South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1881-04-29
- PLUCRY Box.

:.
counter.
well, my little man. said the mer-
chaat, complacently-he had Just RS
en- from such a glorious good dinner
what will you have to-day p
ooh, please, sir, mayn't | 10 some
work for you p
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 yet, and small Of his age at
that. There were few wisps of hair
on the merchants temples, and look.
ing down on the appealing face, the
man pulled at them. he gave the ends
OF his cravat n brush, and then his
hand travelled down to his vest peck
CT.
DO some work for me, eli Well,
now, about what sort of work might
your small manship calculate to be
able 70 perform ? Why, you can't
look over the counter
ooh, yes, | can, nd.rm-growing
please, growing very fast-there, sec
If can't look over the COUNTER
Yes, By standing on your toes are
they coppercd 2
What, STRIP
why, your toes. Your mother
couldn't keep you in shoes if they
weren't
She can't keep me in shoes, any
now. SIR and the voice hositated.
The man took pains TO look over
the counter. 1t was too much for him
he couldn't see the little toes. Then
he went all the way round.
i thought | should need q micro
scope he said very gravely,y but |
reckon it get close enough [ can see
what you look ike
I'm older than I'm big, sir was
the neat rejoinder. Folks say I'm
very small for my age
And what might be your age, sir p
responded the man with great elnpha-
sis.
I'm almost seveq,' said Tommy V,
with q took calculated to impress ev-
Ell six feet nine. You see,my moth.
er hasn't anybody but me, and this
morning saw her crying because
she couldn't find five cents in her
( pocket-book, and she thinks the boy
I that took the ashes stole lt-and-I-
haven't had any--breskiast, SIR
| The voice again hesitated and tears
came 70 the blue eyes.
i reckon | can help you to break.
fast, my little fellow SAID the man,
feeling in his pocket. There, will
that quarter do 2 1888
The boy shook his head. Mother
wouldn't let me beg, SIR was his
simple reply.
'llumph! where's your father p
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 pluciy little fellow, any.
how. Let me see and he pondcred
pickering up lis mouth and looking
straight down into the boys ewes
which were looking straight I'D into
his. Saunders, he asked. addressino
q clerk who was rolling up and wri.
ting on parcels, SIS cash No. 4 still
sick p
Dead, sir; died last night was The
low reply.
'Ah, I'm sorry to hear that. Well
here 8 a youngstcr that can take his
place.
Mr; Saunders looked up slowly
then he put his pen behind his left
ear-then his glance travelled curiou.
/ ly from Tommy to Mr.. Towers.
Oh, | understand said the latter
yes he Is very small indeed, but
Ike his pluck. What did No. 4 getY
Three dollars, sir, said the still as
tonished clerk.
Put this boy down four. There
youngstcr, give him your name. and
. run home and tell your mother you've
got q place at four dollars a week 49,
Come baci; on Monday, and IN tell
you what to DO Here's a dollar in
advance; I'll take it out of your first
weeks pay Can You remember?'
/ " ok, sir--worl all the timeP
Tommy shot out Of the door. II
ever broken stairs, that hal n twist
4 through the whole Eight, cracked and
. trembIcd under the weight Of a small
boy, or perhaps, as might lie better
stated, laughed and chuckled ON nc
count OF small boys good luck, those
lu that tenement house enjoyed them.
selves thoroughly that morning.
I've got it mother! I'm took I'm
cash boy {. Don't you know when they
take the parcels, thc clerk calls 'clshS'
Well, I'm that Four dollars a week.
and the man SAID / had real pluck
couraCe, you know. And here Il a
dollar for breakfast; and don't you
ever cry again, for I'm the man Of
the house now.
The house was only a ten BY fifteen