The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-09-30
Plucay.
Exchange.

ter.
"Well, my little man." said the merchant
complaceutlv-he had Just risen from such
a glorious good dinner-"what will you have
to-day"
1t might have been the pleasant blue eyes
that did 1t, for the man was not accustomed
to parley with such small gentlemen, for
Tommy was not seven yet, and small Of his
age at that. There were few wisps Of hair
on the merchants temples, and looking
down on the appealing face, the man pulled
ut them.
"Do some work for me, eh? Well, now,
about what sort Of work might your small
manship calculate to be able to perform
Why, you can't look over the counter"
"Oh, yes, / can and I'm 9 owing, please,
growing very fast - there see IL can't
look over the counter"
AYES, by standing on your toes; are they
copperedP"
"What, sir?"
"Why, your toes. Your mother couldn't
keep you in shoes II they weren't"
"She can't keep me 10 shoes, anyhow,
sir" and the voice hesitated.
The man took pains to look o-er the ceun-
ter. 1t was too much for him, he couldn't
see the little toes. Then he went all the way
around. ..-....
al Thought should need q microscope"
he said grsvely; "but l reckon IL get close
enough can see what you look like"
"Pm older than I'm big, ST., was the neat
rejoinder. "Folks say Pm very small for
my age"
Sand what might be your age, sir?" re-
sponded the man, with emphasis.
"rm almost seven," said Tommy, with .
look calculated to impress even six feet nine.
"You see, my mother hasn't anybody but
me, and this morning saw her crying be-
cause she hadn't five rents In her pocEetbook,
because the boy that took the ashes stole II
and IL haven't - had-any-breakfast,
SIR"
The voice again hesitated. and tears came
to the blue eyes.
al reckon can help you TO breakfast,
my little fellow" said the man, feeling In
his vest pocket. "Tbere, will that quarter
do?"
The boy shsok bis head. another would
not let me beg, sir" was the simple reply.
"Humphl Where's your father?"
"We 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. But
you are plucky little fellow, anyhow. Let
me see"-and he poudered, pickering up his
mouth and looking straight down into the
boys eyes, which were looking straight up
into bis. "Saunders," be asked, addressing
clerk who was rolling up and writing on
parcels, ais Cash No. 4 still sick ?"
"Dead. sir; died last night" was the low
response.
"Ah, Pm sorry to hear that. Well, here's
youngster that can take his place."
Mr.. Saunders looked up slowly, then he
put his pen behind his left ear, then his
glance travelled curiously from Tommy TO
Mr.. Towers.
"Oh, I understand" said the latter. ayes,
he is small, very small, but like his pluck.
What did No. 4 get?"
"Thrce dollars, sir" said the still aston
ished clerk.
"Put this boy down four. There, youngster,
give him yoar name, and run home and tell
your mother you have got : place at n =
week. Come back on Monday and I'll tell
You what to do. Here's dollar In advance,
III take II out Of your first week. Can you
remember"
Tommy shot out Of the shop.
II ever broken stairs, that had . twist thro
the whole flight, cracked and trembled under
the weight of small boy, or perhaps, -
might be better stated, laughed and chuckled
on account Of small bows good luck, those
in the tenement house enjoyed themselves
thoroughly that morning.
"rve got It, mother. I've got took! I'm
. cash boyi Don't you know when they
take the parcels the clerks call cashp I'm
that -Four dollars week! Aud the man
said / had real plnck-courage, yoa know.
And here's dollar for breakfast and don't
you never cry again, for I'm the man Of the
house now"
The house was only ten-by- fifteen room,
but how those blue eyes do magnify I'll Al
first the mother looked confounded; ther
she looked faint; and then she iooked-well
II passes my power to tell how she did. look
assbe caught the boy In her arms and hugset
and kissed him, the tears streaming dowr
her cheeks. But they were tears Of thank
fnlncss now.