The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-09-15
THE MAN OF THE HOUSE.

"Well, my little man." said the mer-
chant complacentIy Che had just risen
from such good dinner), "what will you
have, to-deyW
"Oh, please, sir, mayn't do some work
for your
It might have been the pleasant blue
eyes that did it, for the man was not &C.
customed to parley with such small gen.
tlemen, and Tommy wasn't seven yet
and was small for his age at that There
were few wisps of hair along the edge
of the merchants temples, and looking
down on the appealing face the man
pulled at them. When he had done this
he gave the ends of his cravat brush,
and then his hand travelled down to his
vest pocket.
"Do some work for me, Ell? Well now,
about what sort OF work might you be
able to perform? Why you can't look
over the counter"
ooh, yes, I can, and I'm growing,
please, growing fast-there, see if can't
look over the counter"
Eyes, by standing on your toes. Are
they coppered"
"Whst, sir?"
"Why, your toes. Your mother could
not keep you in shoes il they were not"
"She can't keep me in shoes anyhow,
SIR" And the voice hesitated.
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.
Il thought I ehould need micro
scope" he said very gravely; "but I reck-
on if can get close enough I can see
what you look like"
'I'm older than am big, sir" was the
neat reioinder. "Folks say I am very
small of my age"
"What might your age be, sir" re-
sponded the man with emphasis.
81 am almost seven," said Tommy with
look calculated to impress even six feet
nine. "You see, my mother hasn't any
one but me; and this morning saw her
crying because she couldn't find five
cents in RI pccket-book, and she thinks
the boy who took the ashes stole it-and
-we-have-not- had-any-breakfas
sir" The voice again hesitated, and the
tears came to the blue eyes.
81 reckon can help you to break
fast, my little fellow" said the man feel
ing in his vest pocket. "There, will that
quarter do?"
The boy shook his head.
"Mother wouldn't let me beg, SIR" was
the simple answer.
"Humphl Where is your father?"
ave never heard OF him, sir, after he
went away. He was lost sir,in the steam
er City of Boston"
"Ahl that's bad. But you are 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. "Saun-
ders," he asked, addressing a clerk, who
was rolling up and writing on parcels,
sis Cash No. still sick?"
"Dsad sir; died last night" was the
low reply.
"Ahl I'm sorry to hear that. Well,
here's a youngster that can take his
place."
Mr.. Saunders looked up slowly, then
he put his pen behind his ear, then his
glance travelled curiously from Tommy
to Mr.. Towers.
sob, I understand" said the latter.
Yes, he is small, very small indeed; but
like his pluck. What did No. get?'
"Three dollars, sir" said the still as
tonished clerk.
"Put this boy down at four. There.
youngster, give your name, and run home
and tell your mother you have a place at
four dollars a week. Come back on Mon
day and I'll tell you what to do. Here's a
dollar in advance; I'll take it out of your
first week. Can you remember"
"Work, sir-work all the timer"
GAS long as you deserve it, my man."
Tommy shot out of that shop. II ever
broken stairs that had twist through
the whole flight, creaked and trembled
under the weight of small boy, or, per-
hape, as might be better stated, laughed
and chuckled on account of small boy 3
good luck, those in that tenement house
enjoyed themselves thoroughly that morn
ing.
"Pve got it, motherl I'm took. I'm a
cash boy Don't you know when they
take the parcels, the clerks call, CashS'
Well Pm that. Four dollars a week.
And the man said had real pluck
courage you know. And here's dollar
for breakfast; and don't you ever cry
again, for am the man of house now
The house was only little l0x15 room,
but how those blue eyes did magnify It'll
At first the mother looked COMPOUNDED.
Then she Iooked-well, it passes my
power TO tell how she did look, as she
took him In her arms and Rugged him,
and kissed him, the tears streaming down
her cheeks; but they were tears OF thank
fulness.-English Journal.
Mise Harriet Bond has been ap-
pointed police matron at Oswego, N. Y