1887 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



727 



speaking signs herself '• (". K."' During 

 the busy season she has sonietinies two as- 

 sistants', and almost always at least one as- 

 sistant. This assistant is seen with her 

 back toward us. Either the photographei- 

 didn't call her, or else she didn't see lit to 

 look around. She signs hereell' '" Mattie ;" 

 and although she is younger tlian most of 

 the otliers in tlu^ otlicr. she lias distinguish- 

 ed lierself for remarkable accuracy and 

 faitiifiil attendance to her work. Whenever 

 I hear too uuich fun going on in the office, 

 consistent with tlie saiety of our business, 1 

 never feel afraid that Mattie has any voice 

 in it— that is, during working hours, and I 

 l)elieve this has much to do with the accura- 

 cy of her work. 



them up. If they go to the wrong postoffice, 

 or if she makes any sort of mistake in town, 

 county, or State, she bears the responsibili- 

 ty, (loods that are needed almost every day 

 are piled up on desks at her side, or before 

 her. For instan(;e, the A 15 (' book, Terry's 

 potato-book, smokers, and other things that 

 are called for almost constantly, are already 

 tied up, so she lias notiiing to do but to 

 write the applicant's name and address on 

 the package. Hetween tiiese two last clerks, 

 on one side, you will iiotici' a couple of mail- 

 bags. These arc susi)eiided by a sort ol' 

 heavy iron bag-holder, and these bag-hold- 

 ers can be raised or lowered by means of a 

 set-screw. After the mail packages are ad- 

 diesspd. the proper amount of postage is put 



»L K ouke: a glimpse of some of the brain-workeks at the home of the honey-beer. 



Right back of Mattie sits another clerk 

 also, with her back toward us. This is no 

 othei- than our friend '• Lu." who has been 

 with us so many years that you almost all, 

 doubtless, feel "more or less acquainted with 

 her. I presume the reason why she didn't 

 turn around was because she is quite deaf ; 

 and if the photographer tried to make her 

 hear he probably did not succeed. She has 

 for years had charge of all our letters con- 

 taining orders for goods by mail. She looks 

 them over carefully, decides what to send 

 and how to send it, and then the letter is 

 given to Mrs. W., before mentioned. 



The remaining clerk nearest us. with her 

 face tills way. is Addie. It is her business 

 to address packages after Mrs. W. has tied 



on by affixing stamps of dift'erent denomina- 

 tions from the stamp-drawer right at hand. 

 When they commence filling the bags, the 

 bag-holder is raised away up so the bottom 

 is clear from the tloor. Wlieu partly full, 

 the holder is slipped down ; and when the 

 mail-boy comes for them at half-past three, 

 the bag-holders are simply dropped down 

 out of the way, and he comes down stairs 

 pulling a bag after him with either hand. 

 He has a wheelbarrow of his own, standing 

 right by the outside door, unless somebody has 

 borrowed it, and we have had some jangles 

 and some loud scolding because, in spite of 

 printed notices on the front board of said 

 barrow, somebody i)ersists in borrowing it, 

 and then forgcls t(» bring it back. If you 



