IN A POST OFFICE DIRECTORY OFFICE

Otago Witness, Issue 3006, 25 October 1911, Page 77

IN A POST OFFICE DIRECTORY OFFICE

By Daisy Pkimbosb.

THE DAILY ROUND OP AN AUSTBADDA.N OFFICE 1 GIRD.

The bedrcorn dooT opened and my younger Bister Peggy entered. "Up you get, lazy! The half-past seven whistle went quite five minutes a.go. You'll have to feed the canaries and Joey this morning, because.-I want to cut out a skirt pattern for one of the mew girls in. the w<wk--100m." . . i This letter establishment, of -which Peg, was . the " boss" dressmaker, contained ascore or more girls, all of the usual type, ■wearing' the unmistakable full hair pad so common to Australian girls in their teens, and all the jewellery they could muster from grandma's box or from the married friend next dcor. Brother Jack, when up in the city on leave, had jocuLarly styled the place " the recluse," much to poor Peg's chagrin; but now that he had gone back to his lonely pas* at tlu lighthouse, Peg bad taken the reins and was ruling us all as before. ■« ■* " Bother the girls in the workroom! I answered lazily, as I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and sat up in bed. IV© got my shorthand exercises to do, and that piece of music to practise for the concert next week. I'm sure they're of far more importance than humbug old pattern." Peggy frowned. "Well, don't sit talking, wasting so much time, nuisance." Pausing at the door as- she went out, she added sarcastically,: " I suppose I may not have a few minutes after breakfast for my practice? "All right, cheeky." I replied, tosing a kiss after her, and pulling on my gown I hurried to the bathroom. My morning dip over, I returned to my room and hurried over my toilet as only accustoms! fingers can A. simple : shirt blouse and grey tweed skirt, with touches of 4 scarlet at the waist and throat, 'made up my attire, and at a-quarter to eight I was ready for the birds and my shorthand. ' ~ ~ " Some favourites for breakfast, dear, said, mother at the kitchen dooot as sue gave me her morning kiss. " Hot muffins and fresli e<*£rs Now be quick and set the table. A. soft-smile illumined her face for a moment and touched a sweet chord of filial love into my heart. Ah! there is no smile li'Ke morning, dad!" "Good niorning, my girl. I fed the birds for you. On, you dear old dad!" and I kissed his furrowed brow and shaggy beard and smoothed his silvery hair. Soon afterwards mother and Peg came in, and we took our respective seats at the table. Bad held his hand up to 00minand silence, and said grace, after which ™e ate our meal and chatted about the different subjects that it was over Peg made a bee-line for the parlour to get the practice that was of such moment. The spirit of a Paderewski seemed tester my soul this morning and A™ *°f my finger-tips, whilst Peg sang like a naghtSgale. Suddenly she broke off m the ctf an exercise: " Look, twenty to nine, and no out!" The words were no sooner uttered than she was out of the room. But that is Peg. She goes like a streak of Suing. The puzzle is to understand how E bf rnanages to keep still when, fitting or taking a customer's measurements.

Up the flight of endless stairs the lady clerks of the Post Office Directory staff were trooping when I made my appearance, inwardly grumbling at the lift man for not 6t ߣh! tfto the top floor and then a pause before we entered. The bright face of our breezy editress rose into view above a hisjh desk a® we trooped in, and a cheery voice chanted a greeting. • • " Good morning, girls. lively morning, isn't it?" A reply was made in the affirmative, then each one found a place foe W and bag on racks behind the doors. Then to the tables, a number of which were scattered about the room, where our usual duties were performed. Gum gashed, paste brushes cleaned, ink bottles filled and' fresh sheets of foolscap laid on the tables. Old Directories were cut up and posted out ; and new names added as the " returns came in. ; , , " Hush, girls, Miss Caa-r exclaimed, as the) sound of a latch key was heard opening the next door. "It's Mr Evans. Julie, paste out the streets for the North Division; and Daisy, you can get the Fremantle First Division ready. . Mind the streets come in alphabetical order, and just the neat distance apart. Ah. •there's the telephone. Now. don't chatter, girls," v Gently tapping the door dividing the .offices by way of announcing herself, the editress passed into the managers room, and we were left to whisper snatches of news to oik; another. One of our number, a dainty little person, who lived across the river, and came in every morning by the a girl whose taste as an artist was often displayed with sketches on the wall, and passed around the room on slips of paper at other times, started up from her seat, and getting into the centre of the room, performed a fantastic skirt dance, occasionally indulging in a high kick. It was when one of these latter were in progress that the door quietly opened andl the face of our manager appeared. Smothering a laugh, he exclaimed, " Very pretty indeed. Miss Gibbs, but would you be so kind as to get me the 'B' sheets ?"

"Wouldn't the 'D' do as well?" whispeerd a naughty girl to her companion, at the table, hiding her mischievous eyes behind a sheet of foolscap which she raised for a moment to miaJce the remark. "Ah, thank you; I'm sorry I interrupted) the scene," answered l the manager as he tools the sheets offered him end passed out of the room.

"OK isn't lie mean ?" blushlnglv retorted Miss Oaths behind his back, puckering up her lipa. "I'll bet it isn't the first timie he saw a girl high kicking-. But what if lie tells Miss Ca.rr? She will think me horrible." "No eke won't," rotumed a sympathetic chum. " She's done the sarnie before to-day." The doorknob turned, and Belie made a rush for her chair before Miss Oarr entered, '* Alpha." boxes were ordered to be plaoed on the spare table „and the "AlteT." slips of the previous year got into order. This over, Miss Carr put on her hat. " Now, girls, I'll just run along to the Post Office and see if any of the country returns have oome in yet. when you've done those streets, Julie, you. can write up the ' add and ' delete' slips for those returns on my table." "Very well, Miss Carr." Pens and paste worked hard for a little while in silence, and then a sudden sigh and a hungry voioe exclaimed, " Oh, I'm starving. It's only 12. I'll never live till 1. And there's my sixpenn ycake getting! stale. What say you to «u slice all round, girls?" No sooner said than agreed to. Onoe again- the daintily attired, much perfumed manager made his appearance, and as per usual, caught Edi© with a exumb in heT throat. " I am going to Fremant.!©. Pleas© tell Miss Oarr I shall not return until late in the afternoon." "Well, that's a, blessing," was the general Tespons>e, but you may be sure none of us spoke loud enough to be heard.

The editrass returned soon afterwards and was given the message, after which thieyo was silence until the time-gun .announced tile luneh hour. Immediately there was a rush for hats, bags, and umbrellas ,and a bolt for the lift as the caretaker pretended to descend without us.

The fatigue and heat of noontide was forgotten,, when I reached home, and mother called from the kitchen, " There's 1a letter from Jack cm the mantelpiece l in the dining room. He's to be appointed chief at Christmas." '"Oh, hew grand!" I replied as I ran off to gat the letter. Sitting beside the window, where I could get the breeze from the river, I devoured its contents. ' Aren't you pleased?" mother remarked as she entered with the dishes for lunch. "Bad is quite excited." "Pleased', mother? Why, I'm delighted.' I'll answer it after lunch and post it on my way back to the office. Good old Jack!"

Well, my girl," began dad cheerfully when he entered. " Bid you hear the news? Jack's to be principal lightkeeper at Christmas. Think of it, and the lad's only 21." "It is glorious, dad. Now, I want a rise in the office." " Patience, my girl, and that will come. Stick to your duty as Jack has dome, and you will reap your reward." H© lifted his hand to say grace, and his eyes closed for a moment, then rose in a tremor of deligh t.

We'll have a grand garden when Jack" comes up again," he said as he eat down. The peas are coming up already, and the cauliflowers just through. If you've time in the morning come and see them." "All right, dad, I will.". Lunch over, I wrote off' a chatty missive to Jack, and rushed back to the office through the hot, crowded streets, only stopping to buy a stamp and slip my letter in the pillar box.

The air was stifling in the- office during the afternooin, and our editress looked sorry for us when one or other heaved! a big sigh and remarked, "Oh, this heat is killing." " Come along, Julia, get your hat on and run out to Albany Bell's and get some cool drinks for the whole party." " Isn't she a dear?" we murmured conjointedly, turning to our tables with renewed interest as Julie departed. Soon, after the compilers came in, their books under their arms, their faces dluststained and dejected, mopping perspiration from their brows, as Miss Carr ushered thean into the manager's room and revised and edited their compilations in their presence. The hands of the clock on the desk stole round to four-thirty. " Only another halfhour," one of the staff exclaimed, " and this sticky business will be over for the day. "Ah, here's Miss Julie at last! Come along, girls, the glasses are in the cupboard. I'll soon manage the corks. Hand fhemi over, please." When Miss Oarr returned to her chair our thirsts had been effectually quenched, and we were working "like Trojans. On© of the lemonadb bottle© and 1a frfass were placed at her elbow, and Julie went on with her work again. " Time's up, girls. I'm sure none of you look sorry." The manager's door sudden'y flew open. " Alv will you send Miss Baisy in to me for a few minutes, please, Miss Carr? I have something to say to her." His voice was kind, but his manner abrupt, and I felt that a reprimanding was in store for negligence. I blushed . and' turned to Miss Cnrr for an explanation . "It's all right, dear. Go in with a buoyant air," she said, " and be firm in your footstep. He' must not see you nervous." I obeyed the command without ,a murmur, and walked 1 quickly into the room and bowed before my employer. " Win you be seated a moment, Miss Baisy?" began Mr Evans. "I have something of great importance to so-y to you, and an offeT to make which will materially affect your future prospects." I dropped into the chair with a faint smile, a feeling: o<f faintness seizing m© for the moment. That over, I grew calm and collected, anliwerirtg in monosyllables ais opportunity offered.

" As you are aware, we ore losing: Miss Carr at Christmas. Some more fortumte fellow has claimed her from us; therefore it behove® us to find another to take hex pkea in the office. Your name has been, mentioned as the moot worthy in the room to fill thiat capacity. From a personal standpoint I also miight say Miss Oarr's decision ie mini*. I have here some of your work, and recognise in it the neat, clean, carefui compilation of a diligent worker. It only remains for you to say whether you accept it., in which case your salary will h& increased' two nounds. Can you give me an answer now?" v " Does Miss Carr think me capable of doing the work?" I questioned anxiously. "I am grateful for the position, but nervous about the duties." " Miss Carr has arranged to coach you in them before she leave® us. Under those conditions, do you accent?" For some little time I hesitated on the score that I was quite ignorant of .several branches of the work, and might find it difficut to get into them, but he succeeded in assuring me that it was easy after all; so I rose with a smile on my lips and a flush on my cheeks, and accepting his proffered hand, replied, " I am very grateful to you for your kind interest, Mr Evans. I will do my best to justify the good opinion yon have foarmed of me." Miss Carr was waiting for mi© in the outer office. On learning the truth she threw her .arms around uy shoulders and with a glorious smile exclaimed, " You deair girl, I am eo glad you took it. No other could manage the affairs with the cane and attention which you will give them. Mi Evans

was so anxious to install you in the position when he saw how beautifully you went through those "Alpha" sheets. I am so glad." And so was I, and so were mother and dad! and Peg. Dad declared it was a red letter day, and I believe it waa