Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-11-03
Plucky.

The boy marched straight up to the
counter.
"well, my little man." said the merchant
complacently- had just risen from such
a gloriously good dinner" what will you
have to-day 2"
"Oh, please, sir, mayn't do some work
for you p
1t might have been the pleasant blue eyes
that did it, for the man was not accustomed
to parley with such small gentlemen, and
Tommy wasn't seven yet, and small Of his
age at that
"Do some work for me, Ell ? WE'LL now,
about what sort of work might your small
mansbip calculate to be able to perform
Why, you can't look over the counter
"Oh, yes, can, and I'm growing, please,
growing very fast--there see if / can't
look over the counterl'
eyes, by standing on your toes; are they
coppered ?"
"What, sir ?"
"Why, your toes. Your mother couldn't
keep you in shoes II they weren't"
"She can't keep me in shoes anyhow, SIR"
and the voice hesitated.
The man took pains to look over the
counter. 1t was too much for him; he
couldn't see the little toes. Then he went
all the way around.
81 thought | should need a microscope"
he said very gravely, "but reckon if get
close enough, can see what you look like"
| I'm older than I'm big, sir" was the
neat rejoinder. Folks say I'm very small Of
my age"
"And what might be your age, sir ?" re-
sponded the man with emphasis.
"Pm almost seven," said Tommy, with a
look calculated to impress even six feet nine
"You see my mother hasn't anybody but me
and this morning saw her crying because
she couldn't find five cents in her pocket
book, and she thinks the boy that took the
ashes stole it-and-I-haven't -had-any
-any-breakfast, SIR"
The voice again hesitated, and tears came
to the blue eyes.
81 reckon i can help you to breakfast
my little fellow" said the man, feeling in his
vest-pocket There, will that quarter dor
The boy shook his head. another would
not let me beg, sir WIS the simple reply.
Humph Where's your father 2"
awe never heard of him, sir, after he
went away. He was lost, sir, in the steamer
City of Boston,"
"Ah you don't say. That's bad. Blu
you are plucky little fellow, anyhow. Lei
me see,-and he pondered, pickering up hii
mouth and looking straight down into tn,
boys eyes, which were looking straight W
into his. Sanders" he added, addressing
a clerk, who was rolling up and writing OIL
parcels, sis Cash No. 4 still sick ?"
dead, sir; died last night" was the low
reply.
"Ah, I'm sorry to hear that. Well, her,
is youngster that can take his place"
Mr.. Saunders looked up slowly-then b,
put his pen behind his left ear-then hi
glance travelled curiously from Tommy u
Mr.. Towers.
"Oh, understand said the latter ye
he is small, very small indeed, but like hi
pluck. What did No. get 2"
Three dollars, sir" said the still aston
ished clerk.
"Pat this boy down four. There, young
ster, give him your name, and run home anC
tell your mother you've got place at fou
dollars week. Come back on Monday, anc
III tell you what to do. Here's a dollar il
advance; I'll take it out of your first week
Can you remember ?"
"Work, sir-work all the time ?"
Tommy shot out of that shop. II eve
broken stairs, that had twist through tn,
whole flight, cracked and trembled unde
the weight of a small boy, or perhaps, a,
might be better stated, laughed and chucklec
on account of small boys good luck, those
in that tenement-house enjoyed themselve.
thoroughly that morning.
I've got it, mother I'm took I'm q
cash-boy Don't you know when they tax.
the parcels the clerks call cash p Well
I'm that Four dollars week and the
man said had real pluck-courage, you
know. And here's dollar for break fast
and don't you never cry again, for Pm the
man Of the house now -
The house was only ten-by-ffteen room
but how those blue eyes did magnify it
At first the mother look COMPOUNDED then
she looked faint; and then she looked-wel
it passes my power to tell how she did look
as she caught the boy in her arms, and hug
ged him and kissed him, the tears streaming
down her cheeks. But they were tears o.
thankfulness now.-Youih's Companion.