Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1881-08-04
PLUCKY.

The hoy marched straight up to the
counter.
"Well, my little man." said the mer-
chant complacently y-he had just risen
from such glorious good dinner
"What will you have to.day?'
1t might have been the pleasant blue
eyes that lid it, 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
Il 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, ELI? Well,
now, about what sort of work might
your small mnship 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-there! sec
if can't look over the cOuntCrw
"Yes. by standing on your toes; are
they coppcrcd|
"What, SIR
"Why, your toss. Your mother
couldn't keep you in shoes if they
weren't
"She can't keep me in shoes, anyhow,
sir" and the voice heSitated.
The man took pains to look over the
counter II was too much for him; he
couldn't see the little toes. Then he
sent all the way around.
81 thought should need II micro
scope" he said, gravely, "but reckon
il | get close enough | can see what
you looli like
I'm older than I'm big, SIR was
The neat reioinder. "Folks say Pm
very small of my age"
"And what might be your age, sir?"
responded the man with emphasis.
"I'm almost scyen," said Tommy,
with look calculated to impress even
six feet nine "Y0u see, my mother
hasn't anybody but me, and this morn
ing | saw her crying because she
couldn't find five cents in her pocket
book, because the boy that
took the ashes stole it-and
-l--hayent-had-any-any break
fast, sir"
The voice again hesitaled, and tears
came TO the blue eyes.
81 reckon ! can help you to break
fast, my little fellow" said the man,
feeling in his vest pocket. "Thcrc
will that quarter do?"
The boy shook his head. "Mother
wouldn't let me beg, sir" was the the
simple reply.
"Humphl Where's your fatherp'
1--WE never heard of him, sir, after
he went away. lie was lost, sir in
the steamer City of Boston,"
"Ah! you don't say. That's bad.
But you are Il plucky little fellow any
how. Let me see"-and he pondered,
puckcring 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 writing
on parcels, "is Cash No. 4 still sick?'
dead, sir; died last night" was the
low reply.
"Al, I'm sorry TO hear that. Well
here's a youngster that can take his
place."
Mr.. Saunders looked up slowly, ther
he put his pen behind his left ear, ther
his glance Travelled curiously from
Tommy to Mr.. Towers.
ooh, | understand" said the latter
"Yes, he is small, very small indeed
but like his pluck, What did No. I
get?"
"Three dollars, sir" said the still as
tonished clerk.
"Put this boy down four. There
youngster, give him your name, ant
run home and tell your mother yOu'v,
got a place at four dollars week
Come back on Monday, and I'll tell yol
what to do. Here's dollar in ad
vance; I'll take it out of your frs
week. Can you remember?'
Tommy shot out of the shop.
Ifever broken stairs, that had a twis
through the whole flight, cracked ant
trembled under the weight of a small
boy, Or perhaps, as might be better stat
ed laughed and chuckled on account o
small boys good luck, those in tina
tenement house enjoyed themselve
thoroughly that morning.
I've got it motherl Pm took! Pm
cash bOyl Don't you know when the.
take the parcels the clerks call cash
I'm that! -Four dollars a week! An,
themNn said had real pluck-couragt
you know. And here's a dollar 70
breakfast; and don't you never or
again, for I'm the man of the hous
now.
The house was only Il ten by liftee
room, but how those blue eyes did mag
nifty it! At first the mother looked cor
founded; then she looked faint; an
then she looked-well, it passes m
power to tell how she did look, as sh
caught the boy in herarms and hugge
and kissed him, the tears streamin
down her cheeks. But they were tear
of thankfulness now.