The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1890-03-04

The boys called me Bloom for short,
/" But before Mark could complete
another sentence Mr.. Green drove up
to the door, the horse was halted with
loud whoa" and Mrs. Green was soon
busily engaged in unloading sundry
packages of groceries, for which her
husband had bartered butter and eggs
at the cosabined village store and post
Office. She was assisted by her son
Arthur, who was SO greatly astonished
at the unexpected sight of Marx
Bloomer that he dropped a paper bag
be was carrying, which bursting open
permitted the milk crackers it contained
to roll like so many small wheels in
every direction. Mark and Arthur both
| sprang to pick them up, and in doing so
bumped their heads together. Neither
was hurt. and it proved to be the best in
PRODUCTION they could have had, for they
both laughed very heartily. and when two
boys laugh over the same thing it usual
| ~ ends in their becoming friends. The
two boys had just finished picking up
| the crackers when Farmer Green en-
! tered the kitchen.
Hello, mother" he shouted, in his
rough but kindly voice Where did
| you find this ere youngster?"
20. he happened along" laughed Mrs.
Green. He is from the city. and no is
| looking for a place to do chores for his
board, and in the winter go to school"
20, father, let him live with US o,
do keep him, father; do SO want some
one to play with"
Il don't believe 'twould be a very
profitable speculation to hire boy just
to play. Doing chores amt play
But we would make believe it was"
urged Arthur Please. father. let him
stay"
We'll see about that Come here.
youngSter, said the farmer to Mark.
who during the foregoing short dialogue
had remained perfectly silent. hoping
against hope that Arthur would prevail
upon his father TO permit him to stay
Mark at once stepped up to Mr. Green.
You're IA honest-looking lad enough,
though you are ragged and dirty. And
SO you want to do chores for your board,
en-? What do you know about farm
work?"
Not any thing" said Mark: I've al
ways lived in the city, but know |
could learn. 1 Will do my very best, sir,
if you will take me-"
well. well, we'll sec about it in tho
morning. In the meantime you had
better go down to the creek, and take
bath. spose we'll have to keep you
over night anyway, and them feet and |
hands of yours amt just the things to
put between clean white sheets. Arthur
may 60 with you and show you the !
'swimming-hole.' but don't stay in the |
water long, and be sure and put up the |!
bars SO that the COWS won't get into !
the meadow" shouted the farmer after |
them as they started, with many a !
whoop and shout, for Oaks creek, a 1
stream flowing through Mr.. Green's |
farm.
AS soon as the boys had disappeared |
the farmer turned to his wife and said; !
"Well. Polly, what do you think? |
Had we better keep this young tramp !
or not? | really need boy TO help do |
the chores: Arthur isn't at all strong, as !
you remind me twenty times day. IL !
thought the lad would be of any earth
ly use TO me I'd try him for a month"
Ilt SccnlS dH HOHtSJ- ldus
said Mrs. Green, land, besides, he's |
just Arthur's age. Let's give him !
trial"
The fact of his being lust Arthurs i
age" seemed to be his strongest recon- |
mendation in the eyes of the loving |
mother. Arthur was a sickly though !
merry lad. and the chores that !
naturally fall to the lot Of boys of his |
age on all farms had. in great part, been !,
done by his father: the doing which kept :
the latter from his other duties to such |
an extent that he was continually be- |
hindhand with his work.
In the course of half an hour Arthur |
and Mark returned from the creek, the |
latter looking very clean and rosy and |
the former very blue.
1--WE have concluded. Mark" said the |
farmer, slowly, Ito give you months /
trial"
''Hurrah. hurrah!' shouted Arthur,
throwing his cap in the air. Amt that |
Jolly? Now / shall have some one TO
play with"
Il shall expect YOU" continued the |
farmer when Arthur's enthusiasm had
somewhat abated, Ito help milk, feed
the pigs and hens, water the horses,
bring in the wood and water. and do
such other light work as ] may call upon
you to do. If at the end of a month we
are mutually satisfied with each other
we will make bargain for longer
period"
That night, for the first time in bis
life, Mark Bloomer slept on a feather
bed between snow-white sheets The
next morning he was up at daybreak and
had the fire made and the tea-kettls
singing right merrily before Mrs. Green
made her appearance. In short time
the farmer came into the kitchen with
two large tin milk-pails, one of which no
handed TO Mark with the remark: