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Just Going To Do It
by
Notwithstanding this minor defect in Paul’s character, his great shrewdness and thorough knowledge of business made him a successful merchant. In matters of primary interest, he was far-seeing, active, and prompt, and as these involved the main chance, his worldly affairs were prosperous. Whatever losses he encountered were generally to be traced to his neglect of little matters in the present, to his habit of “going to do,” but never doing at the right time.
Not only in his business, but in his domestic affairs, and in every thing that required his attention, did this disposition to put off the doing of little things show itself. The consequences of his neglect were always disturbing him in one way or another. So long as he alone suffered, no one had a right to complain; but it is not to be supposed that such a fault as he was chargeable with could exist and not affect others.
One day while Paul was at his desk, a young lady, dressed in deep mourning, came into his store and asked to see him. The clerk handed her back to where his principal was sitting, who bowed low to the stranger and offered her a chair. The young lady drew aside her veil as she seated herself, and showed a young and beautiful face that was overcast with a shade of sadness. Although Paul never remembered having seen the young lady before, he could not help remarking that there was something very familiar in her countenance.
“My name is Miss Ellison,” said the stranger, in a low, tremulous voice. “I believe you know my mother, sir.”
“Oh, very well,” quickly returned Paul. “You are not Lucy Ellison, surely?”
“Yes, sir, my name is Lucy,” returned the young lady.
“Can it be possible? Why, it seems but yesterday that you were a little girl. How rapidly time flies! How is your mother, Miss Ellison? She is one of my old friends.”
“She is well, I thank you, sir,” Lucy replied, casting her eyes timidly to the floor.
There was a pause. While Paul was turning over in his mind what next to say, and slightly wondering what could be the cause of this visit, the young lady said, “Mr. Burgess, my mother desired me to call upon you to ask your interest in procuring me the situation of French teacher in Mr. C—-‘s school. Since my father’s death, our means of living have become so much reduced that it is necessary for me to do something to prevent absolute want from overtaking us.”
Lucy’s voice trembled very much, and once or twice a choking sensation in her throat prevented the utterance of a word; but she strove resolutely with herself, and was able to finish what she wished to say more calmly.
“I am perfectly ready,” she continued, “to do any thing that lies in my power. The French language I have studied thoroughly, and having enjoyed the friendship and been on terms of intimacy with two or three French ladies of education, I believe I can speak the language with great accuracy. Mother says she knows you to be on intimate terms with Mr. C—-, and that a word from you will secure me the situation.”
“Mr. C—-is, then, in want of a French teacher?”
“Oh, yes,” replied Lucy; “we learned the fact yesterday. The salary is five hundred dollars, which will give us a comfortable support if I can obtain the situation.”
“Of which there can be no doubt, Miss Ellison,” returned Paul, “if your qualifications are such as to meet the approval of Mr. C—-, which I presume they are. I will certainly call upon him and secure you the place, if possible. Tell your mother that if in this or in any other way I can serve either you or her, I will do it with sincere pleasure. Please take to her my kind regards.”
Lucy warmly expressed her thanks. On rising to depart, she said, “When shall I call in, Mr. Burgess, to hear the result of your interview with Mr. C—-?”