The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1896-02-15
A FASCINATING GHOST,

Knows now to spell, and who writes
a good hand, to do copying in the
country for two or three months.
Must remain in employers house.
Address, in own hand, stating what
salary is expected, X, this ofice.''
This was an advertisement cut out
of the Evening Post one spring after
noon. For half an hour had stood
the vociferous offerings of ''Fourth
Editions" and "Extras" without
number, and for half an hour sheets
of various political compilations had
been thrust under my nose without
effect, for I had been out of employ
ment so long thatmy stock Of money
was nearly exhausted, and it had
been a good many days since I had
allowed myself the luxury of a paper.
But, at last, [ was over-persuaded
by a very small but remarkably
pertinacious newsboy, and for fear
of other temptations, put the paper
hastily in my pocket and went home.
In the old days 1 had been book
keeper for the late concern ofSimpson
& Co., and while with them I had
been getting a good salary, and, to
my sorrow be it said, lived pretty
well up to it; so I made nothing by
the failure of the concern, and lost
my place as well, l had to come do wn
very low. I had saved a little, more
by good-luck than from forethought,
and this little, used with the strictest
economy, and added to by a few
pounds made here and there in odd
ways, was all that had kept me alive
for eighteen months. However, [
didn's feel quite disposed to go to
the dogs yet, for there was always a
chance Of something turning up in a
great city.
AS | looked around the room that
evening realized how bare it was Of
either furniture or adornments; how
unlike-Ah, we'll, there was my paper;
and unfolded it with all the glee Of
a child over q new story-book. There
was, of course, the usual political
news, the usual number of railway
accidents and criminal proceedings;
there were items of interest to invest
ors and theater-goers and travellers,
but nothing for me, I had no money
to invest, or for theaters, or travel
ing. So 1 skipped all that and went
on to the advertisements, and the
only one of them all worth reading
twice was
"WANTED-A young gentleman
who knows how to spell, and who
writes a good hand, to do copying
in the country for two or three
months. Must remain in employers
house. Address, in own hand stat
ing what salary is expected, X, this
office.''
l read it two or three times, and
then decided it was worth trying. So
I hunted up a sheet of paper. and
addressed x as follows:
"MY DEAR Mr., MRS, or Miss X: l notice
your advertisement in to-day's issue of the
Evening Post: My handwriting you can see
for yourself; My spelling, think, is usually
man. AS to salary, don't know what to
say-l don't wish to value my services at
more than they're worth. Should you mean
by remain in employers house. that
would be boarded and lodged at your ex-
pense, my price-that is, asking price-is one
JAMES W. WoLCoTT."
The next afternoon I heard from
my friend X, who proved to be a
man. His letter ran thus:
"jAMEs W. WoLcorr, ESQ.,
"MY DEAR SIR:-You may be gentleman,
write good hand and know how to spell,
but you're a fool enclose seventy cents,
the fare to-. You will take the 7 A. NJ.
train tomorrow morning from the Central
Station, and when you arrive at--, ask for
my carriage, as it will be there to meet you
Yours, etc..
''SoI.. HUMpHREYs''
Sol. Humphreys!-the last man in
the world l would voluntarily have
written to, and for employment, too!
Two years before I had a very nice
little Irritation with pretty Mabel
Humphreys, and it had gone so far
that if the crash in my affairs had not
occurred, I believe there might have
been an understanding, if not an en-
gagement. But as it was, Iput away
all thoughts oflove and love-mak-
ing, and dropped pretty Mabel very
suddenly, without any kind of an
understanding, and I had not seen
her since. And now to think
I had fairly got myself into it
again! But, reflected, I might not
see much ofMabel after all. So much
the better. Bread and butter was a
necessity, and I would go and make
the best of it.
The next morning caught the
train, but missed my breakfast, and
by the time I rea ched the house I
was decidedly hungry.
Mr.. Humphreys met me at the door,
and T WAS nleased tn 500 he. did NOT,