Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-03-25

taking the letters for the mail, lef,
the Office. The poor boys face was
very grave as he walked toward the
post Office He had received q crush.
ing blow. 1t was now summers
very unfavorable time TO obtain
employment-and it was possible
he might be without q place till Sep.
TENDER.
| Els mother was unfit for work,
and the prospect was that they
would be reduced to living on the
small pension of eight dollars a
month, less by two dollars than
their rent.
Il suppose. thought Tom, despond.
entity, if the worst comes to the
worst, shall ha1G to black boots
or cell papers. don't want to do
either, but it will be better than
starving or being idle
i Ons thing he determined, be
would not spsak to bis mother just
yet about his misfortune. 1t might
make her anxious, and 10 her pres.
ent delicate state she could not bear
anxiety. Then again che might i'm
sist upon working beyond her
strength, and this was not to be
thought of.
| So when Tom won't home al
night, be put on q cheerful face,
though it was great effort for the
poor boy but he was rewarded by
seeing that it cheered his mother.
The next Monday morning, Mr..
Avery brought tho new Boy. He
was a country lad, unused to city
ways, but seemed willing to learn.
Tom did his best to teach him,
though he felt, with some bitterness,
that in 80 dong, he was taking the
bread out of his own mouth.
| Mr.. Avery, who was really a kind.
hearted man, little suspected how
cruelty Tom was suffering from bis
loss of place, whea, at the close OF
the Week, he babe him good by.
| i hope you'll fnd another place
soon, rom,' he said.
| i hope so. SIR
| OF course you can refer anybody
20 me. l shall be glad to say q good
word for you
Thank you, sir !!
i will give you another weeks
wages extra, for l sec you have
broken in Harvey better than
could have done. You have done
me quite q service in remaining this
week
Tom took the four dollars. for he
knew they would be needed, and
went home soberly.
Even yet he did not tell bis moth
or what had happened. He resolved
to take the next week. for which he
had received his salary, and search
for place. If he found one before
the week was out, he could tell bis
mother, then. withou. fear of excit-
ing or disturbing her. =
So, on Monday morning, Tom left
home at the usual time; as if 10 go
to the office. He went to more than
one office, iuquiriDg If boy were
wanted. But somehow boys always
seemed to be in the market. He
came to one place, dnally-not an
office, but store-where thers was
paper in the window, with the
hopeful words:
"BoY WANTED"
Tom went in and made his way
to the deck.
"You want boy?" he said inquIr.
ingly.
1--WE did want boy, but we have
just secured one" said the gentle.
man addressed. lis the sign up
yet?
eyes, sir"
"James, take down that paper or
we shall have boys coming in here
all day."
just then another boy was seen
entering from the street. Tom met
him.
off you're after the place." said
Tom, otis no use. They've got a
boy"
Just my luck ~ grumbled the
new comer. 81 always come too
late. Are you after q place too?"
"Yes," answered Tom.
"Then you'll have cheerful ime
finding one. I've been going round
for three weeks Have YOU ever
been in aplace2"
"Yes."
"Where2'
Bond Il Avery's. in the Swamp"
"Were you bounced?"
"No," answered Tom, shortly.
What did you leave for, then?
because Mr.. Bond had q nephew
he wanted to put into the Office"
That was rough on you."
eyes, it wac"
| "Well,'l must look round a little
further. It's no good our going
round together, for we shall be run
ming opposition"
Chats so. Well, good luckw
"The same 20 you"
The two boys separated; but We
will only fellow Tom. 1t is Only
necessary to say that be met with
q succession of disappointments, not
only that day but through the week,
till Friday dawned, the moss no
lucky day in the week, according to
many.
l
Il shan't meet with any luck to.
day thought Tom. Still, ! will 60
around as usual, or mother will find
out that have lost my place.
Then Tom sighed to think how
soon his mother must learn the sad
truth, for be could not keep 1t from
her much longer.
1t was his custom on SATURDAY.
night to hand her his weekly wages.
At the end Of the next week, there
would be nothing to hand over, and
then, how were their scanty expeus-
es to be provided for?
In his peregrinatious, Tom had
never gone into Wall street-that 10,
in search of place.