The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-12-30
CHAPTER ]

Tell you Its no use to grumble
jackson, you won get a day off,
why note"
Because the old man has never done
such thing in his life. Let his clerk
off on Christmas day, why he sooner
think OF cutting his right hand"
We'll" said jackson. airly, "Ihl get
a holiday Dec. 25 or know the reason
why"
"Then my dear Jackson smiled
Grimes, the head clerk, you'll most
proba bly, know the reason why
"All right we'll see. returned Jack.
son as he went home to supper,
The above conversation took place
in one of the largest banking houses in
Wall Street, MIR. Skinflint, or Old Skin
Hint, as he was disrespectfully called by
his clerks, was the owner of the estab-
lishment, At this moment Mr.. Skin
Hint was sitting in his office thinking,
20, he chuckled, lam getting rich and
next year I'll be a millionaire and then
ali, who can tell. nobody will know
that once poor country boy without a
name ever to make success in the
world" and Mr.. Skinflint rubbed his
hands. together and chuckled.
CHAPTER II.
Next morning Jackson came to Mr..
Sklnhint and requested holiday Dec.
25.
"Wha-a-t" roared Old Skinflint after
prolonged stare, "a holiday! no my
man."
But I'm no slave, protested Jack
son, why should I work on the Lord
day."
mo. but you can't afford to lose your
days wages"
DO you mean to say" inquired jack
son, that you'll cut my wages for
that"
Exactly" returned skinaint.
"Well must say you are a. began
Jackson.
Careful young man, said skinaint.
careful, remembersI have power to dis
charge you" and jackson left the Office
without word.
s'Ah, ha. ha," chuckled Skinflint
"that fixed him, he can't afford to lose
his days wages. He will be sullen for
a day or two, they all do that. But he
will get over that. he will find that he
can't get rich by taking holidays"
Meanwhile jackson slowly went to
his work. The other clerks smiled and
Gimes said: SCOT a holiday Jackson?"
mo. Skinflint threatens to cut nv
salary if don't come, I've got wife
and q sweet little girl at home and I
can't afford to lose my wages. [ don't
see how you fellows stand it.
Have to, ny dear boy, said Grimes,
you're new but you'll.get use to it,
Sullenly. as Skinflint predicted, Jack
son went to his work and as Skinflint
said he soon got over it and in fact
seemed reconciled to the fact that he
must work on Christmas day. The
clerks guyed him numerically (that is
when Skinflint wasn't presen') about
his wonderful courage in boarding the
lions den. But he bore it patiently
and said, 'if you fellows can bear it
guess [ can"
CHAPTER III.
A few days before Christmas as Mr..
Sklnflint was sitting in his private Of
fee, had one of his clerks looked into
the office, he would have thought the
world had come to an end. There sat
old Skinfiint at his desk and wonder of
wonders he was not working, instead
he held in his hand locket- with a
picture in it at which he was gazing
with great wonder.
How gould | have forgotten her, .
he Ynurmered, Forgotten, forgotten
forgotten, went through his brain,
forgotten, forgotten, forgotten. licked
the clock on the wall. He angrily
closed his desk, grasped his hat and
went into the open air. forgotten
smiled the sun, Forgotten walled
the wind, while the street car that
changed past shrieked forgotten, for
gotten" in his unwilling ear.
"How could have forgotten her, he
whispered.
81 meant to go back to her, he
said to his conscience. Ten years ago,
he was only 30 and now he was 40.
Forty, why that wasn't SO bad. He
wondered if his hair was gray and il
his face was wrinkled. He thought
maybe he would go back and marry
her, Poor man he never thought he
would find err there. He had neverlook
ed in the looking glass, he thoughtit a
humbug and besides he would not let
his clerks see him looking in a glass.
He wondered where people bought
mirrors, then he would see. He turned
into a hard ware store. itDo you keep
looking glasses here?" mo 1 guess
not" smiled the clerk Skinfliht tried
to gather up. enough courage to ask
where he could procure one, but the
scorn and sneering smile on the clerk $
face unnerved him. "Oh ali we'll ex-
cuse me-" he stammered and walked
out, when he was in the open air he
drew breath of relief. "I'd like t,
punch that fellows head he muttered.
He heard the city clock strike /. Il
must get back to the Office he said
ut won't do to be lettering here, what
if Grimes or Jackson should see me. y
Quick as thought he had turned and
was speeding to his office.
Bet there amt anybody there" he
soliloquized, If there amt Ill.'
But his sentenced stopped short for
there not three feet from him was a
little girl starting to cross the street.
Carefully she stepped on the pavement
and began to wend her way to the
other side.
Where's the policeman | wonder
thought Skinflint, that child will ge
run over. Bah, what do | care, It's
none of my business she's none of my
relation. But nevertheless he stood
still and watched her When she was
almost acloss the street The child slip
ped and fell right on ear rail- She