The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1860-02-09
''DO You want a Boy, Sir p,

"Do you want boy, sir ?" said George,
little urchin scarcely eight years old, to
a sprucc-looking clerk III a large store.
''Want boy? Why, who wants to be
hired ?'' asked the clerk, looking with a
puzzled glance at the little applicant
~ do, sir" replied George
''Look here, gentlemen" cried the
young man, speaking to his fellow clerks,
"here is a regular Goliah seeking work
Wants to be porter, s'pose Look at
him Amt he a strapper 2"
The clerks gathered in great glee about
poor George, who stood full Of earnest
purpose before them, and was, therefore,
unconscious of any reason why he should
be made an object of sport.
''What can you do % asked one.
"You can post books, Of course" said
another.
Garry bale of goods on your shout
der, eh ?' cried third.
Hush, young gentlemen" cried the
elderly book-keeper at the desk, after
viewing George through his spectacles-
"'Hush Don't make sport Of the child
Let me talk to him" Then, speaking to
George in kindly tones, he said : You
are too young to be hired, my child. Who
sent you here :"
II came myself, sir My father and
mother are gone to heaven. My aunt is
poor, and L want to earn something to help
her. L am very strong, sir, and Will work
very hard. Won't you please to hire me ?"
This simple story, told in q way that
showed how earnest the boy was, not only
checked the sport Of the spruce clerks, but
brought tears to their eyes. They looked
on the delicate child before them with ad-
miration and respect, and one Of them
placing quarter dollar on the desk, asked
the rest to follow his example. They did
so. He took the money, and offered it to
George, saying:
E'You are too small to be of any use
here, my good boy, but take. the money,
and when you have grown a bit, perhaps
we may find something for you to do"
George looked at the money without
offering to touch it.
"Why don't you take the money!" ask
ed the clerk.
"If you please, sir, am not beggar," ;"
said George; Il only want something to
pay my aunt for keeping me-"
you are a noble little fellow" said the
senior clerk. ave give you the money,
not because we think you are beggar,
but because we like your spirit! Such Il
boy as you will never be beggar. Take
the change, my boy, and may God give
you and your aunt better days"
George now took the money, put it care
fully into his pocket, and left the store
His aunt, needy as she was, could not help
laughing when he told his story, and the
chiding she gave him for going in search
Of work without her counsel was not very
severe you may feel assured.
[ like Georges spirit in this affair. It
was the spirit that makes poor boys grow
into useful and successful men 1t made
George do this, for III after years that lit
tie boy became Il noted artist, whose praise
was spoken by many tongues. Ill chill
dren should cherish desire to do all they
can for themselves, and to support them
selves by their own labor as early as pos
sible. Those who lean on father and
mother for everything, will find it hard to
get along by-and-by, as they may have to
do when their parents die; while those
who early learn to rely upon themselves,
will have little difficulty in earning their
own living. Learn, therefore, my chill
dren, to help yourselves-always minding
to DO SO under the advice and with the
| consent Of your parents or guardians.