Western appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1885-18??, 1885-06-20
sBOY WANTED

f
People laughed when they saw the
sign again. 1t seemed to be always in
Mr.. Peter window. For dayor 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 sort Of a boy does he want,
anyway 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 a good while before he
found one. Not that there were
not plenty of boys-as many as a
dozen used sometimes to appear in the
course of a 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 him. s.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 a.
boy to run of errands. 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 af-
ternoon that he was sent up to the attic,
a dark, dingy place, inhabited by
mice and cobWebs.
you will find long deep box there, y
said Mr.. Peters, s'that want to have
put in order. It stands right in the
middle of the room, you cam miss it. -
John looked doleful GA long deep
box, l should think it was!" he told
himself, as the attic door closed after
him. sit would weigh most a ton
guess; and what is there in it? 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
as dark as pocket up here, and cold,
besides; how the wind blows in through
those knot-holes! There's a mouse!
1t there's anything I hate it S mice! I'll
tell you what it is, if Of Peters thinks
M going to stay up here and tumble
over his rusty nails, he's much mistak-
en-. | wasn't hired for that kind of work.
Whereupon John bounced down the
attic stairs, three at time, and was
found lo:lnging in the show window half
an hour afterwards, when Mr.. Peters
appeared.
':Have you put that box in order al
ready?'' was the gentleman's question.
II didn't find anything to put in or
der; there was nothing in it but nails
and things
Exactly; twas the nails and things
that wanted put in order; did you do
it?''
ono, sir, it was dark up there, and
cold; and I didn't see anything worth
doing; besides, 1 thought I was hired
to run of errands.''
ooh, said Mr.. Peters, 81 thought
you were hired to do as you were told. y
But he smiled pleasantly enough, and
at once gave John an errand to do down
town, and the boy went off chuckling,
declaring to himself that he knew how
to manage the old fellow; all it needed
was little standing up for your rights.
Precisely at six o'clock John was
called and paid the sum promised him
for day S work, and then, to his dis
may, he was told that his services would
not be needed any more. He asked no
questions; indeed he had time fornone.
as Mr.. Peters Immediately closed the
door,
The next morning the old sign, s.Boy
Wanted appeared in its usual place.
Before noon it was taken down, and
Charlie Jones was the fortunate bow.
Errands, plenty of them; he was kept
busy until within an hour of closing.
Then, behold he was sent to the attic
to put the long box in order. He was
not afraid of a mouse, nor of the cold,
but he grumbled much over that box;
nothing in it worth his attention. How
ever he tumbled over the things, growl-
ing all the time, picked out 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 old hooks are bent, or
something
every well,'' said Mr.. Peters, and
sent him to the postoffice. What do
you think? By the close of the next
day, Charlie had been paid and dis
charged, and the old sign hung in the
window.
Give no kind Of notion why / was
discharged grumbled Charlie to his
mother; she said he had no fault to
find, only he saw that I wouldn't suit.
It's my opinion he doesn't want boy
at all, and takes that way to cheat.
Mean old fellow
1t was Crawford Mills who was hired
next. He knew neither Of the other
boys, and SO did his errands in blissful
ignorance of the ''long box until the
second morning of his stay, when in
a leisure hour he was sent to putt in or
der The morning passed, dinner time
came, and still Crawford had not APP
peared from the attic. At last Mr..
Peters called him. SCOT through?''
mo. sir; there ever so much more
to do. -
"All right; it is dinner time now:
you can go back after dinner;'' after
dinner back he went; all the short
afternoon he was not heard from, but
just as Mr.. Peters was deciding to call