The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1902-02-14
BY DICTATION.
ny SAMUEL sAyIL rAarI>.


Copyright. 1900, by Daily Story Pub. Coz
There come moments in the life Of
every man when he stops and ihinks.
This does not mean merely that he
gives careful attention to some prob
lem Of the hour. but that he takes a
seriou. view of life as a whole; sur
vcys it: analyses it; tries to riddle its
meaning.
Such a moment had comcto Henry
Merton. Really there va. cause for
him to view life with satisfaction. but
a close study Of his face would have
told any keen obseryerthat he was not
altogether satisfied. The day marked
an epoch in his life-onc on which his
friend, were dropping in now and
then to congratulate him-forhe had
just been promoted to the position Of
general manager Of the Western Star
Fire and Marine Insurance company,
avoucern in which he had climbed up
from a start as office boy II years be-
fore.
But as he viewed his progress in
retrospect. his mind ran on something
like this:
"les. ! have done it. have reaped
the success | set out 10 win. but what
doc, il amount to after all: Ii has
been a long fight, and ] have sacrificed
a great deal to win it. Perhaps have
sacrificed too much. When ] began
a. a messenger boy Jim Perkins had
the start Of me by year. lhaye often
smiled up my sleeve at Jim since be-
gan to climb mp past him. First spe'
cial agent. then general agent. and
now general manager. and poor old
Jim !, still at his desk as a clerk. But
/ reckon Jim is happier than ! am for
all that. Thought 50 yesterday when
his wife came in with that pretty boy
OF iheir., just to see papa's new desk
in the new office. Somehow it made
me feel il ] were missing something
that a man needs TO make hi, life com.
plcic."
Then Mcrton's line Of thought wa.
interrupted. lie had been sanding
beside his desk with hi; hands crossed
under his coai-tail,,' watching the
tign.wri,cr who wa putting gold let,
tiers Oh Tie Windows Of the company,
handsome new offices. Tie sign.
writer was marking on the glas. il
letters bigger than those that spelled
the company. name: 'IIenry Merton.
General Manager"
%''lIcrc, my good fellow; that DOM
do, laid Merton, stepping forward to
the man'- side.
GLOW will you have il, sir::"
"Ju,t put that name in small let.
ter, and a little of at one side said
Merton. quietly. 1T will look bet.
ter"
That was just like Henry Merton
Few men in his business had more rea.
son 10 pride themselves on the attain.
mcrt of marked success. for he had
made hi, way in the world unaided
Bui there wasn't a grain of vanity il
him, He was a modest, subducd. nm.
assuming sort of a man. One wOult
guess it by looking at him. lie wal
tall. shapcly, handsome; but it wal
plainly to be seen that he was oh
liyiou, to his own comelincss as A.,
man. Vanity can be seen more read
lily in a man than in a woman.
This over, Merton began thinking
again. his thoughts taking a new
tangent. and one that surprised him
Il wonder if ambition is a self.l
thing: I've done well enough in
business way. and have no one t.
thank fori: but myself; but how man,
people are there who have anything
10 thank me for? There Miss Tray
err. who is the best stenographer
ever had in my office. She does NOR,
good in a month than I've done in /.
wears. She doesn't know that know
ii. but the reason | raised her salar,