“Gentlemen,” said the head of the firm, rising as he spoke, and taking from the desk beside him some large cardboard signs, “I do not propose to have my own workmen dictate to _me_. I am going to hang these signs on our front door and give employment to whomever may apply for it.” The signs were thus inscribed: x-------------------------------x | | | HANDS WANTED | | | | ON | | | | SHORT STORIES. | | | x-------------------------------x x-------------------------------x | | | GIRLS WANTED | | | | FOR THE | | | | BAZAR AND YOUNG PEOPLE. | | | x-------------------------------x x-------------------------------x | | | STEADY EMPLOYMENT | | | | FOR | | | | SOBER, INDUSTRIOUS POETS. | | | | TWO RHYMES TO THE QUATRAIN. | | | x-------------------------------x But before Mr. Harper could carry out his resolution, a young man, clad in the ordinary working-garb of a poet, hurriedly entered the office, and, placing himself before the chief, exclaimed: “Stop, sir, before it is too late!” “And who are you, sir?” demanded the amazed publisher. “I am Henry Rondeau,” replied the young man, “and although I am only a humble, laboring poet, I feel that I can be of assistance to you to-day. I have a grateful heart, and cannot forget your kindness to me when I was unfortunate.” “Kindness? I confess that I do not remember any--” began Mr. Harper; but the poet interrupted him with: “Last summer, sir, when I got my fingers frost-bitten by being permitted to shake hands with Mr. Harry Harper, you not only allowed me half-pay, but gave my poor idiot sister a job in the factory as a reader of manuscript, thus enabling us to keep the wolf from the door until I was able to use a scanning-rule again.” “And a most invaluable assistant she is, too,” cried Mr. Alden, warmly; “she selects all the short stories for the magazine, and I doubt if you could find, even in the office of the _Atlantic Monthly_, any one with such keen perceptions of what the public do not want as Susan Rondeau, the idiot reader of Franklin Square.” At this moment a hoarse yell arose from the crowd of strikers beneath the window, and was borne to the ears of those who were gathered in the business office.