Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1889-12-27
No, sir, said Jack

aNo, sir, said jack
Perhaps you could do better, said the
other Il want to get a boy who is quick
and intelligent and who can be relied Oh.
and from what see Of you, ! think you
are that sort of a boy I want you 70 drive
Il delivery wagon and vill pay ,"u FIVE
dollars week
Jack eyes opened wide.
It, wonderful good pay, sir for hoy
like me. | am sure But promised 10
Keep @, with Mr Hiu for three year. aud
the second year Is only just begun
well. have you signed q written agree
nent with Mr. HiIli'
NO. sir, told tim I'd stay"
..You have Il mother to assist, vou told
me. Couldn't you tell Mr.. Hin that You
felt obliged 10 do better when you have Il
chance'"
Il don't believe | could" said Jack,
looking with his straight, frank gaze into
the gentleman face. You see, sir, if |
broke my word to him. | shouldn't he the
kind of boy to be relied On that you
wanted
II guess YOU are right said Mr. Lang.
with laugh. Come and see me when
your time IS ont; ! dare gay | shall want
you then
Jack went home very much stirred NJ by
what had been said to him. After all,
| could it be wrong to go where he could do
so much the betterf Almost double the
wagcs Was it not his duty TO 4is mother
to obtain it, and TO drive wagon, instead
of trudging wearily along the streets' They
never had felt So hot and dusty as they did
now, when he might escape from the tire
some routine.
Might, but how9 BY the sacrifice OF his
pledged word. BY selling his honor. So
strongly did the reflection force itself upon
| him. that when he told his mother of the
offer he had received he merely added:
at would be grand good thing if [
| could take it. wouldn't it, mother
eyes, it would
Some boys would change without
thinking of letting promise stand in their
way
eyes, bat that Is the kind of boy who,
| sooner OF later. is not wanted. 1t is be
cause you have been that sort of boy that
| Won are wanted now
| Jack worked away, doing much good
| toned to his eitnation, that his mother
sometimes wondered that Mr.. Hill who
seemed kindly interested in him, never
| appeared to think of raising his pay. This,
! however, was not Mr.. Hills way of doing
/ things, even though he showed an increas
! ing disposition 10 trust Jack with impor
tant business
| So the boy Judged through his three
| years, at the end of them having been
trusted more than is usually the ease with
crrand boys. He had never forgotten the
offer made him by Mr. Lang. and one day
| yentured to remind him Of it, telling him
that his present engagement was nearly
| ont, and adding:
''Yon spoke to me about driving the
wagon, sir
"Ah so I did but you are older now
and worth more. Call and see me-
! On Saturday evening soon after, Jack
fingered in Mr Hills Office after the other
errand boys had been paid and gone away.
MY three years are up tonight, sir,
he said.
Eyes, they are, said Mr nill looking
as if hc had remembered il.
"Will you give me a recommendation to
| some one else, sir''
well, / will. if yon are sure you want
| to leave me"
| II didn't know You wanted me to stay.
| But" he hesitated and then went on, "My
mother is a widow, and l feel rs though
ought 10 do the best | can for her, and Mr.
/ Lang told me to call on him"
! Has Mr.. Lang ever made you an otler!'
| Jack told him of what Mr.. Lang had
said to him nearly two years ago.
'Why didn't you 60 them" asked Mr..
| Hill.
because | had promised to stay with
you; but you wouldn't blame me for tying
to better myself now"
''Not bit oft are you tired of run
| Hlhg tIIunuSs
'I'd rather ride than walk said Jack
! with smile.
II think it is about time you are doing
better than either. Perhaps you think you
have been doing this faithful work for me
through these years for next to nothing,
but if so, you are mistaken. You have
been doing better work than merely run
ming errands. You lave been serving an
apprenticeship to trust and honesty i
know you now to be straightforward. re
liable boy, and it takes time to learn that.
1t is your capital, and you begin to realize
on it, You may talk to Mr.. Lang if you
wish, but / will give you place IN the
office, with salary of 5000 the first year
and prospect of a rise after that"
Jack did not go to Mr. Lang, but straight
to his mother with shout and bound.
You're right, you're right, mothcr!' he
cried mo more hard work for you,
mother. I'm wanted, you see! Wanted
enough to get good pay, and all the hard
| pst mart over