Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-05-18
A PIucky BOY.

Will you nave lV-uaJ
oh, please. sir, mayn't l do some
work for you?
1t might have been the pleasant blue
eyes that did it, for the man was not
accustomed to parley with such small
gentlemen, and Tommy wasn't seven
vet, 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
at them, he gave the ends o! his cravat
brush, and then his hand travelled
down to his vest pocket.
DO some work for me eh' Well.
now, about what sort Of work might
your small manship calculate to be
able to performs Why you can't look
over the counter
'Oh, yes, 1 can, and Pm growing,
please, growing very tast-there,S see II l
can't look over the counter
Yes, by standing on your toes; are
they coppered?'
what, sir?'
why, your toes. Your mother
couldn't keep you in shoes if they wer-
en't.'
SHE can't keep me in shoes, anyhow,
sir, and the voice hesitated.
The man took pains to look oyer the
counter. 1t was too much for him; he
couldn't see the little toes. Then he
went all the way round.
I thought 1 should need a micro
scope he SAID very gravely, but Ireck-
on if get close enough can see what
you look like,
SIM elder than Pm big, SIR was
the neat rejoinder. Folks say I'm
very small for my age.'
And what might be your age, sirs
responded the man with great empha-
sis.
Pm almost seven,' said Tommy,
with look calculated 10 impress even
six feet nine. You see my mother
hasn't anybody but me, and this morn
ing 1 saw her crying because she
couldn't find Eve cents in her pocket
book, and she thinks the boy that took
the ashes stole it-and-I-haven't had
any-breakfast, sir.'
The voice again hesitated aud tears
came to the blue eyes.
Il reckon 1 can help you to breakfast,
my little fellow,,' said the man, feeling
IN his pocket. There, Will that quarter
do?'
The boy shook his head. Mother
wouldn't let me beg, SIR was his sim"
pie reply.
'Humph! where's your father?'
we never heard ofhim, 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 a plucky little fellow, any
how. Let me see; and be pondered,
puckering up his mouth and looking
straight down into the boys eyes,
which were looking straight up into
his. Saunders he asked, addressing
a clerk who was rolling up and wri-
ting on parcels, is cash No. 4 still
sick?'
Dead, sir; died last night was the
low reply.
'Ah, Pm sorry to hear that. Well,
here's yOungster that can take his
place.
| Mr.. Saunders locked up slowly
then he put his pen behind his left ear
then his glance travelled curiously from
Tommy TO Mr.. Sower'.
oh, L understand said the latter,
yes he is very small indeed, butt like
his pluck. What did No. g Ell"
Three dollars, sw,' said tho 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 place at four dollars a week.
Come back on Monday, and I'll tell you
what to do. Here's dollar in advance;
i'm take it out of your FIRST weeks pay.
Can YOU remember
| 'Work, sir-vork all the timev
Tommy shot out Of the door. II ever
broken stairs, that had a twist through
the whole flight. cracked aud trembled
under the weight Of small boy, or
perhaps, as might be better stated
laughed and chuckled on account oil a
small boys good luck, those in that ten
ement house enjoyed themselves
thoroughly that morning.
I've got 1t mother! I'm took! I'm
cash boy! Don'tyou know when they
take the parcels, the clerk calls 'cash!'
Well Pm that! Four dollars a week,
and the man said | had real pluck
courage you know. And here is dol
lar for breakfast; aud don't You ever cry
lagain, for Im the man OF the house
now.
The house was only u ten by fifteen
room, but how those blue eyes did mag
} nifty it. AT first the mother looked
well, it passed my power 10 tell how she
, did look, as she caught the boy in hel
arms, and hugged him and kissed him.
the tears streaming down her cheeks
But they we're tears Of thankfulness'
now.
RED AS A ROSE Is SHE.-Severa