Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1878-11-09

Will none Of tine others SUIT - aid
John.
NO. l have wanted shi. book for
some time"
"You can have il for seventy i've
cents, sid John. eagerly.
II don't want . mutilAied copy ct
all"
John handed him hack the dollar.
and closing his sAichs'. the man walked
on fec steps, and cat down in an open
doorsay TO sait for his train. He vAs
Q ruddy. fat oil gentleman. nth
kindly, shresd blue eve. Having moth
ing TO do, he thought the occurrence
over leisurely.
That's an homes, lad" he said to the
proprietor Of the shop In which he
stood. He might have cheated me
lost nov. but be did not"
Who? John NJ lavish. A. honee.
q steel. He's been under my eye nos
for four Year,. and ! knos him to be ~
truthful q lad a. ever vas horn Of scotch
blood
"Um, UNI aid the old gentleman.
Bh be put on his spectAcles and eyed
John from heal to foot.
The next day be stopped at the same
shop. and walked up to the proprietor.
"Ho~'s lie fer intelligence, now
he began, Us If the conversation hal
stopped the momen, before. stupid,
probably ,"
Il don't think he's very sharp in
trade" Vas the reply; but he's very
handy boy. He has made good many
convenient knickknacks for the neigh
bors-that book shelf, for instance"
why, that's the very thing want
in o boy! Well. there's my train.
Good day, SIR"
He'll be back again. Odd old fell
low" said the merchant. laughing.
The next day he was back, and he
came q: the same hour.
II like that boys looks, sir. I've
been watching him. But of course he
has dozen elations--drunken father
-rag-tag OF brothers who would fol-
low him?"
mo. He has only mother, and she
is decent, God-fearing Scotch woman
"a good seamstress, John tells me. but
can get no work. Times are dull here
Just now. Pity the country folks will
pour into the cities. Mrs. M'Tavish
has nothing but what the boy earns at
his stand yonder."
The old gentleman made no reply.
But the next day he went up to the
boys stand. John was looking pale
and anxious. Some of his regular Gus.
toners had refused to take their maya
zines-times being 30 hard. They
would be dead loss on his hands.
paper? Magazines, sir?" he asked.
"No. A word with you, my lad.
Ny name is Bohnn. I am the owner OF
the Bordale Nurseries, about thirty
miles from here. I want q young man
to act as clerk and salesman on the
grounds, at q salary of forty dollars a
month, and woman who will be strict
and orderly, to oversee the girls who
pack fower-seeds, at twenty-four dol.
lars month. I offer the positions to
you and your mother, and give you
until tomorrow to think it over"
"But you-you don't know me, sir!''
gasped John.
II know you very we'll. generally
know what I am about. Tomorrow
be ready to give your answer. I will
take you four weeks on trial. If am
satisfied, the engagement will be re-
newed for year"
All the rest of the day, John felt like
one in dream. Everybody had heard
of the Bordale Nurseries, and of good
old Isaac Bohnn, their owner. But
what had he done, that this earthly
paradise should be opened to him p?
you'll come. eh ?" said Mr.. Bohnn,
the next day, Thought you would.
When can you begin work?'
SAT once, sir"
"Good! By the way, there's vacant
house on the grounds, which your
mother can have, rent free, if she re.
mains with me. A mere box, but big
enough. There's my team. Suppose
you come out, M'Tavish, and look about
you? You can come back at night"
John locked up the stand, sent mes
sage to his mother, and went with Mr..
Bohnn. He had not yet told his mother
of their change in affairs.
He was very silent when he came
home that evening, but oddly tender
with his mother; and she noticed that
ue TomaAuou 1OuS Glmo on MS knees
at prayer that night.
They had onlya little bread and milk
for breakfast the next morning, and
John scarcely tasted it.
"You look as if you could not bear
this much longer, mother" he said,
coming up to her, and putting his
hands on her shoulder. "You need
good wholesome meals, and the fresh
air, and the hills and the trees, instead
Of dhis"-looking out at the piled
stacks Of chin.neys belching forth the
black smoke Of an iron foundry.
Don't talk Of them, John, ladr'
"Well, WON'T" and he put on his
hat and went out.
An hour later he came back.
"What is wrong? Why have you
left the stand ?" asked his mother In
alarm.
I'VE are going 10 have an outing,
mother. Don't say . word. can A.
ford it."
She never had seen the boy 20 full
OF excitement. He hurried her 10 the
station. and soon they we're gliding