The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1886-01-22
boy WANTED. .

People laughed when they saw the sign
again. 1t seemed to be always in Mr.
Peters, window For day or two, some
times for only for an hour or two, it would
be missing, and passers-by would wonder
whether Mr.. Peters had at last found boy
tosuit him; but it was sure to appear again.
"What sort of boy does he want, any
way p one and another would ask, and
then they would say to each other that they
supposed that he was looking for a perfect
boy, and in their opinion he would look u
good while before he found one. Not that
there were not plenty Of boys--as many
as dozen used sometimes to appear in the
course Of the morning, trying for situa-
ton. Mr. Peters was said to be rich and
queer, aud for one or both of the reasons
boys were anxious to try TO suit him. sAll
he wants is a fellow to run 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 errands. John Simmonds 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 he was a lazy
fellow, he rather enjoyed the place. 1t was
toward the middle of the afternoon that he
was sent up to the attic, dark, dingy
place, inhabited by mice and cobwebs.
GU will find long. deep box there, .
said Mr.. Peters, that | want to have pnt
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 wasl' he said to HIM
self, as the attic door closed after him. ut
would weigh most ton, guess; and what
is there in it :? Nothing 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 be-
sides. How the wind blows in through
these knot-holes, There's a mouse! II
there is anything | hate, it's mice, I'll
tell you what it is, if old Peters thinks
am going stay up here and tumble over his
rusty nails he's much mistaken | wasn't
bred for that kind of work.
WhereuponJolln bounced down the attic
stairs three at time, and was found loung
ing in the show-winolow an hour arterward,
when Mr. Peters appeared.
Have You put the box in order already p
was the gentleman 5 question.
Il didn't find anything to put in order.
There was nothing in it but nails and
things"
Exactly. It was the nails and things
that wanted put in order. Did you do
it -"
mo, sir. TWAS dark up there. and cold;
and didn't see anything that was worth
doing Besides, thought that was hired
to run errands.
''Oh," said Mr.. Peters, Il thought you
were hired to do as you were told" But
he smiled pleasantly enough, and at once
gave John an GRAND to do downtown and
the boy went of chuckling, declaring to
himself that he knew how to manage the
old fellow; all it needed was little stand
ing up for your rights.
Precisely at o'clock John was called
and paid the sum promised him for day :
work: and then, to his dismay, he was
told that his services would not be need.
ed any more.
The next morning the old sign, Boy
Wanted, appeared in its usual place.
Before noon il was taken down and
Charlie Jones was the fortunate boy. Err
rands-plenty of them, He was kept busy
until within an hour Of closing. Then,
behold! he was sent up 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 the box Nothing in it worth
his attention However he tumbled over
the things, growing all the time, picked
ont a few straight nails, key or two, and
finally appeared with the message; Here's
all there is worth keeping in that box
The rest of the nails are rusty and tho
hooks are bent or something.
VERY well. said NJ. Peters, and sent
him to the postofficc What do You think
BY the close of the next day Charlie had
been paid and discharged, and the old
sign hung in the window
..l've no kind of notion why ! was dis
charged, grumbled Charles to his mother
Gle said he had no fault to find, only hs
saw that wouldn't suit. It's my opinion
that he doesn't want a boy At all