Middletown transcript., 1901-05-04

'sYou don't seem to be In any hurr,
this afternoon" said the book-keeper.
sDo YOU think | could see Mr.. Wiltol
before go?'
"What is your errand?' asked th'
book-keeper, curiously.
Il thought as l had been here a yea
to-day, he might be willing to raise m!
salary"
Il advise you not to ask" said th'
book-keeper. Business is only so so
| and YOU are fortunate not to be Gu
/ down."
But Robert had special reason TO
preferring his request. His little siste
was sick, and his mother, who derived
some income from making vests for
CITY tailor, was unable to do as much q
usual, and the result was they were hare
pressed for money to buy absolute neces
saries.
Then, again, in week the monthly
rent came due. 1t was but six dollars
but that seemed large sum to Rober
and his mother.
Mr.. Wilton sat in his counting-room
when Robert entered.
"What can I do for you, Robert?' be
asked
'Mr. Wilton, it is year to-day since
l entered your service
The merchant began to frown. Al
ready he anticipated what was coming
He had just been figuring up his profits
for tie year. They exceeded twenty
thousand dollars, but still they were two
thousand behind the profits of the pre-,
vious year.
This annoyed him for he confidently
expected to do better.
"What then?" he asked curtly.
II thought you might be willing to pay
me little more salary"
GLOW much do pay you now?'
''Three dollars and half week" /"
"a very fair salary for these times,
Robert. The fact is, business has fallen
off, and have not done as well this year
by couple of thousand dollars as did
last year,
Then you can't raise meP' asked Rob-
ert, in tone of disappointment.
Certainly not. Most men are cutting
down wages. l won't do that, but can't
advance you. In another year, if things
are favorable, | will pay you something
more"
Another year! It was long time to
wait when money was needed SO much.
Robert felt that there was no more to be
said, and he turned away slowly, his
face clouded by sadness. Mr.. Wilton
watched him as he went out, and felt a
little twinge of regret.
'It wouldn't have cost me much to pay
him dollar week more-only fifty-two
dollars" lie thought. "Still / must con-
slider the principle of the thing. Why
should he receive more when l am get
ting less?"
Mr. Wilton might have considered that
TO him a small diminution Of his large
income meant no loss of comfort, or even
luxury, while with Robert it was very
different
He was not hard-hearted man, but he
was disposed to take a selfish view of
,,.bo4 o,.o, n oEfoo+od Nc o,rY ;p+aracfo Tho
sight of poverty and privation made him
uncomfortable, and he therefore made
it a practice of shutting his eyes and
ignoring them.
1t did occur to him that Roberts
family was probably poor, and he knew
that three dollars and half would not
go very far; but, "of COURSE" he said to
lit isn't for me to worry myself
how other people manage. l should
have my hands full if went into that
business"
Robert went home slowly. He would !
have hurried if he had good news to inn
part, but his application had been fruit
less.
At last he reached the humble dwelling
in the outskirts of the city in which his
mother and sister lived. His mother
opened the door for him. She noticed
the sadness of his look
"You failed in your application?' she
asked, anxiously.
eyes, mother. Mr.. Wilton said busi-
ness was not as good as year ago, and I |
must wait another year. If he hau only |
added dollar a week to my pay it would |
have almost paid the rent"
Mrs. Harvey sighed.
"Well," she said, ''there is no help for
It. If Alice RECEIVERS her health soon, /
IAN do more work for the tailor, tut at
present, she takes up great deal Of my
lime"
GLOW is she, mother"
"She feels little better. She has been
asking for oranges, but had not cent
% spare, and the poor child must go
without"
Mother" said Robert, decidedly, "it
S very evident that l must earn more
money. After supper will go out and
zee if I can't pick up little money for
extra work"
"What extra work can you find to do,
my son?'
II don't know, but can look about"
Robert did as he proposed, but returned
nome after two hours unsuccessful.
"Neyer mind, mother" he said, "I'n
ry it again tomorrow. If my employer
won't raise my pay I'll see if one way or
mother can't make up from fifty cents
% dollar week"
"But it will be too hard for you, Rob-
,rt."
"Pll risk it, mother"
The next day was Saturday. Accord
ng to custom some of the business men
n the place closed their stores or Offices
It four O'Clock in the afternoon, to allow
heir clerks little space for recreation.
1t was in the winter season, and the
Joys congregated in large numbers at