Who Are Wanted?

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 25, 1882

A GENTLEMAN in a responsible government office, when complimented on his long and well-appreciated service, replied, "There's nothing like making yourself indispensable."

This is worth thinking of. If you have a good place and wish to keep it, try to make yourself so useful that your employer cannot do without you.

The other day a gentleman was making inquiry for the purpose of finding a man to fill a responsible position in a large mercantile house. He came to a person whom he thought would be likely to give him accurate and honest information concerning several men whose names he had. One was discussed, and another, and another. Then the name of Mr. — was mentioned.

"The very man for the place; competent and worthy in every respect; but he cannot possibly be spared from the position he now holds."

"Sir," said the gentleman, "we do not want a man who can be spared?"

There was a big volume in that remark. "We do not want a man who can be spared!" What a multitude of men who can be spared cumber every avenue to promotion.

The barnacles, the sharks, the make-shifts, somebody's nephews, somebody's proteges, somebody's good-for-nothings. Young man, remember, please, that these are not the ones who are called for when responsible positions are to be filled.