Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-10-01
A BOOKKEEPER.

ers his mouth with his muff1er bends
down his head, and, thrusting his
hands into his coat pockets, he sets out
for the Office, wnistling on the way.
Without doubt, a regular fog Not
so very thick in the streets, because,
in the heart of Paris, fog, like snow,
does not stay long. 1t is pierced and
torn by the many roofs, absorbed by
the walls, and gradually loses itself in
the interior of dwellings, even when
the doors are open, making the stair
slippery and the balusters moist. The
movement of many vehicles and the
passing to and fro of the early crowd
driven out to work by the pressure of
poverty cut it up, carry it away, dis
perse it, dropping it on the clothes of
the office boys, wetting the waterproofs
of the shopgirls and dimming their
thin, sIeazy wells.
But at the docks, still silent and de-
serted, on the bridges, the shore and
the river, it is still a dense, heavy mist,
opaque, immOvable, and the rising sun
behind the church of Notre Dame seems
shining like a night lamp through
furnished cover.
Despite the wind and the mist, our
good man follows the docks. He could
easily take another road to reach his
office, but the docks have mysterious
attraction for him. He seems to take
pleasure in walking along the parapets,
in grazing the stone balusters bearing
the elbow marks of lOunCerS
At that hour and in such weather the
lOungers are feW-only here and there
do we see a woman carrying a basket
of clothes leaning against the parapet,
or some poor wretch resting upon his
elbows and gazing into the water with
a weary look. Our good man regards
them a little closely-the water is so
conveniently near thenl-and there
seems to be in mis- mind some strange
connecting thought as he looks at
them and the river The river is not
cheerful this morning; the fog mount
ing between it's waves seems to deaden
the surface. The black roofs ON the
shore, with pipes iutting out unevenly
from the chimneys, gives a dim re-
Election of fog and smoke. Our good
man does not seem TO find this at all
melancholy. He is thoroughly drench-
ed with the driZZle, but he plods on
with a pleasant smile at the corner Of
his mouth.
Long long ago, he became accUS-
toned to these foggy mornings on the
Seine. Besides, he knows that a little
distance farther on, at his office, he
will find a snug, we'll lined foot warm
plate for his breakfast. These are the
joys of bookkeaper-a rrisonlike hap
piness known only to the poor stunted
creatures whose lives are passed III
dark corners.
81 must not forget to buy some
apples" says our good nan to himself,
from time to time. And he whistles
and hastens along. YOU have rarely
seen one hurry to his work more cheer
fully
Docks, and still nothing but docks,
finally a bridge, and we are behind the
Notre Dame Here the fog is much
more intense. 1t comes from three
points at once, almost blots out the
high towers of the church and gathers
in a thick mass at The angles of the
bridge, as if striving to conceal some
thing.
Our good man stops. He is at his
place of work Dimly in the dark
shadows We can distinguish some
forms on the sidewalk, bending over Or
waiting for some one. And, much like
the vendors at the hospital gates and
public squares, they have large fiat
baskets filled with oranges, apples and
crackers.
All, the beautiful apples, fresh and
rosy in the mist.
Our good man fills MS pockets, snlil
ing at the appleWOman, who shivers
with the cold though her feet are en-
cased in a foot warmer. Then he
pushes through the fog and touches
a door, opens It and crosses a small
court, where a cart is standing, with
the horse harnessed.
rs there anything for us this morn
ing?" he asks as he passes along.
YES sir, and something very gen.
teel. too"
Then he quickly enters his office. 1t
is very warm and comforta BILE there;
the stove crackles. in the corner, the
footwarmer is in it's place, and his arm
chair is waiting for him close up to
the window in a good light.
The fog makes a mellow curtain
over the window panes, giving a mild
and uniform light Big ledgers with
green backs are ranged in order on
their shelves. One would say a
notary's Office and study.
Our good man breathes at ease. He
is at home. Before beginning his work
he opens a large closet, takes out pair
of heavy silk sleeves, which he draws
on carefully; also a little red plate and
some pieces of sugar. He then peels
his apples with an air of satisfaction
The fact is one could hardly find a mor2
cheerful little Office better lighted or
arranged in sucn good order. But, sin
gularly enough, one hears the noise of
water everywhere; it surrounds you
enyelops you, very much as if you were
in the cabin of a steamer.
Below you the Seine rolls and tum-
bles at the arches of the bridge, max
ing heaps of foam at this point, always