Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1852-12-16
JERRY ALBRIGHTs CLERkSnIP,
GETS HIS EMPLOYER IsT,o & !. STl-F,5-7,
NESS

case He seen recovered from the Injuries
reserved II his pork speculation, is now q.
bout again, smart As ever, hus in no Wise
cured Of his misehieyOus prepensities.
Let me enter-in imaginatier-tlfe don;.
ell Of the Albright's, and see what is going
on It is little past eight o'clock the tea
things hare been cleared away. and every.
thing looks comfortable and quiet: the besa
Of the family is seated in his arm chair, read
ing the village papers to his g bettsr.haIfn
. home made dip burns brightly on the
little table between the old folks, aud by its
light We discover Jerry, snugly enscoaced ia
the corner of the fireplace farthest from, bis
sire; In bis lap is the old pet tom cat, per.
fSetfJ eo1fecnvcSA- lJvrtn. amt uya
the roguish twinkle Of Jerry's eye it is evi.
dent that something's up He. carefully
takes small parcel out Of his pocket and
brings to view fOdr half walnut shells, hsl.
lowed out like little beats, together with
piece of shoemakers wax Holding the wax
tofhe1 fire till It was nica and soft he pla
cHs&ome Of il into each she'll, aud then fas.
tens the eats feet ia them | Giving the cat
pinch and~a toss, Jerry leaned back to see
the fun, little thinking il would kick up
such i racket as thatMAica followed Poor
tommy jumped and cIattered in every d..
raetion, in manner that would knock the
coheeit out Of any. castinet player in the
world
Whato on earth is that boy ZIP to now y
exclaimed the old man, starting from his
seat, and making for Jerry
The young scape grace bounded from the
corner, and started on run around the
room, his father close after him, and the
newly shod cat little ahead of both. This
comieal race didR't last long for the cat soon
became frantic and dashed through the win
dow, and the old man collared Jerry, gave
him good larruping, and sent him to bed.
That boy fairly worries the life out Of
me- said Jerrys mother, after he had rctir-
ed He's So full of mischief there's re get
ting along with him
That's fact mother replied the old man
and he is now old enough, suppose We send
him from home to shift for himself | see
by advertisement in the Chronicle that old
Hawkins, at the . Corners, wants smart,
intelligent lad to tend his store, and L think
it VIII be good place for the boy
Yes responded the lady, think we'd
best send him he'll keep out of mischief,
for while at least
In the morning Jerry was accordingly
packed of to the country merchant, who
liked his appearance, and agreed to take
him, on trial
Our hero got on finely for the first few
weeks and became fayorite with the folks
at the Corners He was so quick and O.
bliging, and such dear little fellow, as
the girls called him, fer he invariably hand
ed them their parcels of tea, sugar, raisins,
&c, with sweet smile, and hoped they'd
have "a good time at the next pairing bee
The novelty of the place soon began to wear
eff. and Jerry set his wits at work to hatch
up schemes of fun and mischief
Like all country stores; Hawkins had its
!, set oil loungers, who whiled away their time
in talking politics, specializing Oh the.weath-
er and crops, and playing checkers for
drinks, peanuts, &c Among the hangers
on were two inyeterate old suckers, named
SMigum and Swager who were always oppo,
site to each other in checkers or argument
They would mount little counter that ran
acress at the back part of the store and
blow away, to the annoyance Of everybody
within hearing Jerry resolved to play
them trick in order to get rid OF them, If
possible. A single board upheld enc end of
the narrew counter. This Jerry loosened
frem the floor. aud fixed it SO that it could
be jerked out very easily and then fastened
stout cord to the foot of the board, ran it
along back of the counter to the other end
Of tue store, placed some decayed vegetables
in close proximity with the counter, and
then waited his chance Shortly after fixing
the trap, and while Jerry was explaining the.
,modus operandi to couple Of blooming
country girls, in came the old dodgers and
took their fayerite seat They were sooa
engaged in an exciting argument, aud were
layiag it down ia Cue style, when all at once
the counter gave way, and they lay sprawl.
ing aud swearing on their backs among lot
ancient pumpkins, cabbages, carrots and
beets,1 while Jerry and the girls were laugh
ing and rubbing their hands together at the
other end lof the store, with such exclama.
tions as sCrickery, what fun oh, my I
what aTsmashp aud then r3n down to see
what the matter was The old coyeys went
m1nbling out Of the stere, and we're not
seen again for some time.
Ole day Mr. Hawkins came into the
store rather unexpectedly, las it was sup
posed he was off buying up eggs, butter,
&c D and found great oysrgrown country
man stufing himself with figs, raisins, nuts
and candy, with gusto thatthreatened q
total snnihilatien Of the sweatmeat stock.
Where's jerry And who the devil
gave you the liberty TO help yourself IN gAss
STYLE y shouted Hawkins
He's riding my horse, and told M 20
help myself till he came back, muttered the
clown, dropping handful Of figs and three
smoked herring
Jerry soon made his appearance The
horse was covered with sweat; and as he
rode up to the door Hawkins pulled him from
the saddle, and threatened that if he ever
left the store again in bis absence, be would
break every bone in his body, and send him
home in basket
Jerry now tried to regain his employers
favor BY close application to business but
his greatest draw back lag in being too
smart. The next day, whiSe weighing four
pounds Of sugar, he slapped the weight into
the scale with flourish, that seat it rolling
Of the counter, c-h-u-g, into basket Of eggs
Old Hawkins flew into passion, snd
swore that heshsuld leave the store the very
next time he committed blunder.
Things went on smoothly after this for a
week or SO, TIL enc afternoon an old woman
came in with a.churn, to be filed with mo
lasses. She had . great many preserves
to do up, and thought churn would do as
4