The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-09
STORE CLERKING IN 1869 John Br Heart Thrill of Civil Oar Returns From Trip Abroad-Young Clerk Mhants Max and Sol
 Cohen - New Adventures Loom.

play name, 'Charles-Augustus', that she used to call me so en- dearingly?"
 didn't have to wait long for the answer when she got inside the store. One quick sweep of her eyes-A voice that always thrilled me, exclaiming - "Why, it's Charles Augustus'l Grown-up, and actually the engineer and brakeman and conductor of tn soda fountain'l Come quick, aun- tel" she said, impulsively, seizing her hand and rushing her to the fountain Nov, auntie, you stay here with the customers, and 'chaperone' me while I go behind the fountain and attend to a lit- tie private business. I always did want to go behind a soda foun- tain'-and this is my opportunity"
 And suiting the action to the word, Anna Van, in all her love- liness, and surrounded by a laugh- ing and cheering audience, invad- ed the precincts of 'Webbs' soda fountain, seized me in regulation 'bear-fashion' and implanted a re- sounding smack plumb on my mouth.-Further proof to all pres- ent that a years travel in foreign lands hadn't spoiled or 'stuck-up' our Anna Van a bit"
 Among the new friends l made when I was clerking in 'Webb's drug store, were two young Jew ish dry goods merchants, whose store adjoined 'Webb's. Their names were Max and Sol Cohen. I had reason to remember both brothers very pleasantly, but Max and l were particularly 'chummy.' We swept out our stores at the same early hour, but the matter that brought us closest together was 'Max's' skill in lettering signs and announcements for his store. He was as handy as a professional in lettering with 8 paint brush on cardboard, wood or cloth. Max did his painting in a back room or behind the store, and as I had some aptitude in that line myself, took every opportunity to watch Max, who was pleased at my in- terest and became my very kind and competent instructor, so that he complimented me by saying that could do 1t just as well as he could. And thereby hung a tale:
 One day Webb handed me . jug, which he said contained vin- egar, and told me to deliver it at address some distance away. I toted it along in the hot summer afternoon till I set 1t down on the sidewalk to rest. What 'ye got n tn jug, bub" asked a passer by. Vinegar" I answered. "Let me smell" he said, taking out the cork, and lifting the jug up to his face. I could see that the man was making a very thorough in- vestigation,-first, smelling, and then tasting. For some reason he decided to verify his first impress sion-whatever it was-by taking Q second swallow.
 Did Webb tell you that this is vinegar?" questioned the man, grinning slyly at me.
 Isn't it?" I asked, puzzled.
 Before the man answered my question and apparently to avoid any mistake, he said, Perhaps I'd better taste 1t over again, to be sure."
 This time, the man smacked his lips and put the cork in tight, saying-"You wanta know what's in that jug2-Well, I'll bet a hun- dred dollars that It's 'whiskey'."
 Of course that was a pretty fix for Q member of the Good Templars' and the Father Mat thews' societies to be caught in. You who have been twelve year-old boy, once upon a time, can remember the righteous in- dignation' that can swell up in- side such a boys breast when he feels that he has been imposed upon.
 When Webb saw me toting the jug back into the store and set- ting 1t down in the middle of the floor, with the question: Did you tell me the truth when you told me that was a jug of vinegar?" he was ashamed, and was man enough to say so and didn't blame me fore quitting my job right there and then.
 As I was going out of the drug store met my friend Max Co., hen. Without telling him the rea- son why, I did tell him that was quitting the drug business. "What are you going to do now?' he asked. Haven't had time tc decide" I answered.
 Come in and see me early in the morning-because I've got an idea for you to make . lot oi money for . boy of your age"
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