Iron County register., 1882-11-30
ssBOY WANTED"

People laughed when they saw the
sign again. It seemed to be always in
Mr.. Peters window. For day or two,
sometimes for only an hour or two, it
would be missing, and passers-by would
wonder whether Mr.. Peters had at last
found boy to suit him; but sooner or
later, it was sure to appear again.
"What SOFT of boy does he want,
any way?' one and another would ask,
and then they would say to each other
that they supposed he was looking for
perfect boy, and in their opinion he
would look good while before he
found one. Not that there were not
plenty of boys-as many as dozen
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 of these
reasons, boys were anxious to try to suit
h m. "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 each other. But Mr.. Peters
wanted more than boy to run of err
rands. John Simmons found that out,
and this was the way he did it. He had
been engaged that very morning. and
had been kept busy all the forenoon, at
pleasant enough work, and although he
was lazy fellow. he rather enjoyed the
place.
1t was towards the middle of the aft
einoon that he was sent up to the attic,
dark. dingy place, inhabited by mice
and cobWebs. :s~
you will find long, deep box
there said Mr.. Peters, .'that want to
have put in order. 1t stands right in
the middle of the room, you can't miss
it, - s@t
John looked doleful. ga long, deep
box, / should think it wasr' he told
himself, as the attic door closed after
him. s'lt would weigh most a ton, |
guess; and what is there in ita Moth
ing in the world but old nails, and
screws, and pieces of iron. and broken
keys and things; rubbish. the whole of
it! Nothing worth touching, and it is
rs dark as pocket up here, and cold,
besides; how the wind blows in through
those knot holes! There a mouse! If
there is anything that haze, it mice!
I'll tell you what it is, if old Peters
thinks 1 m going to stay up here and
tumble over his rusty nails, he S much
mistaken. l wasn't hired for that kind
of work. .a,
Whereupon John bounced down the
attic sta rs. three at time. and was
found lounging in the show window,
half an hour afterwards, when Mr..
Feters appeared. AZ r..a
..Have you put that box in order al
ready9'' was the gentleman S question.
Il didn't find anyth ng to put in
order; there was nothing in it but nails
and things"
Exactly: it was the nails and things
that l wanted put in order; did you do
itp''
mo, sir, it was dark up there. and
cold; and didn't see anything worth
doing; besides, thought was hired to
run of errands.'
oh" said Mr.. Peters, II thought
you were hired to do as you were s>s!.
But he smiled p. .easantly enough, and at
once gave John an errand to do down
town, and the boy went Oft chucklng.
declaring to himself that he knew how
to manage the old fellow; all it needed
was little standing up for yonr rights.
Precisely at six clock John was
called and paid the sum promised him
for DAYS work and then, to his dis
NAV, he was told that mis- services
would not be needed any more. He
asked no questions; indeed he had
time for none. as Mr.. Peters immedi-
ately closed the door,
The next morning the old sign '.Boy
Wanted appeared in its usual place.
Before noon it was taken down, and
{ harlie Jones was the fortunate boy.
Errands, plenty OF them; he was kept
busy until within an hour of closing.
Then, behold be was sent to tht, attic
to put the long pox in order. He was
not afraid OF mouse. nor Of the cold,
but he erllmbled so much over that box;
nothing in it worth his attention. How
ever, he tEmbled over the things.
growing all the time, picked out a few
straight nails a ke Or two, and inally
appeared down stairs with this mes