The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-07-04
A BOY WHO WAS WANTED.

BOY WHO WAS WANTED.
, well, I've found out one thing" sal,
Jack, as he came in to his mother, hot
tired and dusty.
"What is that p she asked.
That there are great many boys il
the world"
Didn't you know that before p
Partly, but l didn't know there were
so many more than are wanted"
"What makes you think so p
because I've been round and round
till I'm worn out trying to find a place
to work. Wherever go there are more
boys than places. Doesn't that show
that there are too many boys 2"
mot exactly" said his mother, with
a smile. 1t depends entirely upon the
kind of boy. A good 10y is always
wanted somewhere"
well, if I'm coed boy wish knew
where Pm wanted"
Patience, patience my boy. In such
a great world as this is, with so many
places and so many boys, it is no won
der that some of them do not find their
places at once. But be very sure, dear, ~
as she laid a caressing hand on his arm,
that every boy who wants a chance to
do fair, honest work will find it,
That's the kind of work l want to
do, said Jack. II don't want any body
money for nothing. Let me see-what
have got to offer All the schooling
and all the wits I've been able to get up
to thirtce en- years, good stout hands and
feet and civil tongue"
"And a mind and heat set on doing
faithful duty" suggested his mother.
81 hope so, said Jack. Il remember
father used 10 say: Just as soon as you
undertake to work for any one you must
bear in mind that you have sold yourself
10 him for the given time. Your time,
your strength, your energy are his and
your best efforts to seek his interests in
every way are his due"
The earnest tone in which the boy
spoke seemed to give assurance that he
would pay good heed to the words of
the father whose counsels could no more
reach him.
For two or three days longer Jack had
reason to hold his opinion that there
were more boys than the world wanted,
at the end of which time he met with
business man who, after questioning
him closely, said
There are a great many applications
for the place, bu; the greater number of
the boys come and stay for short time
and then leave If they think they can do
a little better When a boy gets used to
our routes and our customers we want
him to stay. II you will agree to remain
for at least three years we will pay you
three dollars week as errand boy"
THAT is just what l want to do, sir,
said Jack, eagerly. So he was installed, ,
and proud enough he was at bringing
his wages home every Saturday night,
and realizing that, small as they were,
the regular help was of great value to
his mother.
1t is not to be wondered at that the
faithful carrying out of his fathers ad-
monition after awhile attracted the at
tention not only of his employers, but of
others with whom he was brought into
contact in the pursuit of his duties.
One day he was asked into the office
of Mr.. Lang, gentleman to whom he
frequently carried parcels of value.
Have you ever thought of changing
your situation ?" asked Mr.. Lang.
mo, sir, said Jack.
L
the other. IL want TO get boy who is
quick and intelligent and who can be re-
lied on, and from what | see of you |
think you are that sort uf a boy. want
you to drive delivery wagon, and l
will pay five dollars week"
Jacks eyes opened wide.
Its wonderful good pay, sir, for
boy like me, I'm sure. But | promised
to keep on with Mr.. Hill for three years
and the second year is only just begun"
"Well, have you signed regular
agreement with Mr.. Hill 2"
mo, sir; | told him I'd stay"
You have mother to ass;st, you
told me. Couldn't you tell Mr.. Hill that
you feel Obliged to do better when you
have a chance 2"
Il don't believe l could" said Jack,
looking with his straight, frank gaze into
the gentleman's face. You see, sir, if
broke my word to him | shouldn't be
the kind of boy to be relied on that you
wanted"
81 guess you are about right" said
Mr.. Lang, with a laugh. Come and
see me when your time is out; dare say
| shall want you then"
Jack went home very mnch stirred by
what had been said to him. After all,
could it be wrong to go where he could
do much better Almost double the
wages Was it not really his duty TO
bis mother to obtain it, and to drive a
wagon instead of trudging YEARLY along
the streets? They never had felt so hot
and dusty as they did just now when he
might escape from the tiresome routine.
Might, but how? By the sacrifice of
his pledged word. BY selling his truth
and his honor. So strongly did the re-
Fiction force itself upon him that when
he told his mother of the offer he had
received he merely added
"It would be grand good thing if
could take it, wouldn't 1t, mother ?"
Eyes, it would"
"Some boys would change without
letting a promise stand in their way"
"Yes, but that is the kind of boy
who, sooner or later, is not wanted. II
is because you have not been that sort of
a boy that you are wanted now"
Jack worked away, doing such good
good work, ,as he became more and more
accustomed to his situation, that his
mother sometimes wondered that MIR. |
Hill, who seemed always kindly inter
ested 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 increasing dispo- |
sition to trust Jack with important bust |
ness.
So the boy trudged through his three
years, at the end of them having been |
trusted far more than is usually the case
with errand boys. He had never for
. ha To 10 hu
and one day meeting that gentleman on |
the street ventured to remind him OF il,
telling him that his present engagement
was nearly out, adding
"You spoke to me about driving the
wagon, SIR"
"Ah, 80 did; but you are older now
and worth more. Call around and see
me-"
On Saturday evening soon after Jack
fingered in Mr.. Hills Office after the
other errand boys mad been paid and had
gone away. MY three years are up to-
night, sir, he said.
Eyes. they are," said Mr.. Hill, looking
as if he had remembered it.
"Will you give recommendation to
some one else, sir 2"
"Well, i will, if you are sure you want
10 leaYe 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 as
though ought to do the best l can for
ler, and Mr. Lang told me to call on
him."
HAS Mr.. Lang ever made you an Of
Ter 2"
Jack told him Of what Mr.. Lang had
,aid to him nearly two years ago.
"Why didn't you go then y asked Mr..
Hill.