The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1870-05-26
CANT.n


Tommy was a New England bov.
the eldest son Of widow living n
humble circumstances near Boston.
Naturally ghtandactiye, he was
mach beloved and INDUCED at home
By his mother and sisters. In fact
tliey had got into the habit Of do,
ing nearly everything for him. lln-
til he thought that he could not
bring q pail Of water from the cis-
tern to the house or. black his
boots, himself. One evening an
uncle, who was usually appealed to
by Tommy's mother whenever she
needed some advice in the conduct
OF her affairs, came to the house.
and In the course Of conversation
said: By the way, sister, tits time
that boy Of yours was doing some.
thing Ear hisnaAl9- IEs-.1sust s7r- A.
teen years old now, and that isabout
the right age for a lad to- get good
clerkship.'
Yes, l know it, William faltered
the lady, but I'm afraid he's hard
ly strong enough TO take and keep
an errand-boy's place. You, know
his constitution has always been
delicate-besides we can't think Of
parting with him as yet
Tut, tut, the boys as strong and
hearty as ninc-tcnths of those Of
his age now in stores earning good
wages. He's been home too much,
and needs some ofthe outer worlds
discipline to develop and make a
man Of him; and in my opinion if
something is not done soon, he'll
be spoiled, and amount to moth
ing
We'll, brother said the widow,
with half sob, you know best
about these things, but do try to
get poor Tommy a good, easy
place-I wouldn't l;aye him knock
ed around for the world
The prudent uncle found a place
ror his nephew in the Office of a
friend, Mr.. Shaw, Of Boston, and
the anxious mother, after fitting
Tommy ont in the best style her
narrow circumstances afforded,
accompanied him to the city and
called ON the gentleman. After
introducing herself and Tommy,
she said: i hope, sir, that the
word my son will have to do here
may not prove too much for his
strength &e
DO not trouble yourself on that
account, dear madam, said Mr..
Shaw, who at once appreciated the
condition Of things; my require
ments will not be severe, and be-
sides, / will promise you that
whatever he. can't do, I'll do for
him. Isa.t tl
After some further talk the wild
ow departed, we'll satisfied with her
sons employer. At the close of
the day, when it was time to leave
the Office, Mr.. Shaw said to Tommy,
Il want you to be here bright and
early tomorrow morning, to open
the office, make the fire, and sweep
out, and have everything shining
by the time / show myself
Yes, SIR answered Tommy.
When Mr.. Shaw showed himself
the next morning, nothing had
been done. There was no fire,
and the litter of yesterday still
Numbered the floor, while Tommy
stood in the midst, looking help-
less and fearful.
How is this, Tommy he said:
why have you not done as l re-
questedf'
oh, / can't, sir, Ican't.'
We'll, don't cry about it. said
Mr.. Shaw. 4 told your mother,
you know, that what you couldn't
do, I'd do for YOU And Mr.
Shaw went to work, and in jitfy
had a bright fire cracking in the
CRATE, and things cleaned up SO
that the office looked cheerful
and attractive. Tommy conclud-
ed he had found a splendid situa-
tion.
At night when they were leaving
Mr.. Shaw said, Now, my boy, let
me see what you can do tomorrow
morning toward cleaning up and
fixing things
The next day, however, the same
programme was repeated, the clerk
doing nothing more than looking
on, while the master put the office
in order for business. Then at
night Mr.. Shaw said: Tommy, you
must have learned by this time
how to make the fire, dust and
sweep out. Tomorrow morning
| intend to take a horse back-ride
after breakfast, and will not be
down as early as usual. Can you
not promise to have everything in
order when l Gomez
Il guess So answered Tommy.
But the next morning Mr.. Shaw
made his appearance, riding-whip
in hand, on a scene scarcely differ
ent from that of the two previous
mornings.
Here, Tommy, take this said
Mr.. Shaw, in a pleasant tone, ex-
tending the whip to him, and give
yourselfa a good trouncing.'
oh, l can't, sir; l can't whined
Tommy.
We'll, don't cry, my boy. I told
your mother, as you remember, that
what you couldn't do, I'd do for
you.'
So Mr.. Shaw did for Tommy
what Tommy couldn't do for him
self, and doubtless did it well, for
Tommy never said Il can't to him
again, and found himself quite
equal to the task Of making a good
fire and sweeping out the office in
the morning before Mr., Shaw en-.