Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1890-02-01
A Plmcky Boy.

the bluel
Agnes l.. MITCHELL in Babyhood.
A Plucky Boy.
The boy marched straight up to the
counter.
well, my little man," said the mer-
chant, complacently, he had Just risen
from such glorious, good dinner,
what will you have to-day?"
"Oh, please, sir, mayn't do some
work for you?"
1t might have been the pleasant blue
eyes that did it, for the man was not
accustomed to parley with such small
gentlemen, and Tommy wasn't seven
yet, and small for his age at that
There were q few wisps of hair
along the edges of the merchants
temples, and, looking down on the APP
pealing face, the man pulled at them.
When he had done twcaking them he
gave the ends of his cravat brush,
and then his hands travelled down to
vest pocket.
"Do some work for me, Ell? Well,
now, about what sort of work might
your small manship calculate to he
able to perform? Why, you can't
look over the counter"
"Oh, yes, I can, and Tn growing,
please, growing fast; there, see if l
can't look ovor the countcr?"
Yes, by standing on your toes; are
they coppered?"
"What, sir?"
why, your toes. Your mother
could not keep you in shoes if they
were not"
"She can't keep me in shoes, any
how, 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.
81 thought l would need micro
scope" he said, very gravely, "but l
reckon if | get close enough I can see
what you look like"
I'm older than Tn big, sir" was the
neat reioinder. Folks say l am very
small of my age"
what might your age be, sir?" re-
sponded the man, with emphasis.
Il am almost seven," said Tommy,
with a look calculated to impress even
ak feet nine. you see my mother
hasn't anybody 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 it-and -1--have-not
had-any breakfast, sir" The voice
again hesitated, and tears came to the
blue eyes.
4 reckon can help you to a break
fast, my little fellow" said the man,
feeling in his vest pocket. "Thele
will that quarter do?" The boy shook
his head.
Mother wouldn't let me beg. sir,
was the simple answer.
"Humph? 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 {
plucky little fellow. anyhow. Let me
see" and he puckered up his mouth
and looked straight into the boys eyes
which were looking straight into his
Saunders" he asked, addressing ;
clerk, who was rolling up and writing
| on parcels, is Cash No. still sick {?
Dead, sir died last night" was tn,
low reply.
"Ah, I'm sorry to hear that. Well
here's q youngster that can take hi
place"
Mr.. Saunders looked up slowly, thel
he put his pen behind his ear, then hi
glance travelled curiously from Tomm,
to Mr.. Towers.
| HnL T ,,,,,l so,1 To-
Eyes, he is small, very small indeed
but l like his pluck, What did No.
| get?"
"Threo dollars, sir" said the still
astonished clerk.
Put this boy down four. There
voungster, give him you name, and rul
home and tell your mother that yo,
have got place at four dollars week
Come back on Monday aud I'll tell yo,
what to do. Here's a dollar in ad
vance; I'll take it out of your frs
week. Can you remember"
work, sir, work all the time?'
"As long as you deserve it, my man.
/ Tommy shot ont of that shop. /
| ever broken stairs that had a twis
through the whole flight creaked ant
trembled under the weight of a small
boy, or perhaps, as might be bette
stated, laughed and chuckled on &C
count of small boys good luck, thos,
in that tenement house enjoyed them
selves thoroughly that morning
Give got it, mother! I'm took. Tn
Il cash boy! Don't yoa know whel
they take parcels the clerks call Cash
well, I'm that. Four dollars week
and the man said l had real pluck
courage, you know. And here's
dollar for breakfast: and don't Vol
ever cry again, 10: I'm the man of thu
house now"
The house was only little 1Oxlj
room, but how those blue eyes di,
magnify it! At first the mothe
looked COMPOUNDED; then she looked
well, il passes my power to tell how
she did look as she took him in he
arms and Rugged him, kissed him, tn
tears streaming down her cheeks. Blu
they We're tears of thankfulness.
English jou1naL