Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1885-05-08
MisfellameoMs.
THE MAN OF THE HOUSE.

The boy marched straight up to the
counter.
"Well, my little man. said the mer-
chant complacently--le had just risen
from such good dinner -" what will
you have to-day y
"Oh, please, sir, mayn't | do some
work for you p
It might have been the pleasant blue
eyes that did It for the man was not &c.
customed to parley with such small gen
tlemen, and Tommy wasn't seven yet.
and was small of his age at that. There
was few wisps Of his hair along the
edges of the merchants temples and,
looking down on tho appealing face, the
man pulled at them. When he had
done this, he gave the ends Of his cravat
a brush, and then his hands travelled
down to his vest pocket.
'Do some work for me, oh? Well,
now about what sort Of work might you
be able to perform? Why, you can't
look over the counter "
"Oh, yes ! can; and I'm growing.
please, growing fast--thcre, see If |
can't look over the counter 2"
Eyes. by standing on your toes; are
they coppered =
what, sir?'
why, your toes. Your mother could
not keep you in shoes il they were not 7"
"She can't keep INC 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
went all the way around.
II thought should need u micro
scope" he said very gravcly; "but l
reckon, il | get close enough, can see
what you look like"
"rm older than I'm big, sir, was the
neat rejoinder. Folks say am very
small Of my age"
What might your age be, sir? re-
sponded the man, with emphasis
II am almost seven" said Tommy,
with a look calculated to impress even
Eve feet nine. you sec, my mother
hasn't any one but me and, this morn
ing | saw her crying because she couldn't
find five cents in her pocket-book, and
she thinks the boy who took the ashes
stole t-and- we--havc- not--bad-
sny-breakfast, sir" The voice again
hesitated, and tears came TO the blue
eyes.
al reckon | can help you to a break
fast, my little fellow" said tho man,
feeling in his vest pocket There,
will that quarter do 7"
The boy shook his head
"Mother wouldn't let me beg, SIR"
was the simple answer.
"Humphl Where is your father"
1--WE never heard Of him, sir, after he
went away. He was lost, sir, in the
steamer City Of Boston. !"
"Ah that's bad But you are
plucky little fellow any how. Let me
see." And he puckered up his mouth
and looked straight down into the boys
eyes, which were looking straight into
his. Saunders" he asked, addressing
II clerk who was rolling up and writing
on parcels, sis Cash No. 4 still sick 7"
dead sir; died last night was the
low reply.
"Ah, I'm sorry to hear that. Well
here's youngster that can take bis
place"
Mr.. Saunders looked up slowly, then
he put his pen behind his car, then bis
glance Travelled curiously from Tommy
to Mr.. Towers.
"Ob, understand" said the latter.
Eyes, be is small, very small indeed
but ] like bis pluck. What did No. A
gctT"
"Thrco dollars. SIR" said tho aston.
ished clerk.
put this boy down four. There
youDgster give him your name, and run
homo and tell your mother you have got
place at four dollars week. Come
back on Monday and I'll tell you what
to do. Here's dollar 10 advance I'll
take il out Of your first week. Can you
remember 7"
Work, sir--work all tho time T.
"As long as you deserve ID my mau."
Tommy shot out Of the shop. II ever
broken stairs that had twist through
the whole fight crcakcd and trembled
under the weight Of small boy, or per-
haps, as might be better stated, laughed
and chuckled on account Of small
boys good luck those 10 that tenement
house enjoyed themselves thoroughly
that morning"
"Pye got il. mother. I'm took. I'm
a cash boy Don't you know when they
take parcels, the clerks call Cash 2
Well I'm that. -Four dollars week !
And tho man said had real pluck