The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1908-09-18
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The story of

ny WIlISr III lue AS-
Magazines-is very simple,
straight to that spot in the heart =
is always waiting to respond to ths
brave and sweet things of life. Skaggles
was not his name. Some one gave him
that title the third day after he took
the job. It was finally eurtailed to
"Skag." When he first came to the
Office he fitted like mouse's tail In a
we'll; but he had an old look-the look
of a burden beyond his years. He was
wan and pale, and his nose was red
every time he came in from the wealth
er. His shoes and stockings were ven
tilated beyond endurance to anybody
except . boy.
But Skag was a faithful worker-at
first. Bright and early he swept the
office and busted the desks-that is,
used the duster-and by eight o'clock
he was over in his corner, his hair plas-
tered back and his face washed, save
for the high-water mark about his neck.
But by degrees Skag's enthusiasm
over his new position languished. The
clerks complained of unemptied waste
baskets and dusty desks. 1t was also
noticed that Skags clothes were daily
growing more shabby, his hair longer,
his shoes more run over, and it was
evident that his mind was not on his
work.
A reprlmand from the "boss" had the
desired effect. He became more pune
tual, took more interest in his work,
seemed CHEEKY, and sometimes whistled
little. But Skags work was spas
modic. 1t was not long before he was
as bad as ever. His work Jagged, he
was slow about getting round mornings,
and his interest-outwardly at least
was Of the wooden Indian variety. The
crowni1g and final test of endurance
on the part of the office force came
when he went to sleep in his chair.
"Skag, come here!"
1t was the boss. Skag shuffled into
the managers private office, and sat on
the edge of chair, nervous and
fdgety. The boss did not speak for a
minute-his way Of impressing cul-
prit
"Skag, this thing has gone far
enough! You are not paying attention
to your work. Look at the dust on my
desk-its frightful. This is Monday
I'll give you just one week. Saturday
winds you up unless you come out Of
that trance. That's ALL"
Skag shifted and shuffled back to his
chair, where he tugged at the seam OF
his trousers and gazed vacantly out o1
the window.
The next morning the office fairl!
glistened, a1d all through the weel
his work improved. The stenographe
even discarded her work sleeves, he
desk was so clean.
But no one noticed that Skag's face
was growing thinner and his eyelid'
more dropping.
Saturday night, after five o'clock
Skag stayed and cleaned up the office
He would be that much ahead wheI
Monday came.
Monday morning the office was al
clean as Dutch kitchen, but there was
no Skag. Noon arrived, and still NJ
Skag, at which the boss waxed wrathy
"Jones, go up to the kids house ant
see what the trouble Is. Tell him If hi
can't get here by two o'clock, he needn'
come at all.'
When Jones returned he went int
the managers private office a1d CLOSED
the door. Later he came out with
long sheet of paper in his hand. Th
boss had headed the list with twenty
five dollars.
"What brought it onT asked tn
stenographer.
Exposure, and not enough to kee
body and soul together. The kids beel
sitting up nights with her for month
Funerals Wednesday"
Skag Is still working. He wears
new suit, a1d the high-water mar
round his neck has disappeared. An
they do not call him Skaggles now
Thav. ca II him nv his right name