Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1869-12-09

"About thirty years ago." said
Judge -, l stepped into a book
store at Cincinnati, in search of some
books which / wanted. While was
there little ragged boy, not over
twelve years of age, came in and en-
quired for a geography"
"Plenty of Them" said the sales
man.
"How much do they cost?"
zone dollar, my lad"
The little fellow drew back in dis
may, and taking his hands out of his
pockets, he commenced counting
some pennies and little silver pieces
which he had held in his hand until
they were damp with sweat. Sew
eral times accounted them; aud then
looking up he said:
~ didn't know they would cost so
much" He turned to go out, and
even opened the door, but closed it
and came back.
81 have only sixty-one cents" he
said; "you could not let me have a
geography, and wait little while
for the rest of the money!"
How eagerly the little boys bright
eyes looked up for the answer; and
how he seemed to shrink within his
ragged clothes when the man not
very kindly told him he could not.
The disappointed little boy looked
up to me, with a poor attempt at a
smile, and left the store. l followed
and overlook him.
Sand what now?" l asked, in a
kindly tone.
"Try another place, SIR"
"Shall / go too, and see how you
succeed?"
ooh yes, if you like" said he, in
surprise.
Four different stores I entered with
him. and each time he was refused.
"Will you try again?" I asked him.
eyes, sir, shall try them all or l
should not know whether l could get
one.'
We entered the fifth store, and the
little fellow walked up manfully and
told the gentleman just what he
wanted, and just how much money
he had.
"Do you want the book very, very
much? asked the proprietor.
ayes, sir; very much"
"Why do you want it so very, very
much?"
"To study, sir; can't go to school,
but l study when l can at home. All
the other boys have Biographies, and
they may get ahead of me. Besides,
my father was sailor, and want to
learn about the places where he used
to CO."
"Does he 60 to those places now?"
"He is dead" said the boy softly.
Then he added: 81 am going to be a
sailor, too"
"Are you, thought" said the gen.
tleman, looking at the little boy with
curiosity and admiration.
eyes, sir, if / live"
swell, my lad, I will tell you what
I will do; l will let you have a new
geography, and you may pay me the
remainder Of the money when you
can, or will let you have one that
Is not new for fifty CENTS"
"Are all the leaves in it, and just
like the others, only not new?"
eyes, just like the new ones, only
a little soiled and worm"
at will do just as well, then; and
I shall have eleven cents left toward
buying some other book. l am glad
they didn't let me have one at the
other places"
The bookseller looked up in4uir-
ingly; and related what had seen
of the little fellow. The man was
much pleased, and when he brought
the book noticed in it nice pencil
and some clean white paper.
"a present, my lad, for your per-
severance. Always have courage
like that, and you will surely make
your mark"
"Thank you, sir; you are very
good"
"What is your name, my boy3"
civilian Haverly, SIR"
..Do you want any more books?"
asked him.
"More than I can ever get" he re-
piled, glancing at the books which
filled the shelves. BE-
81 handed him a bank note, say
ing, 'It will buy you some more
books" ~.@-.Ah -1st S~.s-g- 4 ~ !,
z Tears OF Joy catne into his eyes as
he said: "Can I buy what l want to
with it?" ssi
eyes, my lad; anything"
'Then I'll buy q book for mother
said hs., IT thank you very much;