The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-24
WILLIE GOT HIS, ALL RIGHT.
But Scheme for Pretty Cashiers Bene-
fit Didn't Work Out Well.

Steve OGrady in st. Louis Republic.
The Excelsior company had an office
force of forty men. 1t was a sort Of
happy family, this office staff. Everyone
was friendly with everyone else and they
all looked with considerable admiration
upon one particular member of the force
the cashier.
This cashier was a sweet-faced little
girl, who worked like a Trojan from the
time she reported in the morning until
she was ready to go home at night. She
received all mail, distributed it, kept the
cash books and counted the money. And
more important than all of these, she
made out the weekly pay checks. 1t was
at her window that each employee called
on Saturday to get the stipend for which
he had faithfully labored.
The cashier was a sort of a mother
confessor to most of the boys. She was
the banker for some of them and not
infrequently performed little services
which were not strictly within the rules
of the company but which endeared her
to the hearts of the men. These services
consisted in the main of advancing money
to the boys on those occasions when they
were In desperate need of it.
Christmas was near at hand and every
one seemed impressed with the necessity
of present for the cashier. If no one
else got one the cashier should be re-
membered by all means.
The previous Christmas the boys had
made up a purse and purchased gift
in the shape of parlor lounge. 1t was
an appropriate offering. as the cashier,
with her mother, lived in a coy fiat out
in the suburban district.
Several members of the staff had ex-
pressed a determination to eliminate the
collective present on this particular
Christmas. They wanted to show their
appreciation of the cashiers worth with
an individual gift that should stand as
permanent proof of the firm hold she had
on their heart strings.
There was considerable speculation,
however as to what to buy, and, after
several days, the employees. who had been
conniving in semisecret way. were still
far from a solution of the question.
Jones, the head checking clerk, con-
ceived the idea and he sought the assist
ance of Willie, the office boy. Willie was
to ask the cashier what she most desired,
and then Willie was to be well repaid for
telling the head checking clerk what the
cashier said.
WILLIE with dreams of a "fat" tip, sue
coded in putting the question and that
same afternoon he got the head checking
clerk into a dark corner and with fever
ish excitement, whispered, berry DISH
The head checking clerk passed half
dollar into Willies soiled hand and re-
turned to his desk. When the day ended
Jones, after making sure that he was
not observed by his colleagues, made his
way to a jewelry store and there bought
one berry dish, to be delivered at No.
- Blank street, Christmas eve
To the observing eye Jones appeared as
man relieved of an awful strain when
he returned to his desk the following
morning He seemed to have Something
up his sleeve" as Willie, the office boy
would have expressed 1t, and his general
demeanor might have been classed as
unusually sublime
II Jones had executed his clever plan
the day before Christmas he might have
successfully accomplished his purpose. but
such valued secret as the cashiers de-
sire for berry dish is a dangerous thing
to intrust to an office boy who feels the
need of a Christmas fund.
This may account in full for the pic
ture presented in the cashiers fiat Christ
mas morning. when the early visitors
were astonished by the sight of thirty
nine berry dishes spread in a row.
Willie had sold his tip to every man in
the office.