The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1890-01-16
MARK, THE CHORE BOY.

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'Plcasr, ma am, will You give me
something 10 eat, | haint eat nothing
but green apples an wild onions. since
day before Yesterday, an OH, maam, I'm
SO hungry
The speaker wa, q ragged, dirty, un-
kept lad, Of perhaps twelve year, of age.
who stood at the kitchen door Of Josiah
Greens farmhouse, one suItry afternoon
in July and looked up into Mrs. Green's
face with eager, iamshcd eyes
"WhCrc did You come from, and wnats
your name" asked the housewife, viewing
him with suspicious, though not unkindly
eyes, and speaking in % mothcrly voice.
I'm from the city," said the boy.
"lvc been u boOtbiick there. and news
boy, and m crmnd boy and, do my very
best, could hardly keep from starving.
Thcrcs % dozen boys for every Job, and
some Of en- are worse off than am, for
l am all alone IN the world One day a
fine gcntIcwgn, wot was having shin",
told me that hc used to live on farm
when boy, and that il / would 20 into
the country, / could get Job at doing
chores for my board, and have all the
milk | could drink, and 90 TO school in
the winter. and perhaps grow up aud be
President"
the kind hearted Mrs Green laughed
rs she invited the lad into the house. and
said that for once, at least, nc should
have all the milk hc could drink. She
was better than her word. for she not
only brought him milk, but sweet home
made bread, the like Of which nc had
never tasted before, and doughuuts. and
10 crown all, mammoth piece of dried
apple pie, and u goodly slice of cheese.
PLcing q chair ut the table, she said:
Now, my little man, cat your fiji.
Mr.. Green and my son, who is about your
age, will soon be home from the village.
where they have goac for the mail, and
then we will see what more can be done
for YOU. -
The motherly heart of Mrs. Green was
evidently stirred with sympathy for the
poor little orphan, for she softly inur-
INJURED TO herself. My boy Arthur's age,
and alone in the world. Poor little
lad. o."
you asked me my name. ma'am. and
forgot to tell you" said the lad. his
mouth full of pie. ''Ips Mark Bloomcr.
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 a
loud 'whoa, and Mrs. Green was soon
bn,lly engaged i'm unloading sundry
package OF groceries, tor which her hus-
band had bartcrcd butter and eggs at the
combine village store and postoilicc. She
was assisted 10y her son Arthur, who was
50 greatly astonisncd nt the UNEXPECTED
sight OF Mark Blonmcr that he dropped
paper bag he was carrying, which,
bursting open, permitted the milk crack
Crs II contained tn roll hike 50 many small
wheels in every direction. Mark and
Arthur both Spang to pick them up, and
IN doing so bumped their heads together
Neither was hurt, and it proved to bc the
best introduction they could have had.
for they both laughed very heartily; and
when two boys laugh over the same,
thing it usually ends IN their becoming
friends. The two boys had Just finished
picking up the crackers, when Farmer
Green entered the kitchen.
"lIcllo, mother" he shouted. in his
rough but kindly voice. "Whcrc did
you find this ere youngstcr"
40 he happened along" laughed Mrs.
Green. "llc is from the city, and he is
looking fora place to do chores for his
board, and in the winter, go to school"
go father, let him live with rs. o
do keep him, father; do so want some
one to play with.
81 don't believe 'twould be Il very
profitable speculation to hire boy Just
to play, Doing chorc amt play.
"But We would make believe it was, "
urged Arthur please, father, lc; him
stay
"Wcl 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 ms father To permit him to stay.
Mark at once stepped up to Mr. Grccn.
"Iou'rc an honest looking lad enough,
though you are ragged and dirty And
so you want to do chores for your board,
eh' What do you know about farm
work.
"Not anything, " said Mark, "Tye al
ways lived in the city. But | know |
could learn. will do my very best, sir,
if you vii! take me-"
"Well, well, wen see about it in the
morning. In the mean time you had
better go down TO the creek, aud take a
bath. s'poso Wen 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 go 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 for Oaks Creek. u