The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1886-01-02
Thf Thibo0aux Sentinel
JAN. 2, 1886


Mr.. Peters window. For a day or
two, sometimes for only an hour or
two. it would be missing, and parscrs-
by would wonder whether Mr.. Peters
had at last found Il boy to suit him
but it was sure to adpear again. ''What
sort of boy does he want, anyway Y
one and another would ask, and then
they wonld say to each Other that they
supposed lie was looking for il perfect
boy, and in their opinion he would
look a good while before he found "nr.
Not that there was not plenty OF boys
"a many us II dozen used sometimes
to appear in the course of the morning,
trying for IL situation. Mr.. Peters Was
said 10 be rich and queer. and for one
or both If the reasons boys were an
xious to try to suit him. 'All he
wants is IL fellow to run errands it
must be easy work and sure pay
This was the way they talked to each
other. B It Mr.. Peters wanted more
than Il boy 10 run pryand>. John SIM
monds found it out and this is 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 lie was Il
lazy fellow he rather enjoyed the place.
1t was towards the evening that he
was sent up to the attic, a dark, dingy
place, inhabited by mice and cobwebs.
You will find a long, deep box there
said Mr.. Peters, "that l want to have
put in order. 1t stands right in the
middle OF the room; you can't miss it."
John looked dolefnl. "a long, deep
box, | should think it was !" he said to
himself, as the attic door closed after
him. at would weigh most a ton, |
guess !; aud what is there in It? Moth
ing in the world but old nails and
screws and pieces of iron and broken
keys and things-rubbi>h, the whole of
it. Nothing worth touching; and it is as
dark as IL pocket up here, and cold be-
sides. How the wind blows in through
these knot holes there's a mouse. IT
there is anything l hate, it's mice ! I'll
tell you What it is, if old Peters thinks
I am gnin 6 to stay up here and tumble
over. his rusty nails he's much mistaken.
/ wasn't bred for that kind of work.
W%hereupon John bounced down the
attic stairs three at a time, and was
found longing in the show window an
hour at, Q, wards, when Peters appeared.
"Have you put the box in order al
ready p was the gentleman's question.
Il didn't find anything to put III or
der. 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 it !"
ono sir. 1t was dark up there and
cold, and l didn't see anything that
was worth doing. Besides, l thought
that I was hired to run crrands."
"Oh,' said Mr.. Peters, II thought
you were hired to Go as you were told
But he smiled pleasantly enough, and
at once gave John an Grand to do
down town aud the boy went off chuck
ling, declaring to himself that he knew
how to manage the old fellow all it
needed was q little standing up for
your rights.
:, Precisely at 6 o'clock John was call
ed and paid the sum promised him for
days work /: and then, to his dismay,
he was told that his services would not
be needed any nor
The next morning the old sign, "Boy
Wanted appeared in its usual place.
Before noon it vas taken down and
Charlie Jones was the fortunate boy.
Errands-plenty Of them. He was not
afraid of a mouse nor Of the cold, but
he grombled much over the box. Moth
ing in j: worth his attention. How.
ever he tumbled over the things, growl
ing all the time, picked out a few
straight nails, a key or two, and final
~ appeared with the message "Here's
all there is worth keeping in that box.
The rest OF the nails are rusty and the
hooks are bent or something