The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-05-27
SEEING OPPORTUNITY.
SOMETHING ELSE NEEDED.
John Grant Had It.
Youths Companion.

ONthS COnlpUUJOH.
John Grant, strong, healthy boy,
eighteen years old, fairly good-looklng'
having an English high-school educa-
ton, quick perception OF business
methods and one years experience in
large business establishment, had at
tanned to the wage of four dollars
week, and had no prospect OF advance,
so far as he could see.
The situation was freely discussed at
home. His father was willing that
John should make change if he was
convinced that he could do better, SO
after reading advertisements, looking
about the city for several days and talk
ing with friends, he found an opening
In large retail and wholesale hardware
store. The salary would be but two
dollars week TOR the first six months.
Mr.. Williams, the junior member OF
the firm, said to him, II cannot pro-
mise you anything definite. The bust
ness is good one to learn. You can
make yourself useful man to US by
becoming thoroughly acquainted with
all the details of the business, and as
fast as you prove yourself capable we
will recognize your services In some
way. We have already several bright
Young clerks, young men who have
learned the business, and their advance
ment would naturally come first. If
YOU wish to come under these condi-
lions, the place is open to YOU"
John accepted the position because
it offered him some chance OF advance
ment, and as the complicated details OF
the business became more and more
familiar, he felt that he was making
progress. Yet dozen others in the
business were just as bright, and ap-
parently had made the best use of their
opportunities. Still he kept looking
for some chance to do more.
By watching closely for several weeks
every detail, he noticed that large lots
of goods were constantly coming from
abroad, and that Mr.. Williams always
attended to the checking of the bills
and marking the goods. This seemed to
him strange, for Mr.. Williams was a very
busy man, and had enough to do with
out looking after such minor matters.
John soon found, however, much to his
dlsmay, that these bills were made out
in French or in German, and that no
one in the store but Mr.. Williams could
decipher them.
John was not afraid of even two such
formidable Toes as French and German.
He purchased textbooks and commenc-
ed to study at once. By constant APP
plication, he was able at the end Of the
year to make out bill Of goods in
either OF the languages. He obtained
access to the old bills, and made a
special study of them. All this time
he was giving his very best work IN the
store, and often helped Mr.. Williams
in arranging the foreign goods.
One day larger assortment than
usual came in, much to the dismay of
Mr.. Williams, who exclaimed, ~ don't
see how can spend the time to mark
these goods"
"Let me do it," quietly replied John.
"You?"
eyes, sir, 1 think l can do it cor
rectly."
"But these bills are in French"
II know 1t, and have been studying
French and German. I think I can
read any bill that we have ever had"
"WelI, try it and see how you make
out"
Mr.. Williams watched him for
while, and then said, "You seem to
know what you are about. If you can
do this, all right. 1t will relieve me
more than / can tell"
John did the work 80 satisfactorily
that at the next importation the bill
was handed to him as a matter of
course.
One day, month later, he was called
into the Office and interviewed by both
the active members of the firm. The
senior member said, "In my forty
years experience in this business you
are the first boy who has seen this op-
portunity and improved it. I always
had to do the work until Mr.. Williams
came, and one reason why he became a
member of the firm was because he
could attend to this part of the bust
ness. We want you to take charge of
the foreign goods. It is an important
position in fact, 1t is matter of neces-
sity that we have some one who can do
this work. You, only, of the twenty
young men we have here saw the place
and fitted yourself for It, We cannot
pay you yet as much as we may
pay you later, for it Is necessary to
prove your staying qualities, but we
have little doubt they Will be shown In
due time. For the rest of the year we
will paw YOU ten dollars a week. At