Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1907-11-08
John Smith,,
Clerk.
By Frank III. SsOeef.


Z>~~<>~~~>
~ nee there was man. lie was
II clerk in a bank AT $40 0
month. His name was John
Smith. At directors meet
ing one day after the discounts had
been passed upon and the portly direct
ors We're lahOriouSly getting up TO go
the president. who had the ablest and
most expansive vest of any of them,
stopped them b. the way" he re-
marked Il have note from John
Smith-one of our young men, you
know: some of you know him-but ]
guess | have lost it. Anyhow, he
wants his salary raised. Says the bust
ness of the bank is four times what
Is used to be and his work has In
creased accordingly. Says with in
crease in the amount of money han
died comes increase in the strain on
his integrity. Seems to think he ought
to be paid for not robbing us Besides.
he says he can scarcely keep his fam
fly on his salary. suppose ! can an
swer it without calling another board
meeting" he concluded facetiously.
Tell him he oughtn't to have such
big family" suggested one. quote the
law against ENLIGHTENMENT to him."
said another. and so oil, as they but
toned their OvercoatS and went out
about their businesses.
By and by John Smith got note
like this, signed by the president and
written on the note paper of the bank,
bearing the imposing array of direct.
ors' names in neat engraving at the
head of 1t:
Mr.. John Smith:
Dear Sr-In answer to yours OF even
date | am Instructed by the board of d.
rectors to say that they cannot agree with
your view of the case. 1t is true that
your work has largely increased with the
growth of the bank under its present sue
cessful management but it is no more
than you are able to do and no more than
We can fiEd others to do for the salary
we now pay you. The other phase of the
matter you present-that we should pay
you for the moral wear and tear incident
to resisting temptation to steal as well as
for the physical and mental work you do
has no weight.
Our relations, however pleasant person
ally, are purely a business affair on both
sides. We pay you SO much money for so
much work Your honesty is presumed.
II you should prove dishonest, we would
discharge you and the law would send
you to prison.
With your family affairs we have moth
ing to do. but | may suggest to you that
careful economy in small household eX-
penditures will result in an annual saving
which will perhaps surprise you.
Without referring especially to you-foi
never endeavored to pry into your pri-
vate affairs nor inquired how you lived
] may say that, in my opinion. the pre-,
vailing tendency of young people now
adays Is to live too high instead of being
careful to lay up something for rainy
day. Yours truly. etc.
The directors hadn't been in session
long the next day when John Smith
opened the door, handed in a slip OF
paper and walked back to his desk
There was silence for minute. then 1
murmur; then the clerks outside hear(
clatter Of moving chairs in the board
room, and then the door opened an(
two or three voices called SMITH!
I'm moment" answered Smith
cheerfully laying blotter between thu
leaves of the book he had been writing
in and carefully tucking the pen be
hind his ear as though he were maxim,
his toilet.
"What do you mean by this" the.
demanded when he appeared in the di