Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1897-10-04
A BOY WHO MADE HIS OWN
CHANCE.

OOnA d SOIOhS, hOo1ohJ w :,
eighteen years old, fairly good look
ing, having an English high school
education, quick perception of bust
ness methods and a years experience
in large business establishment, had
attained to the wages of four dollars a
week, and hadno 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
talking with friends, he found an
opening in a large retail and whole
sale hardware store. The salary would
be but two dollars week for the first
six months.
Mr.. Williams, the Junior member of
the firm, said to him:
ct cannot promise you anything
definite. The business is good one
to learn. You can make yourself
useful man to us by becoming acquain-
ted with all the details of the business,
and as fast as you prove yourself cap
able we will recognize your services
in some way. We have already sew
eral bright young clerks, young men
who have learned the BUSINESS and
their advancement would naturally
come first. If you wish to come un-
der these conditions, 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 that business became more and
more familiar, he felt that he was
making progress. Yet a dozen others
in the business were just as bright,
and apparently 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 MIR Williams was very busy man,
and had enough to do without looking
after such minor matters. John soon
found, however, much to his dismay,
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 foes as French and
| German. He purchased text books
and commenced to study at once. By
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 special study of them.
All this time he was giving his very
best work in the store, and often help
ed Mr.. Williams in arranging the
foreign goods.
One day much larger assortment
than usual came in, much to the dis
may of Mr.. Williams, who exclaimed,
81 don't see how can spend the time
to mark these goods"
''Let meido it,'' quietly replied John.
"You?"
eyes, sir; think I can do it COR
rectly."
sEBut these bills are in French"
/ T L
French and German. I think ] can
read any bill that we have ever had"
sWell, try it and see how yon make
out''
Mr.. Williams watched him for a
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 I can tell"
| John did the work SO satisfactorily
! that at the next importation the bill
was handed to him as matter of
/ course.
One day, months later, he was
called into the Office and interviewed
by both the active members of the
! firm. The senior member said:
I'm my forty years. experience in
| this business you are the first boy who
has seen this opportunity and i'm
proved it. I always had to do tho
work until Mr.. Williams came, and
one reason why he became a member
of the firm was because he could at
tend to this part of the business. We
want you to take charge of the for
eign goods. 1t is an important posi-
ton; in fact, it is matter Of necessity