Middletown transcript., 1902-09-20

4
mally developed. He had just returil5u
from the enjoyment OF hearty iuhun'
and was seated at his desk deep IN tne
pleasurable contemplation OF picture
in glass paper weight, Of two tiny NIUE
girls who called him ''papa." Business
had been prosperous, and enough con-
tracts were already made to insure steauy
labor for a full force of men for some
time to come. So there was not a thing
TO interfere with his mental satisfaction.
It was while he was in this state Oh
beatitude that Patsy Mulligan opened
the door and entered. Patsy was no.'
even by the greatest stretch of the imagl-
nation, a thing of beauty. his name
indicated his Hibernian origin but II
doubt had been raised, his fiery red halr'
his freckIed face, his large mouth, ms
snub nose slightly tilted, were IN tnelh-
selves indubitable proof that Patsy was
Irish. He closed the door behind MN
and waited patiently until Mr.. Andrews
looked up.
tsNeed a kid?" asked Patsy.
Mr.. Andrews gazed, with solemnity
he frequently affected, first at the dllap-
idated garments, all Of which were IN
uniformly tattered condition; then at the
freckled, good-natured face, shaded by a
torn straw hat through which appeared
stray wisps Of Patsy's red hair.
"Need a kid?' repeated Patsy, un-
moved by the close scrutiny to which ne
was subjected. ST wants job"
Mr.. Andrews suppressed something
that sounded very much like chuckle.
"Can you keep books?" he asked.
Patsy looked at him suspiciously.
"Naw," he answered.
'Can you set type?"
'fNaw."
"Can you run press?"
'say, quit your stringin'. Does you
want kid to chase errands, and make
hisself handy? I'm tired Of loafn'."
The bookkeeper, knowing Mr.. An
drews' disposition and understanding his
good humor, took part in the convera-
ton. He had been making entries in
large book, and turning half around,
asked in a serious tone: "How would
you like to be manager?
"say, sonny" answered Patsy, with
majestic wave Of his hand, "you keeps
right on wild your work. I'm talking
to de boss now. I'll attend to you later
Mr.. Andrews frame shook with sup
pressed emotion. The discounted book
keeper returned to his work.
Patsy eyed Mr.. Andrews calmly until
the latter finally recovered composure.
"Well," he asked, "does git de job?
Mr.. Andrews face became serious for a
moment. ''How would you like to learn
to set type?''
"Like de fellers dat does like dis?''
asked Patsy, initiating rather awkwardly
the motions of the compositor
eyes; would you like it2''
"sure ting, i: gets any pay"
The sudden determination of Mr.. An
drews was carried out. Patsy became
"cub' in the composing room, and the
next morning he was there bright and
early, ready to begin mastering the COM
plexities of his new business.
He had expected to be put right to
work at the case setting type, but ac-
cepted with resignation the foreman's
assurance that there were few things he
had to learn as preliminary to becoming
a compositor, just as the boy who had
preceded him and who was now setting
type had done.
He ran a great many errands the first
day, and also learned to operate the proof
press. In spite of the limited amount OF
ink he had to use in taking proofs, ne
nevertheless managed to daub himself
literally, to the intense delight OF Mr..
Andrews, who happened to observe him
as he went out at closing time.
The second day he was on familiar
terms with most of the compositors.
When he had a few moments freedom
between running errands and proving
the long brass galleys of type the print
ers had set up, he stood and watched
with open mouth and wide, blue eyes,
the rapid motion of the men at work.
He frequently was in the way, but he
was SO good-natured in his apologies that
the men did not mind.
Mr.. Andrews observed him, after, he |
had been there few days, watching the
compositors with an absorbed air.
"Well, Patsy" he asked, 'have you
learned how to set type yet2'
"Naw," answered Patsy. "I t'ink I'll
quit me job and drive truck. I can't
learn to do dat" and he pointed to the
busy compositors with most discour-
aged air.
Now, Patsy, don't give up SO soon,"
replied Mr.. Andrews, winking at the
men. "Have you learned the case YETI"
"You means where de dinky little
things 90? I knows de ''e'' box, and
where to put de not'ings." Mr. Andrews
had already heard of how Patsy had
quantity termed the quads and spaces
"nothings," because he could find no
characters on them, and he did not try
to suppress his own hearty laugh which
the printers took up.
Patsy's blue eyes opened wide, and his
teeth set hard.
"Watcher givin' me?" he asked in a
disgusted tone, "you're stringin' me.'
A little later Mr.. Andrews handed
Patsy card upon which he had pasted
plan of the cases that had been cut from
an old type specimen book.
"Here, Patsy, study this, and don't get
discouraged. 1t always seems hard to
the beginner"
Tanks, boss" exclaimed Patsy.
'fYou're all right"
Patsy" answered Mr.. Andrews sol
emnly, II t'ink you're stringin' me-"
Even Patsy joined in the laugh.