Year: 1874

though | suppose it is about as mucl
as am worth.


had noticed that Clarence, general,
a silent boy, had disposition toward
expansiveness with me which was dis
gusting l think it was q May day, some
two years since, when, looking through
the window on Gold street, our boy
happened to see some lad or othel
with a baseball bat under his arm
walking gayly along. think the
remark Clarence made was, "Wouldnt
he like to be that boy? It looked SC
jolly; and did Mr.. Culpepper THAT is my
name) ever play base-ball?" /, of course
utterly squelched the boy at once and TO,
all time, as he fully deserved. Still Clar
ence would not remas put down. l re-
member once when;s gas raining he of
fered to goands bfss 3ly luncheon, re-
marking: AS it was raining hard, and
had no umbrella and that | seemed to
have bad cold, he would just go and
fetch it," Now am and was the last
person in the world to appreciate this
kind of thing. Everybody in the world
in the street and in the otfice--is an epit-
ONE of the worlds for himself; and
such presumption on the part of
our boy, who ate cheese every
day for his breakfast and din
ner, was as much out of place as if l.
with my threadbare coat on, had dared to
offer my arm to the dashing wife of our
junior partner when she comes into the
office. | did not mean to be exactly
rough with the boy, nor to cut his head
off, but ask anyone, what right had an
errandboy to have feelings? Bless you
BOYS should not be sensitive. When l
think of the lots of snubbing l received
and how bravely got overit all There
is our junior, the son of the old gentle
man, the founder of the house. The
old man when he was alive knew his
place and knew mine. He would nod
to me when he came in, and once a
month about would exchange word
with me- ! do not believe the junior
even knows my name, and as to recog-
nizing me, fancy it would be as great
a condescension on his part as if he was
to take off his hat to street-sweeper.
But it is not about myself | am writing,
but about Clarence. This lunch episode
ended by my opening my window with Il
sudden jar and dropping the money on
Clarence's table without word The
spirited fellow absolutely smiled,
and went out with alacrity. If / had
| been in his place fifteen years ago
would have let the money stay there for
| ever or throw it at the fourth cl ERIK s
head. But boys have not now the pluck
| that distinguished them in our time.
Presently he came back and handed me
my luncheon. / never thanked him.
put it on the cover of the ledger and let
it stay there. had no appetite for it..
sat furtively watching Clarence Pres
emily he opened his old drawer and took
out his miserable food. This time it
was minute crust and no cheese. Why
hadn't the boy cheese? ! opened my
glass window and dropped my sandwich
and pie before him.


L


Amt got any, sir"


"Why?"


No answer. What was it my bust
ness? did not want any of his conf
dence.


Eat that sandwich, you little wretch,
and the pie, and don't bother me-" and
snapped to my window in a rage and
went to adding up my columns of figures;
but somehow they wouldn't add. | must
needs watch Clarence. He was MUNICH
ing his bread with his back turned to me,
and my luncheon was on the table un-
touched. Some boys are exasperating.
Clarence was especially so. ! raped at
my window The boy was by my side.
You will go over to Martins store in
Brooklyn and take this order; and go
quickly. Don't dawdle. You are want
ed back here in an hour to go over to the
Cunard steamer wharf What makes you
shake SO, you little wretch? Why don't
you eat your lunchcon?


Because l amt hungry. Fancy l amt
well. Afraid l could not be back in an
hour; legs kind of weak, sir" Clarence
replied.


"Spend your money at the Bowery or
Tony Pastors, | suppose, and sit up late,
so that you are good for nothing in the
daytime. We will have to get another
boy"


Maybe you WILL" was Clarence's
mcan-spirited reply.


| Where is that girl who used to call
and bring your luncheon:" asked.


MY sister? Working in tobacco
| factory has ruined her health; I'm afraid
she has some complaint of the lungs
been i'll for two weeks, and I'm such a
poor nurse"


where is your cheese you used to eat
with that confounded luncheon of yours
which you seemed so fond off,"
"Have not had anything but bread for
week. You see there are but two of
us-poor Sis and l. She used to make
So a week, and together the $6 helped to
keep us; but now that she is too i'll for
work the So | make, when room rent is
paid-a room and a closet, you know
which costs S. month, what's left over
hardly keeps the life in us. Poor Sis,
she is SO patient. If you wouldn't mind
I'll take home your luncheon to her.
She might be tempted to eat something.
1t don't amount to much, this trouble of
ours, sir. guess we'll weather it. Got
the order for storage at Martins ready?
Will be back as soon as l can, though
feeling little queer and limp in the legs
from want Of sleep. / amt quite as
hearty as l might be. It's awful trying
to hear a poor girl cough all night
and not be able to relieve her. hope l
won't be discharged, sir. Mr.. Culpepper,
you have been kind of rough to me at
! times, but haven't sort of minded you.
Poor Sis, when she was well-she's not
quite twenty-one yet-for a joke used to
call me Mr.. Culpepper's forger and muir
derer She knows you, sir. Poor Mary
I am sometimes very down in the mouth
about her, fearing she will never gel
well again. All ready with that order
sir?"


Of course the business of the house had
to be attended to. Two hundred and SIX
bales of South America hides to be
shipped to Boston could not be neglected