The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1882-12-20
FAITmFUL IN LETTLE.

two, itWould'be missing, and passers.
by would wonder whether NJ. Peters
had found a boy to suit him; but
sooner or later, i! was sure to appear
again.
"Wbat sort Of a boy does he want,
any way2" one and another would ask,
and then they would say to each 9TH
er that they supposed he was looking
for perfect boy, and in their opin-
ion he would look u good while before
he found one. Not that there were
not plenty Of boys-as many as doz-
en- used sometimes to appear in the
course of morning, trying for the
situation. Mr.. Peters was said to be
rich and queer, and for one or both f
these reasons, boys were anxious to
try to suit him. "All he wants is a
fellow to run of errands; it must be
easy work and sure pay" This was
the way they talked TO eBch other
But Mr.. Peters wanted more than a
boy to run Of errands. John Sim.
mons found that out, and this was
the way he did it. He had been en-
gagged that very morning, and had
been kept busy all the forenoon, ct
pleasant enough work, and although
he was a lazy fellow, he rather, enjoy.
ed the place.
1t was towards the middle of the
afternoon that he was sent up to the
attic, dark, dingy place, inhabited
by mice and cobwebs.
"You will find u long, deep box
there" said Mr., Peters, "that | want
to have put in order. 1t stands right
in the middle of the room, you cant
miss it"
John looked doleful. "a long,deep
box. | should think it was!" he told
himself, as the attic door closed be-
hind him, at would weigh most a
ton, | guess; and what is there in it?
Nothing in the world but old nails,
screws, and pieces of iron, and broken
keys and things; rubbish, the whole
of i'll Nothing worth touching, and
it is as dark as pocket up here, and
cold, besides; how the wind blows in
through those knot holesl There's a
mouseI If there is anything hate,
it's mice! I'll tell you what it is, ii
old Peters thinks I'm going to stay up
here and tumble over his old rusty
nails, he's much mistaken. WASN'T
hired for that kind of work"
Whereupon John bounced down
the attic stairs, three at q time, and
was found lounging in the show win
dow, half an hour afterwards, when
Mr. Peters appeared,
Have you put that box in order
already?" was the gentleman's ques-
ton.
81 didn't find anything to put in
order; there was nothing in it but
nails and things"
EXACTLY; it it was the nails and
things that | wanted put in order;
did you do it?"
mo, sir, it was dark up there, and
cold; and didn't see anything worth
doing; besides, I thought I was hired
to run. of errands."
"oh," said Mr.. Peters, 81 thought
you were hired to do as you were
told" But he smiled pleasantly
enough, and at once gave John an
errand to do down town, and the boy
went off chuckling, declaring to HIM
self that he knew how to manage the
old fellow; all it needed was a little
standing up for your rights.
The next morning the old sign
"Boy Wanted" appeared in its usual
place.
Before noon it was taken down, and
Charlie Jones was the fortunate boy.
brands, plenty of them; he was kept
busy until within an hour of closing.
Then, behold he was sent to the attic
toput the long box in order. He
was not afraid of a mouse, nor Of the
cold, but he grumbled so much over
that box; nothing in worth his atten-
ton. However, he tumbled over the
things, growing all the time, picked
out a few straight nails, a key or two
and finally appeared down stairs with
this message: Here's all there is
worth keeping in that old box; the
rest of the nails are rusty, and the
hooks are bent, or something"