FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114  
115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   >>   >|  
ut that." "Then I shall not want it. Let me see what else you have got." The customer finally departed, having found nothing to suit her. No sooner had she left the store than Mr. Smith called Paul. "Well, did you sell that lady anything?" "No, sir." "And why not?" demanded Smith, harshly. "Because she did not like any of the pieces." "Wouldn't she have ordered a dress pattern if you had not told her the calico would not wash?" "Yes, sir, I suppose so," said Paul, preparing for a storm. "Then why did you tell her?" demanded his employer, angrily. "Because she asked me." "Couldn't you have told her that it would wash?" "That would not have been the truth," said Paul, sturdily. "You're a mighty conscientious young man," sneered Smith, "You're altogether too pious to succeed in business. I discharge you from my employment." "Very well, sir," said Paul, his heart sinking, but keeping up a brave exterior, "then I have only to bid you good-morning." "Good-morning, sir," said his employer with mock deference, "I advise you to study for the ministry, and no longer waste your talents in selling calico." Paul made no reply, but putting on his cap walked out of the store. It was the middle of the week, and Mr. Smith was, of course, owing him a small sum for his services; but Paul was too proud to ask for his money, which that gentleman did not see fit to volunteer. "I am sure I have done right," thought Paul. "I had no right to misrepresent the goods to that lady. I wonder what Uncle Hugh will say." "You did perfectly right," said the sexton, after Paul had related the circumstances of his dismissal. "I wouldn't have had you act differently for twenty situations. I have no doubt you will get a better position elsewhere." "I hope so," said Paul. "Now that I have lost the situation, Uncle Hugh, I don't mind saying that I never liked it." Now commenced a search for another place. Day after day Paul went out, and day after day he returned with the same want of success. "Never mind, Paul," said the sexton encouragingly. "When you do succeed, perhaps you'll get something worth waiting for." One morning Paul went out feeling that something was going to happen,--he didn't exactly know what,--but he felt somehow that there was to be a change in his luck. He went out, therefore, with more hopefulness than usual; yet, when four o'clock came, and nothing had occurred except failure and disap
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114  
115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

morning

 
calico
 

employer

 
sexton
 

succeed

 

demanded

 
Because
 

volunteer

 

gentleman

 

situation


position

 
thought
 

circumstances

 

dismissal

 

wouldn

 

related

 

perfectly

 
situations
 

twenty

 

differently


misrepresent

 

change

 

hopefulness

 

occurred

 

failure

 
returned
 
success
 

commenced

 
search
 

encouragingly


feeling
 

happen

 

waiting

 

advise

 
suppose
 

preparing

 

Wouldn

 

ordered

 
pattern
 

angrily


mighty

 
conscientious
 

sturdily

 

Couldn

 

pieces

 
customer
 

finally

 
departed
 

harshly

 

sooner