The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1881-09-07

ihe boy marched straight up 10 the
counter.
We'll. my little man. said the mer-
chant. complscently-he had Just risen
from such q glorious good dinner
what will you bave today?'
1t might have been the pleass nj
blue eyes that did il. for the man vas
not accustomed to parley with such
small gentlemen. for Tommy wss not
seven yet. and small of his age at that.
There were few whisps of hair on the
merchants temples. and looking down
on the appealing face the man pulled
at them.
Do some work for me, eh? Well,
now, about what sort Of work might
your small manship calculate tc be able
to performi Why, yoa can t look over
the counter
'oh. yes. I can. and I'm growing very
fsst-thersl see IL l can't look over The
counter
Yes. by Standing on your toes; are
they coppsrsds'
? What. sirs'
why. your toes. Your mother
couldn't keep you In shoes if they were
not
She can't keep me in shoes, aBy how,
sir and the voice hesitated.
The man took pains TO look over the
counter. 1t was too much fog him; he
couldn't see the. little toes. Then he
went all the way around.
4 thought should need micro
&C. pc, he said gravely. but reckon if
l get close enough i can see what you
look like
I'm older than I'm big. sir was the
neat rGoinder. Folks say I'm very
small Of my age
'Aad what is your ages' responded
the man with emphasis.
4 am almost seven, said Tommy,
with look calculated to impress even
six feet nine. You SEE. my mother
hasn't anybody but me. and this morn
ing / saw her crying because she
couldn't find five cents in her pockets
book. because the boy that took the
ashes stole it--and-I-hsven' 't-had
--any-sny breakfast. sir
The voice again hesitated. aud tears
came TO the blue eyes.
i reckon l can help you to q break
fast. my little fellow. said the man
feeling in his vest pocket, There. will
that quarter do?'
The boy shook his head. Mother
would not let me beg, sir, was the very
simple reply.
'Humph! Where's your father =
We never heard of him. sir, after he
went away. He was lost in the stea m
ship City of Boston,
'Ahl you don't say. That's bad.
But you are plucky little fellow,
anyhow. Let me seer-and he pom
dered. puckering up his mouth and
looking straight down into the boy 3
eyes. which were looking straight up
into his-'Saunders.' he asked, address
ing o clerk who was rolling up and
writing on parcels. is Cash No 4 still
sicky'
Dead. cir. Died last night was the
low reply.
.Ah. I'm sorry to hear that. Well.
here's q youngster that can take his
place.
Mr. Saunders looked up slowly. then
he put his pan behind his left ear. then
his glance travelled curiously from Mr.
Towers TO Tommy.
oh. understand said the former.
Yes, he Is small. very small. indeed
but like his pluck. What did No 4
get?'
Three dollars, sir said the still rs
tonishsd olerk.
Put this boy down for four. There,
youngster. give him your name, and
run home and tell your mother you
have got q place ct "a week. Come
back on MoDdsy and I'll tell you what
to do. Here's dollar in advance.
will take il oat of your drst week. Can
you remembcrf -
Tommy shot ont Of the ahop.
IL ever broken stairs, that had twis.
through the whole flight ca~oked and
tremhlsd under the weight Of email
boy, or perhaps, - might be better
stated. laughed and chackled on 90
count Of small boys good luck. those
in the tenement house enjoyed them
selves thoroughly that morning.
I've got it. mother I'm tookl I'm q
cash boyl Don't you know when they
take the parcels the clerks call cash !
rm that. Four dollars week! And
the man said i had real pluck cour.
age, you know. And here's Q dollar
for breakfast, and don't you ever cry
again. for I'm the man Of the house
| now ~a
The house was only ben by fifteer
room, but how those blue eyes do mag
Nifty III Al 6rst the mother looked
coniounded; then she looked faint; and
then she iooked-weil. u passes my
power to tell how she did look. - sh,
caught the boy 10 her arms and hugeec
aud kissed him. the tears streaming
down her cheeks; but they were tear
Of thankfulnsss now.