The record-union., 1899-02-26
Mr.. SELLERS VALENTINE.

Mr. Seller of the firm of Seller &c
Seller would have made quite an inter-
esting study for the physiognomistS
Big and round as a barrel and short
like an Esquimaux, he presented a COM
ical looking figure for man with so
serious a face He most beautifully set
into the background that old and much
| lauded theory of the physiognomis.s,
that a broad waistband portends a
broad smile, for his waistband was abb
normal to a degree that was positively
ludicrous, and yet he was the crankiest
Of cranky men. The employees of the
firm often expressed the opinion that
there never lived another man quite SO
downright cursedly mean as he.
Mr.. Lippman, the stock clerk, who
had grown gray in the employ of the
firm, said that not so much as a smile
had ever rippled the surface of his
ford face. But Mr. Graves, the book
keeper, told a different story. He had
once seen Mr.. Seller smile quite bland
ly and put his big fat hand to his mouth
and give wheezy laugh. That had
happened one morning long time ago
when a sweet faced girl whisked into
the office in answer to an advertisement
Tor a stenographer. On this occasion
Mr.. Sellers dull looking little eyes
twinkled merrily, and he bowed so low
that he lost his balance and fell for
ward into the wastebasket When he
rose from the midst of the scraps of
torn paper he put his hand to his
mouth and laughed just as Mr.. Graves
had often related to the other en-
ployes.
According to the bookkeeper's story,
the date Of this unusual occurrence was
the 31st of May, and, although Mr.
Lippman doubted its authenticity, he
knew that it was a matter of record
hled away among the books and papers
that chronicled the transactions of the
firm Of Seller & Seller, that this sweet
faced girl, who gave her name as Miss
Symperson, was installed in their office
on the 1st day of June at salary of
$40 week.
Although Mr.. Graves was a little boy
at that time, sweeping the office car
pet and busting the office furniture. his
memory stin retained many pleasant
recollections of the days that came and
went during Miss Symperson's stay.
for during the hours she worked Mr..
Seller was tolerable and, at times. even
polite and genteel. But one evening Mr..
Seller received a note which informed
MIN that on the following day Miss
Symperson would become Mrs. Hill:
and Mr. Graves agreed with Mr. Lipp-
man, that since that eventful period the
olg, tat merchant had never put him
self to the inconvenience Of cracking a
smile.
About twenty years later. when an
other sweet faced girl whisked into the
office of Seller & Seller in answer to
an advertisement for a typewriter and
informed the proprietor that a good
many years ago her mother had filed
the position of stenographer in his Of
flee, she was Informed that the fact
that her mother had been IN the en-
pioy of the firm in the past was no rec
ommendation whatever for the daueh-
ter who applied for a position at that
tlne, and that her chances of accept
ance depended solely on her ability to
perform the work satisfactorily.
On the following morning, the LIST of
January, the fair applicant was given a
trial and filled all the requirements to
the satisfaction of exacting Mr.. Seller.
She had not worked many days before
the awful monotony Of the noise on the
busy thoroughfare had ceased to annoy
Mr.. Graves, and he began to notice
that her presence was like a ray of
sunlight invading the dingy office Be
fore the middle of the month had
passed he had commenced to leave bon
bons and caramels on her cabinet and
she seldom came to work in the morn
ing without tossing him bouquet of
violets.
Strange to say, shrewd Mr. Seller had
failed to observe these trivial ex-
changes of mutual affection, which were
the harbingers of budding love. If
Miss Hill had taken time to eat her
bon bons and caramels during work
ing hours or if Mr. Graves had wasted
few moments pinning the bouquet
on the lapel of his coat, Mr.. Seller
would have noticed it, and their at
tention would have Immediately been
called to rule TO- which read as fol-
lows:
Your time and attention to your work
is required during working hours; let
ter reading, letter writing and consul
tation with friends afterward'
oQt CAUTIOUS MI 0IdN6S ana Q1Scco9t
Miss Hill laughed at rules as gayly as
lovers laugh at locksmiths. And so
the first month of the year passed and
the second came without Mr.. Seller even
suspecting that his bookkeeper and
typewriter We're more than casual ac-
quaintances
On the morning of February 18th Mr..
Seller sat at his desk looking over the
| morning mail Occasionally he took
from his waist coat pocket a massive,
| old-fashioned timepiece and glanced at
| the dial. There was a terrific look on
his face and as each moment fitted by
the burrows ON his brow became more
pronounced. Presently Mr.. Graves en-
tered and he turned upon the object
Of his fury.
George" he said, savagely, you are
just two minutes late this morning.
This is the second time 1 have had to
reprimand you for being late this year,
and if you are at all familiar with rule
| II you are aware Of the fact that from
| this date there will be a 5 per cent.
reduction in your salary
Il beg your pardon, Mr.. Seller" said
the bookkeeper, consulting his time
| piece, but 1t is just one minute to
seven by my watch"
Your watch, the devil!' roared Mr..
Seller. striking the desk a heavy blow
with his big fat hands. do you think
| that timepiece of yours regulates the
sun, moon and stars, or are you try
ing to intimate that this old watch of
mine, which has regulated the business
hours of this establishment for the past
forty years, is not correct?"
Il thought perhaps your watch might
have