Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-08-11
PLUCKY.

Tho boy marched straight up % the
counter.
"Well. my little man." said the mer-
chant, complacently-he had Just risen
rom such n glorious good dinner
What viii you have tO-dayY"
10 might have been the pleasant blue
eyes that lid Il. for the man was not
accustomed 10 pariey with such
small gentlemen. for Tommy was
not seven yet, and small of
his age mt that. There were
u few wisps Of hair on the merchants
temples, and looking down on the ap-
pealing face. the man pulled at 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"
ooh. yes. can, and I'm growing.
please, growing very fast-therel see
II ! can't look over the counterP
ayes! by standing ON your toes; are
they cOpperedY
"What, sirT'
"Why. your toes. Your mother
couldn't keep you In shoes il they
weren't
'She can't keep me i'm shoes, anyhow,
SIR AMI the voice hesitated.
The man took pains TO look over the
counter. 10 was too much for him; he
couldn't see the little toes. Then he
vent all the way around.
al thought | should need micro
scope" he said. gravely, "but | reckon
IL get close enough / can see what
you look like"
"l'm older than I'm big. sir" was
the neat rejoinder. "Folks say I'm
very small Of my age"
"And what might he yOur age, sir ?"
responded the man with emphasis.
I'm almost seven," said Tommy,
with u 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 1--WE cents in her pocket
book, because the boy that
took the ashes stole it-and
-I-haven't--had-any-any break
fist sir"
The voice again hesitated, and tears
came 90 the blue eyes.
II reckon | can help you TO break
fast, my little fellow" said the man.
feeling In his vest pocket. There
will that quarter dOY"
The boy shook his head. Mother
wouldn't let me beg. sir" was the the
simple reply.
"lIumphl Where's your fatherY"
1--WE never heard of him, sir, after
ho went away. lie was lost, sir, I'm
the steamer City of Boston,"
"Ahl you don't say. That's bad.
But you are plucky little fellow any
how. Let me see"-and he pOndered.
puCkcring up his mouth and lorking
straight down into the boys eyes, which
were looking straight up into his.
saunders" he asked. addressing a
clerk who was rolling up and writing
on parcels, sis Cash No. still sickY"
dead, sir; died last night" was the
low reply.
"Ah. I'm sorry to hear that. Well.
here's u 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 90 Mr.. Towers.
"Oh, | understand" said the latter.
Yes, he Is small. very small indeed,
but like his pluck. What did No. 4
gety"
Three dollars. sir" said the still as
tonished clerk.
"Put this boy down four. There.
yOUngster. give him your name. and
run home and tell your mother you've
got n place at four dollars a week.
Como back on Monday, and I'll tell you
what TO do. Here's n dollar in ad-
vance; I'll take il out of your FIRST
week. Can you rememberY
Tommy shot out of the shop.
ifcver broken stairs, that had a twist
through the whole flight, cracked and
trcmbled under the weight Of n small
hoy. or perhaps. rs might be better stat
cd, laughed and chuckled on account of
small boys good luck, those i'm that
tenement house enjoyed themselves
thoroughly that morning.
'Iye got II mOtherl I'm took I'm a
cash boy! Don't you know when they
take the parcels the clerks call 'cashP
I'm thatl -Four dollars q week. And
then said had real pluck-courage,
you know. And here's a dollar for
breakfast; and don't you never CITY
again, for I'm the man of the house
now.
The house was only ten by fifteen
room, but how those blue eyes did mag
Nifty itl At first the mother looked con-
founded; then she looked faint; and
then she looked-well, it passes my
power To tell how she did look. as she
caught the boy in her arms and huQQed
ana kissed him, the tears streaming
u9Wn her checks. But they were tears