River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-09-08
3 How 6
HernanCornirl
Paid the Price&
Copyright, 1904, by Daily story Pub. Coz

[ ! ERMAN CORNING made up his
! mind when a mere boy that he
would become g. successful business
man and the possessor of great riches.
From his earliest memory he had hated
the narrow village life and the cramped
home existence, where every penny had
to be watched in order to make both
ends meet He dreamed of great es-
adjustments with hundreds of busy
workers, all pliable to his will, as ex-
pressed from the inner office. He
dreamed of meeting the greatest and
most powerful men of affairs and die
tating terms or forcing them to COM
promise with him.
Among all his playmates at school
but one sympathized with his ambi-
tions or believed in him. That one
was Hannah Curtin, the grave-eyed girl
with the high forehead, who always
stood at the head of her class. All the
rest derided him.
81 believe you will succeed, Her
man." said she, seriously, "and when
you do / will marry you"
will your" asked Herman, eagerly.
And then he added with a stubborn
set of his square jaw, 'You may have
to wait long time, Hannah, because if
/ don't succeed at first l will keep on
trying"
So the compact was sealed and one
fine day, when Herman was Is, he full
filed the worst prophesies of the vii
lage gossips by going away to the great
city. He was able to scrape together
barely money enough to get him there,
but he feared nothing He had heard
the expression merchant prince" and
it attracted his imagination. He re-
solved to enter mercantile life.
Upon reaching the city he went di-
rectly to the biggest wholesale house
in the city, Hope, Norris & Co., and
sturdily walked into the Office of the
head of the concern.
He was a trifle perturbed at the vast
ness of the institution and the exclsfve-
ness of the Office of the great Mr.. Hope.
But he rallied in a moment.
Am not l also to be a great mer-
chant" he said to himself. "He is no
better than / am-only older"
So Herman walked boldly into the
presence of the great man, who
frowned at the intrusion.
"Well?" he demanded
Herman looked him squarely in the
eye. His momentary timidity had van
ished. He was in the very inner sane
tuary, which was the home of his
dreams. He felt fully confident.
"My name is Herman Corning" he
said steadily. II have decided to be-
come a merchant. That is why came
to the city. | want to learn the bust
ness and get start. That is why l
came here. l am not afraid of hard
work and l can live on small wages.
Will you give me a trial?"
The merchant had turned away with
an impatient gesture when Herman be-
gan. The odd way of putting the prop
osition arrested his attention and the
intense earnestness of the boy attract
ed him.
why did you come to me?" he said
sharply. Don't you know that depart
ment heads hire the employes?"
Il wanted to talk to the head of the
The merchant pushed a button and
a man appeared instantly.
Take this boy to Hopkins"
commanded Hope, "and tell him to
set him to work.
And so Herman Corning found him
self launched in merchantile life as as
sistant stockkeeper at six dollars per
Uoaly He uorlynd bord opd rro1yo ~
thought to anything outside the bust
ness of the department. He did so
much work that his fellow employees
disliked him. Hopkins noted the i'm
proved condition of the stock, how
ever, and after a few months Herman
had his wages raised to eight dollars
He cared little for this He was per-
fecting his knowledge of the stock and
of prices. Meanwhile he watched the
statesmen and customers like a cat.
There was whole shelfful of but
tons of ancient vintage, which Herman
noticed were never called for, One day
Houston, a salesman, was trying to at
tend to two customers.
Here, boy" he said to Herman,
"pull down some buttons for Mr.. Park
ins. LII be right back and give him
prices"
Parkins was from crossroads town.
Herman pulled down the buttons that
never sold. He knew the prices UIti-
mately Parkins bought half the entire
lot.
This transaction so pleased Hopkins
that Herman was called on frequently
to take d customer when the statesmen
were busy. Two years after Herman
entered the place he was made a regu-
lar salesman at $40 per week. He al
ways sold the things that stuck on the
shelves. Mr.. Hope learned of this and
complimented him on this point.
Wouldn't it be easier and cheaper
to have buyer who did not load dead
stock on us?" asked Herman gravely.
A week later he was made assistant
manager Of the department and en-