Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-12-25
1os1AH REYNOLDS was 1

0OSIAH REYNOLDS was a
oI staid, respectable man, whose
" life had been uneventful and
monotonous; he was what one might
call an average man. He had obtained
when fourteen years of age, position
as errand boy in a retail dry goods
store. From this store no ambition
had ever tempted him; there he had re-
mained, and in his methodical way had
plodded step by step, higher and high
er. till he had become head salesman
at a salary of fifteen dollars week.
Josiah, at the age Of twenty-five,
had married. He loved his wife in his
own way; and then, as he always
said, "It is so much cheaper to live!
Poor Josiah discovered his mistake by
the time he was the father Of eight
children; and often in his respondent
moods longed for the time when he,
hapy bachelor, had lived in an attic
and dined how and when he pleased.
But Josiah was a thoroughly honest
man, and afterethese retrospective and
respondent musings redoubled his ex-
ertions to solve the problem-how to
pay rent, clothe his family, and settle
the thousand and one little bills con-
tinually intruding themselves-an on
fifteen dollars q week. But, to his
credit be it said, his family was pro-
vided for well; the children were
warmly If cheaply clad; the wife al
ways looked neat, nor did they suffer
for, food; true, they had few amuse-
ments or luxuries, and poor Josiah
often felt ashamed of his threadbare
coat, for he would rather 60 shah
by himself than be ashamed of his
wife and children.
In this manner Josiah lived until his
forty-6fth year; then he received a
great surprise. His employer had each
year grown more feeble. and left more
and more the charge of the store to
Josiah. Many men under such cir
cumstances would have demanded
more pay, but not so Josiah; it seemed
only natural to him that he should
give his best endeayors to his en-
ployer, who, however, made no COM
ment upon his assistants faithful
work; but Josiah was content with
the thought of duty properly per-
formed
On the morning of the first of March,
Josiah's birthday, he came to the store
at hts usual hour, but his seedy coat
bore upon its lapel a little bunch of
hothouse flowers, his natal gift. from
his wife and children. He went to
his work light-heartedly on this par
ticular morning 1t was his nature to
be happy, and only an occasional
gloomy spell over some unusual ex-
pense broke his generally unruff1ed
serenity. This morning, however, he
was particularly happy. When he had
seated himself for his breakfast of por-
ridge and molasses he had found at
his plate a bunch of flowers, which his
wife, amidst the joyful wishes of her
children, had pinned upon his coat.
Strange as it may seem, this matter-of-
fact man had a passionate fondness
for flowers, rarely gratifed; but to-day,
as he started to his work, the remem-
'brance of his. happy home and the odor
of the flowers stimulated him to
sense of unusual joy.
When his employer arrived Josiah
greeted him with a pleasant smile, but
noticed regretfully how weak he
seemed.
"Ahv' he thought, what a sorrow-
full life for poor Mr.. Alden, all alone
at this age! would not change places
with him, am sure. What is money
without happiItess7"
Josiah" said Mr.. Alden, ST have
something to say to YOU" o.5
Eyes, SIR" answered Josiah, sur
prised at the impressive tone Of his
masters voice.
Josiah said Mr.. Alden. you have
been with me ever since you were
? boy; l have watched the unfolding of
your character, and know you to be
a truly honorable and reliable man.. I
have not been unmindful of your faith
full services, nor am I 1ndisposed to
reward them. I am getting old; am
now eighty-four years of age, and,
in the ordinary course of events, I
cannot live much longer. Since my
dear son died I have been entirely
alone in the world. What I want to
say is this: I wish to give you full
charge of the store; I will take you
into partnership, and You can have
one-half of the profits. All I ask is
that you take me into your family, for
I am weary Of living alone. When ]
die I shall leave you all possess, in
cluding an insurance on my life of
twenty thousand dollars. Does that
suit your"
Mr.. Alden, who knew his clerk well,
was not surprised that he did not
speak; it was, indeed, and he knew it,
most ailIlring prospect Josiah was
so stunned that he could not speak
coherentIy Through his mind rushed
picture of his past life; how he had
always pinched and calculated to make
both ends meet; the continual whfrl
about money, which had become 80
much Of a second nature that he