MULLINS'S RECOMMENDATIONS

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 2, 10 January 1907, Page 5

MULLINS'S RECOMMENDATIONS

' What is a man to do in a case like this ? '. demanded" Mr. Pefham, head of the commercial depart-

ment and bursar of Pine Grove Seminary, as he sat in his. office the morning after graduation day, pen in hand aivd a sheet of paper before him. y ' What is tHe case ? ' asked' Mr. Clarke, of the classical department, who had just entered the room. \ ' Well, , youTknow Mull'ins ? ' began Mr. Per-ham. ' Mullins, the young , giant. Yes, I know .him slightly, of , course, though he has never come under my instruction.'

1 Fortunately for you,' declared the .bursar. . 'Well, Mullins has finished here at last, and he wants me— 1 • ' Why, he hasn't received a diploma,' has he ? ' interrupted Mr. Clark.

'Of course hot. It is -my belief that he couldn't get a diploma- if he spent the t rest of his natural life here. ,But Tie "has wisely made' 1 up his mind to take • his leave without one, and in lieu thereof he wants me to write him a- recommendation. I Jiate to refuse /• him, but what can I say ? "lie is- a., good fellow, -honest as the. day, and with plenty of -muscle. . I could le'commend him for a- place on a coaster or in a logging camp. He has, earned by hard labor the money- to • come here. But he wants a business- career, and - -lie would certainly be a failure in 'an office or a storfc, just .as he has been inTthe school.' I have tried' to tell Ti'tm ."as much in a delicate sort of way, .but •he "doesn't take the hint. He -will -"have to find it out for himself. Meanwhile, -1 suppose that 1 shall have to write something for him. 1 . ' You might take pattern by- an '-old-time president of the college where I -was graduated,' said Mr. Clark. 'In a somewhat similar case, so the story goes, he wrote a testimonial after this fashion ; " This is to certify that *Mr. So-and-So lias finished his course at this college, with jsgjaal credit" -to . himself and to the institution."' Mr. Perham smiled, •but made no reply. Ho began his task,- however, and soon completed it as follows ; 'To Whom Jt May Concern : The bearer of this ""note, Mr. David Mullins,- has been for some time past a student in -the . commercial department of Pine Grove Seminary, and I cheerfully commend him as a young < - man of irreproachable character and fine physique^ ' .While circumstances, prevented Ms completing the course, the* time - that, he spent here was amply sufficient- to enable a student of' industry and ability to acquire.' a substantial business Education. i • Charles G-. Perham.' 'There,' he said, after reading it aloud-, 'that is literally true, it "can do no -harm,- and- it will satisfy Mullins.' ' ■ It certainly did satisfy M:ullins, x 'Why, professor, 1 he exclaimed- joyfully, /when hef. read the recommendation, ' I didn't know you would feel like saying so ' much for me ! 'I thank you kindly, professor.' Then he added, with- a little" catch in his'voice,' -' I hope I . may have a chance to do as much for- you some time.' Mr. Perham winced a little, partly, no doubt, but -s-no't -wholly, on account of the grip of a strong right hand with which the honest youth had emphasised his gratitude. > ' • Mullins. had chosen a thriving city in a neighboring State as the scene- of his business career, and the week he was -"on the giound ready to begin." - It seemed, however, that the .business nien of -the - city were just then very well provided 'with clerks; -and .he spent several , days „in visiting -offices—and . stores •vji-thout, once" being invited to accept a position. But at last, in a modest sixth-floor office, he found a in&n\ who was at least -willing "to talk with him. This" was Mr. Kay, a young, insurance agent. ' You wore educated at Pine Grove 'Seminary, eh ? ' said Mr. Ray| with a show of interest. 'I - know one of the teachers there very well — Perham, head of the commercial department, I think.''Yes,' said " Mullins eagerly,. 'I have a fine recommendation from Professor Perham in^ my pocket.'

-» • . - - * ' ' Ah, indeed ! ' said Mr. Ray,, glancing at the paper that was offered"- him. % Yes, that is his autograph fast enough; Perham was my room-mate at college, i and. a right* good' fellow. I haven't seen him since we*, were graduated. Sit down, won't you, and tell me "about him.' ' V ' *" ' That is first-rate,' he declared, after listening" t o a glcuwing account of his friend. 'I am delighted 1 to hear from the old feliow. And now abou>t your case. To tell the truth,, I "hadn't thought of any more office help. But— perhaps 1 might work you, in to l?elp -' on the books ami to act as general utility man ' about the office. It will be small pay at first, but if you. are adapted to* the business it will Jead to something better.' There was no difficulty about corning to terms, and Mullins at once made his start in the insurance business. _ One evening some time later Mr. Ray said to his wife ■ 'I've gob to gel rid of my new clerk. I'm sorry" about it, ,for he -is a thoroughly good fellow — but stupid, stupid ! I was getting along very well before, but I have certainly been overworked' since Mullins came. It's queer, too. He took the commercial course at Pine Grove Seminary, under Charlie Perham, you -know. And Peihani gave him a first-class recommendation. '1 hope he isn't a fair sample _of Perham' s " graduates.'"'' " " So the next _ day Mr. Hay, in as tactful a manner as possible, explained to the young man that undex the prevailing business conditions he should not need extraclerical assistance after that week. M-ullins - accepted his dismissal ingood part, and just before leaving on Saturday he asked, -'quite as "a matter of course, 1 Would you be willing to write me a recommendation. Mr. Ray 7 ' ' A recommendation ? v Why— ah— cerjLainly ! By the way, will . you let me look at the one that Mr. Perham gave you ? ' As Mr. Ray read the letter through, with considerable care this - time, a light broke in upon his -mind. Then, in a spirit of emulation, he turned to- the typewriter, his stenographer having gone, and produced the foliowing : ' I am pleased to say l/hat Mr. David Mullins, who has been in my employ, is an eminently worthy young man whose desire is^ to do well whatever he undertakes. I do not doubt that his services will be as satisfactory to any future employer as they have been to me. * • Henry Ray.' Mullins was much pleased with this,, the more - especially as he had secretly Jearcd that 'he had not"*, been entirely successful in the insurance business. He thanked his late employer heartily, and on Monday morning started on ULs search for. another place. His travels presently .brought him to an .office • which bore the sign, ' William Evans, Coal and Wood.' The proprietor was in, and although his Idemeanor was far from gracious, lie did listen to what his visitor had to say. ". '

' I have just turned off one fellow "who was of no earthly use,' he declared, in a rasping tone that seemed to match a hard look in his eyes. 'It is next to impossible to 'get Lany decent- help nowadays. Recommendations ? -;ohs,. of course ! They all have them.' He accepted ratheiC igingerly those that Mullins now offered, and glanced them over. • ' Hum — 'irreproachable' 'character — substantial business education — services satisfactory. Oh, they read ■•ell enough, of course ! Well, I want a man at one of my yards to\do the weighing and keep a lookout for things generally. I may as well try you as any one if you want the chance. \ You may start in at once, and I will give you a dollar a: day~until Saturday night." If 'you suit, I'll pay more after that. If,' you don't suit, you leave. What do you, say, yes or no ? ' _ " ' '' Mullins said .yes, -although the work was "hot 'quite what he had originally in aniud.

He was really much better adapted to this place than to his former one, and he easily learned its duties. Being of a practical turn of mind," he soon saw the need of improvements about the yard. For one thing, he became convinced that the scales were not accurate. Some of these matters he took the liberty ' to bring to the attention of his employer. When Saturday night came he was well satisfied— with his.' success in his new business,, and he went to- - the- office fully expecting a permanent engagement wi-th a handsome increase in salary. The proprietor had gone -Jukne, but the bookkeeper handed Mullyjs_an env.elope, which contained a- five-dollar bill and thfs note :

' Dear Sir,— l find upon trial that you do not'suit me, and I shall have no further use for your services. Enclosed please find five dollars, payment in full for five days' work. Yours, etc., '-William Evans.' This was a ci'uel blow to poor Mullins, and he turned, away . iu_ deep dejection, from which he had -by no means recovered^ when;: pn Monday morning, he again started on lAs rounds. It was indeed with very little -hope that- in the course of the forenoon he entered . the office of ' John Arkwright, Contractor.' 'But there was something r in Mr. Arkwright's shrewd', kindly tace that encouraged Mullins, and he was able to ' make - his • application . with less than his usual awkwardness. 'Good recommendations,- you say?' repeated -Mr. Arkwright, as he swung round in' his revolving chair and. peered" at his , visitor through steel-bowed spectacles. — - He read with some care those that were now put into /his hands, and as *he did so the pleasant smile tliat lighted up his rugged, features gave Mullins considerable encouragement. - - - , " J- . This your last place ? ' asked the contractor, with his thumb on Mr. Ray's signature. ' , ' No, sir. 'I was -with Mr. Evans, the coal ■ merchant for a short tin/e.-' ' That so ? Did he give tqu a when you - left ? ' . Mullins' flushed painfully. ' Yes, Ax,' he faltered, ' but I guess you couldn't call it a recommendation.' - 1 Oh, well, I'll be the judge of that. I'd like to look at it; if you don't mind.' J, _ . : v ' Well,' said itfr.. Arkwright at last," l I rather like your appearance, and I think that there . may be something in you. l don't need a bookkeeper 1 or a clerk, but I could / use a young fellow who wasn't .afraid to work, ai:id whose knowledge wasn't confined "to what he ' learn pd at school. I reckon most of I yours is outside of that,' he chuckled. '.If you say so, I will give you a ~chance... It will be oniy* day-laborer's pay, and not much different from day-laborer's "work at first ; fyut if you can learn to go ahea"d with a- job and- to handle m-en you may find 'it worth' your "and by.' Some ten years may be supposed to have elapsed. Mr. Perham was still at Pine Grove Seminary, although he had often felt a desire for a .wider field of usefulness,, with a correspondingly better' salary. He was therefore agreeably "surprised one day to receive a telegram, asking him. to meet the trustees of a flourishing school in another State, as a candidate for the posilion of .principal, and he readily accepted the invitation. ' . l After his interview he 'was, taken by one of the. trustees in his carriage to the railway- station.- " ' I b.t '.eve that I haven't told you~ how we happened to, look you up,' said the trustee, as they" -drove along.- ' The fact is, I became interested in you through 2 one ' of your old pupils, who is now a partner of mine.' Mr. Perham could not have told why, but instantly- .. there flashed before his mind's eye a scene in the bursar's office at the seminary, and he seemed to ,hear the words, ' I hope 1., may have a chance to..do' as much for you some- time!' — . ' What is his name ? ' he asked. And he was not entirely * surprised to hear the trustee-^answer ' 'Mullins.' 'He was calied out of the city to-day,' added the. trustee, 'or he would have been on .hand to meet' you. 1 " '*. . -. > 'He must have changed considerably since I saw * him,' remarked Mr^ Perham, in default of anything else ' to say. _ " ' " ' Well, he isn't so green as he was, but he is the same simple-hearted fellow, after all. For instance, he 'is still- - proud of Ihe testimonial,, that you gave him when he left' school.' * — „ ' -'. ' MrJ-TPerham had to blush before the quizzical glance,that came to him through steel-bowed spectacles. • , 'It was the best that I could do at the tim 6, Mr. Arkwright,' he said. " - ' Probably it was. ' I presume he didn't- shine —at school. But I reckon that I could give l&m a better re- "- commendation if occasion required. ; For one thing, I ■ could say ' that I thought . well enough of ■ him to take .him into my business— contracting, you know. He can get more work out of- a crew of men and keep them better naturcd than anyone else I know. To this day he', is always quoting things- that you said, "and " I i*iust say -- that 1 .they have generally struck me as good, sound sense. That is how I came to think of- you at this time. - So, Mr.- Perham, if you are elected— and I think you will be, though of course I am pnly_one of the trustees— if you are elected, it will be largely on the strength of Mullins' recommendation.' — ' Youth's Companion.'