Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1885-04-07

work for you?''
There were a few wisps OF hair
along the edges Of the merchant's
temples. and looking down on the
appealing face, the man pulled at
them.
When he had done t@eaking them
he gave the ends of his eravat brush
and then his hands Travelled down to
his vest pocket.
/" Do some work for me, eh? Well
now, about what sort OF work might
your small manship calculate to be
able to perform2 Why, you can't
look over the counterl"
't Yes, by standing ON your toes
are they coppered2"
/" What sir?
"Why, your toes. Your mother
could not keep you in shoes ffsthey
we're not
"She can't keep me in shoes any
how SIR and the voice hesitated.!
The man took pains to look over
the counter. It was too much for
him-he couldn't see the little toes.
Then he went all the way around.
I" thought I should need a miz
croscope," he said graYely, H but, /
reckon if [ get close enough can
see what you are like. -
(" I'm older than I'm big sir, twas
the next reioinder. Folks say that.
I am very small Of my age. %
What might your age be sir
responded the man, with emphasis.
&c am almost seven, said Tom-
my," with look calculated TO Inn
press even six feet nine. tYou see
my mother hasn't anybody but me,
and this morning / saw her crying
because she could not find five cents
in her pocket-boolt, and she thinks
the boy who took the ashes stole IT,
and-I Observation-Disclosures,
sir" The voice again hesitated,
and tears came into the blue eyes.
{" / reckon I can help you to. q
breakfast, my little fellow" said the
man feeling in his vest pocket.
There will that quarter do?'---
Tho boy shook his head. "t
I" Mother wouldn't let me beg,
sir" was the simple answer.
SHumph! Where is your father7"
"We never heard of him, sir, after
he went away. He was lost sir, in
the steamer City of Boston,"
Ahl that's bad. But you are q
pluclsy little fellow, anyhow. Let
me see," and he puckered up his
mouth and looked straight down into
the boys eyes, which were looking
straight into his. t' Sanders" he
asked, addressing clerk, who was
rolling up and writing on parcels, nis
Cash No. still siclt?''
Dead, sir; died last night," was
the low reply.
Ahl I'm sorry to hear that
Well, here's q youngster that can
take his place.
Mr.. Sanders looked up slowly, then
he put his pen behind his ear-then
his glance Travelled curiously from
Tommy to Mr.. Towers.
"Oh, understand" I" said the lat
ter; eyes, he is small, very small
indeed, but like his pluck. What
did No. 4 get?"
Three dollars, sir, (" said the stfIl
astonished clerk.
Put this boy down four. There
youngster, give him your name and
run home and tell your mother you
have got place at four dollars a
week. Come back on Monday and
I'll tell you what to do. Here's u
dollar in advance: I'll take it out of
your first week. Can you remem-
ber?"
/" Work, sir-work all the time?'s
man."
Tommy shot out of that shop. II
ever broken stairs that had twist
in the whole fight, creaked and trem-
bled under the weight of asmall boy,
or perhaps, as might be betterstated,
laughed and chuckIed on account of
small boys good luck, those in that
tenement house enjoyed themselves
thoroughly that morning.
I" I've got it, motherl Pm took.
I'm cash boyl DON'T you know when
they take parcels the clerks call
{ Cash ?'-well Pm that. Four dol
lars a week! and the man said had
real pluck-courage, you know
And here's a dollar for breakfast I;
and don't you ever cry again, for
Pm the man of the house now"
The house was only little ten-by-
fifteen room, but how these blue eyes
did magnify it. At first she looked
confounded then she eIooked--weII, It
passes my power to tell how she did
look as she took him in her arms ana
kissed him, the tears streaming down
her cheek. Bot they were tears of
thankfulness.-English Journal.
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