Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1885-04-18
FROSTBURG, MD, APRIL Is, 1885.
SELECT STORY.
A APLUCKY BOY.

counter.
"Well, my little man." said the mer
chant complacently-he had just riser
from such a glorious good dinner
"what will you have to-dayq"
so, please sir, mayn't | do some
work for you ?"
There were Il few wisps of hair along
the edges of the merchants temples
and looking down on the appealing
face. the man pulled at them.
When he had dens twesking them
he gave the ends of his cravat brush
and then his hands travelled down to
his vest pocket.
'Do some work fer me, eho Well
now, about what sort Of work might
your small manship calculate to be
able to perform +? Why, you can't look
over the counter y
eyes, by standing on your toes-are
they coppered ?"
"What sir9"
"Why, your toes. Your mother
could not keep you in shoes if they were
not"
"She can't keep me in shoes any how,
sir" and the voice hesitate
The man took pains to look over the
counter. 1t was too much for him-he
couldn't see the little toes. Then he
went all the way around.
II thought | should need micro
scope he said gravely, but l reckon
if get close enough | can see what
you are like"
'I'm older than I'm big SIR" was the
next rejonder. "Folks say that I'm
very small for my age"
"What might your age be, sir" re-
sponded the man, with emphasis.
'l'm almost seven," said Tommy,
with a look calculated to impress even
six feet nine. "You see MY mother
hasn't anybody but me, and this morn
ing | saw her crying because she could
not find five cents in her pocket book,
and she thinks the boy who took the
ashes stole it-and-I- -have-not-
had-breakfast, SIR The voice again
hesitated, and tears came into the blue
eyes,
II reckon | can help you to a break
fast, my little fellow" said tho man
feeling in his vest pocket.
"Thers will that quarter do ~ The
boy shook his head.
"Mother wouldn't let me beg, sir"
was the simple answer.
''Humph Where is your father ~
"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 q
plucky 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. "Sanders," he asked, addressing
clerk, who was rolling up and writ
ing on parcels, sis Cash No. still
sick ?"
Dead, sir died last night" was the
low reply.
"Ah I'm sorry to hear that. Well,
here's youngster that can take his
place"
Mr.. Sanders looked up slowly, then
he put his pen behind his eal-then his
glance travelled curiously from Tommy
to Mr.. Towers.
"Oh, understand" said the latter !;
"yes he is small, very small indeed, but
like his pluck. What did No. 4 get ?"
"Three dollars, SIR said the still as
tonished 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 week.
Come back on Monday and I'll tell you
what to do. Here's dollar in ad-
vance I'll take it out the first week.
Can you remember"
"Work, sir--work all the time ~
GAS long as you deserve it, my man."
Tommy shot out of the shop. Ifever
broken stairs that hada twist in the
whole fight, creaked and trembled un-
der the weight of q small boy, or per-
haps, as might be better stated, laugh
ed ard chuckled on account of a small
boys luck, those in that tenement
house enjoyed themselves thoroughly
that morning.
"I've got it, mother I'm took. Pm
cash boy! Don't you know when they
take parcels the clerks call Cash -
well Pm that. Four dollars a week
and the man said had real pluck
courage, you know. And here's a
dollar for breakfast and don't you ever
cry again, for I'm 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
,o,foupIoI . tbon cha looEe1-wal1 II