuesday morning,
also wishing him happy holiday.
Mills responded
"Thank you, sir. If there should be
anything to report about any of these.
I'll come back and let Mr.. Peters know"
He evidently thought more of the bust
ness than he did of the holiday.
don't think there'll be any need
of your taking that trouble" said Mr..
Helfy. "Make your deliveries, and
then go and enjoy your holiday"
Yes, sir; thank you, sir"
After delivering his papers and par
cells, Saxon Porter went to the hotel to
which the note be bore was directed
and inquired for Mr.. Martin Gillespie
Mr.. Gillespie's gone away this after.
noon," said the clerk.
"Where to?''
81 don't know, but heard him speah
of spending the holiday with his sister
Mrs. Barton Brown, in Toledo"
After some further inquiries, Porter
took the trouble to go back to the office
and report to Mr.. Peters. Peters ex
amined the note. 1t looked outwardly
as though it might be social invitation
of some sort. Mr.. Helfy's apparently
careless directions about its delivery
strengthened this superstition.
However, to make sure, Peters tele
phoned to Mr.. Helfy's house, and got {
reply that Mr.. Helfy had gone out. He
would be informed as soon as he re-
turned that his note to Mr.. Gillespie
was not delivered, that gentleman hay
ing gone out of town. So Porter wen
off, impatient at the delay and tn,
trouble he had been put to. Peters
also presently went home.
Mills found at another hotel, the gen
tlenan to whom his note was directed
Delivering it, he waited to see if the
gentleman wished to make any answer
Mr.. Thorn read the note, said, " Al
right" and then asked, as Mills wal
turninp tn 90.