The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-02-27

four years, and l know him to be as
truthful lad as ever was born of Scotch
blood"
Gum, um!' said the old gentleman
But he put on his spectacles and eyed
John from head to foot.
The next day he stopped at the same
shop and walked up to the proprietor.
SLOWS he for intelligence, now" he
began, as if the conversation had
stopped the moment before. "Stupid
probably?'
Il don't think he's very sharp in
trade, was the reply, "but he's very
handy boy. He made a good many con-
verientnicknacll for the neighborhood-
that shelf, for instance
"Why, that's the very thing l want in
a boy Well, there's my train. Good
day, sir"
"He'n be back asain Odd old fellow"
said the merchant, laughing.
The next day he was back, and he
came at the same hour.
81 like that boy looks, sir. I've been
watching him. But of course he has a
dozen relations drunken father-rag-
tag of brothers-who would follow him 2
"No. He only has mother, and she
is decent fearing Scotch woman
good seamstress, John tells me, but
she can get no work. Pity the country
folks will pour into the cities. Mrs.
McTavish 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 so hard. They would
be dead loss on his hands.
''Paper? Magazines, sirl' he asked.
''No. A word with you, my lad. My
name is Sohnn. am the owner Of the
Bordale Nurseries, about thirty miles
from here. l want young man to act
as clerk and salesman on the grounds at
salary of forty dollars per month, and
woman, who will be strict and orderly,
to work with girls who pack flower seed,
at twenty-four dollars. l offer the posi-
ton to you and your mother, and give
you until tomorrow to think it over"
"But you-you-don't know me, sir"
81 know you very well. generally
know what l am about. Tomorrow be
ready to give your answer. l will take
you four weeks on trial. If l am salts
fed, the engagement will be renewed 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.
"You'll come, chr said Mr.. Bohnn,
the next day. Thought you would.
When can you begin work p
| CAT once, siI.
"Good By the way, there's a vacant
house on the grounds, which your mother
can have, rent free, if she remains with
me. A mere box, but big enough.
There's my team. Suppose you come
out, McTavish, 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 the change in their affairs.
They had only little bread and milk
for breakfast next morning, and John
scarcely tasted it.
"You look as if you could not bear
this much longer, mother" he said, put
ting his hands on her shoulders. "You
need good, wholesome meals, and fresh
air, and the hills and trees, instead Of
this" looking out at the piled stacks of
chimneys, belching forth the black smoke
Of an iron foundry.
"Dont talk of them, John, lad"
"Well, l WON'T" and he put en- bis
hat and went out.
An hour later he came back.
whats wrong. Why have you left
the stand Z" asked his mother in alarm.
"We are going to have an outing,
mother. Don't say word. l can af-
ford it
She never had seen the boy so full of
excitement. He hurried her to the sta
ton, and soon they were gliding among
beautiful rolling hills, and across lovely
meadows, that were sweet with the odor
of the new-mown hay. At noon they
came to stretches of rising ground, COW
cred with numerous young trees Of del