The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-05-29
I" WANTED-A BOY !"


make himself generally useful.
Mr. Peppergrass came out, with his
cap on the back of his head and his
spectacles pushed high up on his
forehead, to wafer this written notice
on the side of his store. And five min
utes afterward Git might have been
less, on it might have been more) a
crowd of eager little lads assembled
around it, standing on tip-toe to read
every word.
Johnny Jarvis had been just dis
charged from his place as cash-boy in a
dYy-goods store because business was
dull and customers few.
He was fine, tall boy of twelve,
with bright black eyes and a laughing
mouth, and he didn't at all like having
nothing to do.
Charlie Warner wanted situation
because there were a good many little
Warmers and nothing to feed them with
since their father died.
Louis Brown had been out of regular
employment ever since the china factory
closed in the fall.
For these little fellows belonged to
the innumerable army of boys who can
not play and enjoy the bright hours as
they 90 by, but must work and drudge,
and count every day lost that does not
bring in its corresponding wages.
Children, did you ever think how hard
the world was on these poor little toll
ersp
1t was not long before Mr.. Pepper
grass store was full of boys who wanted
to "run errands and make themselves
generally useful"
Big boys and little boys, tall boys and
short boys, well-dressed boys and shah
by boys-boys who leaned up against
the flour and potato barrels, as if they
had left their backbones at home; boys
who stood straight up-boys who took
off their caps, and boys who kept them
on. And still they kept coming.
:" Hold onp' said Mr.. Peppergrass.
''This will do!''
So he took down the notice and bolt
ed the store-door.
"Now, l will proceed to business"
said Mr.. Peppergrass, rumpling up his
hair and adjusting his spectacles so as to
make his keen, gray eyes sharper than
ever.
A few penetrating chances, half a
dozen questions, and the number of
boys was speedily reduced to our three
little friends-Johnny Jarvis, Charlie
Warner and Louis Brown.
They were all three willing and anx-
ious to work; all three brought good
recommendations, had honest faces,
wanted to enter on the situation at
once, and wrote neat, round hands.
Humph! humph!' said Mr.. Pepper
grass, with his hands locked under his
coat-tails behind. "There's three of
you, and l can't find work for three
boysr'
The little lads said never word, but
looked eagerly at the grocer, each one
hoping that he might be the boy select
ed "to run errands and make himself
generally useful"
Mr. Peppergrass stared hard at the
spice-boxes and preserve-bottles in the
window, frowned at the cracker-boxes,
and finally made up his mind.
Brown!'' said he.
"Sirp' said Louis Brown.
A "rll try you on few sums. / want
my boy to understand the first princi-
Piles of arithmeticr'
liam good at figures, sirr' cried
Louis.
care you?" said Mr. Peppergrass.
every well; I'll give you trial"
He wrote down labyrinth of figures
on slate, and then opened the door of
little room which communicated with
the store.
"Sit down here, Brown, and work
out these sums" said he. "Tll come
to you in a few minutes"
Johnny Jarvis and Charlie Warner
looked blankly at each other, then at
the grocer.
"Please, sir, what are we to do?"
said they.
"You are to wait" said Mr.. Pepper
grass, shortly. "Your turns will come
in due time"
The sums were not especially hard,
and Louis Brown was quick at figures.
He soon dispatched his task and began
TO look around.
1t was stuffy, close-smelling little
room, with one window close up to the
ceiling, and curious, old-fashioned
bookcase or desk, with glass doors,
lined with faded red silk, in the corner.
II do wonder what Mr.. Peppergrass
keeps there?" said Louis, to himself;
and after he had wondered a little
while, he got up and went softly toward
the desk. The key is in the lock"
said he; there can't be any harm in
looking. Perhaps there are story-books
--or maybe curious shells and stones
Or"
As these thoughts crossed his mind
he open the silk-lined door. Buz-z-zz
whew! out flew beautiful pearl
colored dove.
Louis stood aghast. In vain were his
efforts to capture the little creature.
1t fluttered from the top of the book
case to a pile of boxes beyond, and
thence to the top molding of the win
dows, as if it enjoyed the chase; and in