If this young man had politely said, "Sir, your machine is very dirty; I must clean it before I can write the letter," his criticism would have been received with the comment, "That young fellow knows his business," and ample time would have been given him to clean the machine.
Having attended to your machine, be ready to take dictation. Keep your note-book open at the proper place and the pen or pencil at hand. Go with alacrity, but quietly, of course, to the seat beside your employer's desk. Take down every word he says. If he dictates too rapidly, ask him to be kind enough to repeat, and say you will do better when you are accustomed to his voice. When you have the letters down, go to your machine and transcribe the shorthand with accuracy and despatch. Make sense of each letter and get each one out in first-class shape just as you learned to do in school. Don't hurry too much and make mistakes; make haste, but make haste slowly. Do your level best, and all will be well.
Ask someone at what hour you are to go for your lunch and how much time you are allowed. You need not worry the principal about this, but you will, no doubt, soon learn who is in charge of the office routine and from whom you are to take instructions. Be prompt and punctual in returning. Keep busy all the time, but keep busy on something useful. If you have a few minutes to spare from
