Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1904-01-22
1OSIAH REYNOLDS

N
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 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 salary of fifteen dollars a week.
Josiah, at the age of twenty-five,
had married. He loved his wife in his
own way; and then, as he always
said, ut is so much cheaper to liye,"
Poor Josiah discovered his mistake by
the time he was the father Of eight
children; and often i'll 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 Il thoroughly honest
man. and after these 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-all on
fifteen dollars a week. But, to his
credit be it said his family was pro-
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 go shah
by himself than be ashamed of his
wife and children.
In this manner Josiah lived until his
forty fifth 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; 1t seemed
give his best endeavors 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,
Josiahs birthday, he came to the store
at his usual hour, but his seedy coat
bore upon its lapel II little bunch OF
hothouse flowers, his natal gift from
Ii a n.
his work light heartedly ON this par
ticular morning. Ii was his na ture to
be happy, and only an occasional
gloomy spell over some unusual ex-
pense broke his genAally unrutiled
serenity. This morning, however, he
was particularly happy. When he had
seated himself for his breakfast of por-
ridge and molasses he had found ut
his plate bunch OF flowers, which his
wife, amidst the joyful wishes of her
children, had pinned upon his coat.
Strange as 1t may seem, this matter-of-
fact man had passionate fondness
for flowers, rarely gratitied; 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 n pleasant smile but
noticed regretfully how weak he
seemed.
"Ah.' he thought, what sorrow
full life for poor Mr.. Alden. all alone
at this age! | would not change places
with him, am sure. What is money
without happiness?"
Josiah" said Mr.. Alden, 81 have
something to say to you"
"Yes, 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 We're
boy; have watched the unfolding Of