Iron County register., 1888-07-26
A BOY GUEST.
A Helpful, Cheerful and obliging visitor

A Hint for Young Readers.
! '.Why, yes,'' said Mrs. Steuben,
slowly, '.you may invite Harry for a
week if you like. Be sure to say week
in your letter."
This was in answer to her sons
urgent request. He wanted to see his
old friend again whom he had known
two years before in the city, and there
was no way to do it unless Harry could
visit him. Both the boys were four
| teen years old, and had once been
neighbors and friends, until the Steu-
bens moved to small town on the sea-
shore. After that the boys knew of each
other only by letters.
Mrs. Steuben had her own housewOrk
to do, and it was midsummer, a time
which tried all her strength and will
power. There would be another room
to attend to, another person to cook for,
besides the little extra niceties and the
effort to entertain which would be due
to guest. But she loved her boy, and
he wanted Harry. Papa was willing,
grandpa made no objection, and little
Lofty danced up and down with a clild's
love of company.
So Harry came. He had grown in
the two years, and looked quite like q
young man, Mrs. Steuben thought, as
he walked up the path with his valise.
This made her a little more nervous
-! about her household arrangements, and
there was the mercury already above
ninety.
But Harry was only a boy yet after
all. He and Fred were soon running
races in the yard, and trying to see
which could jump farthest. Then they
went off for long walk around the
town, and came back tired and dusty
from their tramp. Harry went up to
his room to wash, and presently Mrs.
| Steuben saw him refilling his pitcher at
the well.
That's goodm she thought, 81
was just thinking I should have to
take up more water before bedtime"
+, The next morning Harry came early
down stairs before Fred had thought of
, stirring. Mrs. Steuben was busy in the
kitchen. He said good-morning bright
ly, and sat down by the window where
it was cool. Presently there was a rap
at the door.
''Oh, dear!" exclaimed Mrs. Steuben,
''here are my hands all in the hour!"
'.I'I go,' said Harry.
It was neighbor bringing a fine
head of lettuce. Harry received it in
his hands, with the dirt clinging to the
roots, and, instead of asking where he
should put it, said:
'.I'll take this out to the well and
wash it for you, Mrs. Steuben.
When he brought it back thoroughly
washed, with the roots and torn leaves
all removed, Mrs. Steuben said, impul-
sively:
what helpful boy you are,
Harry!'
She was yet more favorably impressed
when, during the forenoon, she went
from room to room making beds, to find
Harry's room looking as neat and or
derly as if he had not slept in it. The
bed was made, the bureau set in order,
and the boy had hung his best suit care
fully away in the closet.
.'When would Fred ever think of such
thing?" Mrs. Steuben asked herself.
Each day Harry, without making any
ado, found some way of helping. If any
thing were suddenly wanted from the
store, Harry cheerfully offered to go.
Sometimes he brought in wood, some
times he got a pail of water. He seem
ed to enjoy every moment, whether in
the house or off on some trip. Fred
took him to every point of interest in
the neighborhood, and Mrs. Steuben
was encouraged to propose rowing on
the river, when she saw how strong and
how capable Harry was i'm all he under
took. She went rowing herself with
the boys, and was not afraid to let Lofty
go, too.
One day, as she was looking at an old
splint-bottomed chair i'm the corner,
Harry said.
my mother had chair like that,
and she got some white paint and
painted it all over white, with little
gold bands around the legs, and around
parts of the back. Then she made a
peacock cushion for it, and set it in
the parlor. You might do that, too,
Mrs. Steuben. 1t is very pretty when
it is done"
Mrs. Steuben decided on the instant
that she aDould do it, and felt grateful
to Harry for the suggestion. Another
time, when the ice man was bringing
in the ice, Harry mentioned that his
mother always wrapped ice in an old
newspapers when she put ID away, and
this made it last great deal longer.
Harry's week was extended to two
weeks by Mrs. Steuben's especial re-
quest, and she told her own boy private
ly the reason why.
'sHe makes so little trouble, Frcd!''
she said, .'and he is SO cheerful and
Obliging. fairly enjoy giving him .
good time, and I am going to have q
picnic for yon all on the shore before
he goes. Now If you ever visit any
where yourself, dear, remember and try
to be like Harry. Then you will always
be welcome and find friends.
She was little touched the next day.
when she went to Fred's room. to find
that her own hoy had been making up
his bed! He had begun already, and
in various little helpful ways, awkward
| " at first, but very naturally and deftly
afterwards, he showed his willingness
to be OF service to others, even as his
boy guest had been.- Toutfs Conspd'a-
| son,