Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1873-06-10
William HaVerly.

some books that | wanted. While
there, a little ragged boy, not over
twelve years of age, came in and
inquired for geography"
"Plenty of them," said the Gales
man.
"How much do they cost :"
Gone dollar, my lad
The little fellow drew back in
dismay, and taking his little hand
out of his pocket, he commenced to
count some pennies and little silver
pieces that he had held until they
were damp with sweat. Several
times he counted them and then
said:
81 didn't know they were so
much"
He turned to go out and even
opened the door, but closed it again
and came back.
81 Lave only sixty-one CENTS"
said he, "you could not let me have
a geography and wait little while
for the rest Of the money!
How eagerly his bright little eyes
looked 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 fellow looked up
to me with very poor attempt at a
smile, and left the store. | follow
cd and overlook him.
sand what now!" / asked kind
ly.
"Try another place, sir"
"Shall go too and see how you
succeed p | inquired.
"Oh, yes, if you like" said he in
surprise.
-Four different stores / entered
with him, and each time he was re-
fused.
"Will you try again ?" I asked.
eyes, sir; shall try them all, or
/ should not know whether l could
get one."
We entered the fifth store and
the little fellow walked up manful-
ly and told the gentleman just what
he wanted and how much money he
had.
"You want book very much 2"
said the proprietor.
"1es, sir, very much
"Why do you want the geogra-
ply so very much %
''To study, sir; 1 can't go to
school, but l study when l can at
home. All the boys have got one
and they will get ahead of me. Be-
sides, my father was sailor and /
want to learn of the places where he
used to CO."
"Does he go to those places
now 2"
"He is Dead" said the boy softly.
Then he added, after awhile 81
am going to be a sailor, too"
"Are you, though 2" asked the
gentleman, raising his eyebrows
curiously.
eyes, sir, if live."
"Well, my lad, / will tell you
what 1 will do. will let you have
a new geography, and you pay the
remainder of the money when you
can, or will let you have one that
is not new for fifty cents"
care the leaves all in just like
the others, only not new Z"
"Yes, just like the new ones.'
at will do just as well then, and
I'll have eleven cents left towards
buying some other book. I'm glad
they didn't let me have any at the
other places"
The book seller looked up in
quiringly, and l told him what l
had seen of the little fellow. He
was much pleased, and when he
brought the book along / saw a
nice, new pencil and some clean
white paper i'll it.
ga present, my lad, for your per-
severance. Always have courage
like that and you will make your
mark"
"What is your name !"
civilian Haverly."
"Do you want any more books ?"
/ asked him.
"More than | can ever get," he
replied, glancing at the books that
filed the shelves.
gave him bank note. at will
buy some for you," l said.
Tears of JOY came into his eyes.
"Can l buy what / want with
itp
Eyes, my lad, anything"
"Then III buy one book for
MOTHER said he. 81 thank you
very much, and some day 1 hope l
can pay you back"
He wanted my name and / gave
it to him; then l left him standing
by the counter so happy that ! al
most envied him; and many years
passed before l saw him again.
Last year l went to Europe on
one of the finest vessels that
ploughed the Atlantic. We had
beautiful weather until very near
the end of the voyage, then came a
most terrific storm that would have
sunk all on board, had IL not been
for the captain. Every spar was