The Iola register., 1880-05-21


Destined to scatter the seed that grows
--Mdry b. Dodge, IN Wide-Atr0tc.
"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 Gt might have been
less, or 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
dry-goods store. because business was
dull and customers few.
He was a 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 a situation
because there were 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 go 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
ers?
It 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 bows who kept them
on. And still they kept coming.
"Hold onr' said Mr.. Peppergrass.
'@This will dor'
So he took down the notice and bolt
ed the StOre-dOOr.
"Now, 1 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 glances, 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! humphr' said Mr.. Pepper
grass, with his hands locked under his
cOat-tails behind. "There's three of
you. and I can't find work for three
boys!'
The little lads said never q word, but
looked eagerly at the grocer, each one
hoping that he might be the boy select
ed 1st0 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.
Brownr' said he.
"Sirr' said Louis Brown.
'rn try you on q few sums. Iwant
my boy to understand the first princi-
Piles of arithmeticr'
lam 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 q slate, and then opened the door of
q little room which communicated with
the store.
"Sit down here. Brown, and work
out these sums" said he. "rn come
to YOU in few minutes,
Johnny Jarvis and Charlie Warner
looked blankly at each other, then at
the grocer.
"Please. sir, what are we to dor
said they.
"You are to watt" 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 q stuffy, close-smelling little |
room, with one window close up to the |
ceiling, and q 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: