Perhaps two hundred members of the Stock Exchange have private telephones in the building, and there is a squad of some fifty or more boys in blue uniforms who look after these telephones. The Stock Exchange has its own messenger service, each boy wearing a gray uniform with a military cap. The duties of these messengers is to run from the Exchange to the offices of the members.
All these boys are remembered at Christmas-time. The members of the Exchange subscribe from five to twenty-five dollars each to make up the gratuity fund, which is divided among the boys according to their time of service. Those who have been there two or three years obtain quite a handsome little present during the holiday season.
Then there are boys connected with the American District Messenger service; there are Western Union Telegraph boys; Cable Telegraph boys; boys in the offices of lawyers, corporations, and the like. But the principal and most important boy of all is the one who starts in an office at a small salary, determined to win his way to fame and fortune, and possessing the ability and intelligence to do so.
THE MIDDLETON BOWL.[1]
BY ELLEN DOUGLAS DELAND.
CHAPTER IV.
"Boys," said Mrs. Hoyt, "the Misses Middleton have met with a great loss. Their beautiful bowl is broken. You have seen it, and you have heard of its value, and you can imagine how badly they feel about it, and now they are trying to find out who broke it. You were at their house this morning, I believe. Do you know anything about it?"
Raymond and Clement were unmistakably very much surprised. They had not heard of the accident before, it was plainly to be seen, and they eagerly disclaimed all knowledge of the affair.