The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-11-16
A PLUcKY BOY.
EnGlIah Journal.


 placently, he had just risen from such a glorious good dinner, "whAt will you have to -dAy7"
 "Oh, please, sir, mAyn't do some work for you7" It might have been the pleasant blue eyes that did 1t, for the man was not accustomed to barley with such small gentlemen, and Tommy wasn't seven yet, and small for his age at that.
 There were few wisps Af hair along the edges of the merchants temples, and looking down the appealing face, the man pulled at them. When he had done tweaking them he gave the ends of his crAvat a brush, and then his hands travelled down to his vest pocket
 "Do some work for me, eh? We'll, now, about what sort of work might your small manship call cuate to be able to perform2 Why, you can't look over the counter"
 "Oh yes, I can and Pm growing, please, grow ing fast there see If l can't look the coun- teri"
 "Yes, by standing on your toes; they cop pered?"
 What sir7"
 "Why, your toes. Your mother could not keep you in shoes if 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 It was too much for him, he couldn't see the little toes Then he went all the way around
 "I thought would need microscope" he said, very grAvely, "but l reckon if get close enough can what you look like"
 "Pm older than I'm big, sir" was the neat re- joinder "Folks say l am very small of my age" "What might your age be, sir?" responded the man, with emphasis.
 al am almost seven," said Tommy, with look calculated to impress six feet nine. You see, my mother hasn't any body but me, and this morn ing saw her crying, because she could not find five cents in her pocket book, and she thinks the boy who took the ashes stole eit-and-I-have- -hAd-any-any breakfast sir" The voice again hesitated, and tears came to the blue eyes. al reckon can help you to a breakfast, my little fellow" said the man, feeling in his vest pocket. "There, will that quarter dor" The boy shook his head.
 "Mother wouldn't let me beg, sir" was the sim- pie answer.
 "Humphl Where is your father?"
 "We never heard of him, sir, after he went away. He was lost, sir, in the steamer City of Boston" 'Ah! that's bad. But you are a plucky little fellow, any how. 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 clerk who roll ing up and writing on parcels, "is Cash No. still sick2"
 "Dead, sir; died last night" was the low reply. "Ah, Pm sorry to hear that. We'll, here's & youngster that can take his place"
 MT. Saunders looked up slowly, then he put his pen behind his ear then his glance travelled curi- ously from Tommy to Mir. Towers.
 "Oh understand" ," said the latter; "yes, he is small, very small indeed, but like his pluck. What did No. get2"
 "Three dollars, sir," said the still asonished clerk. "Put this boy down four. There, youngster, give him your name and run home and tell your mother that you have got a place st four dollars week. Come back on Monday and I'll tell you what to do Here's dollar in advance; Pll take it out of your first week. Can you remember?"
 "Work, sir, work all the timer"
 "As long you deserve 1t, my man."
 Tommy shot out of that shop. If ever broken stairs that had twist through the whole flight creaked and trembled under the weight of a small boy, or perhaps, as might be better stated laughed and chuckled on account of & small boys good luck those in that tenement house enjoyed themselves thoroughly that morning.
 "I've got it, mother Pm took. Pm cash boy Don't you know when they take parcels the clerks call Cash p-well, Pm that. Four dollars a week and the man said l had real pluck, courage, you know And here's 6 dollar for breakfast; and don't von eyer crv again fnr Pm the man of the honae