Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-03-07
Mark, The Chore Boy.

IledSe, lila all, VIII you give ho
something to eat hain't eat moth
ing but green apples an wild onions,
since day before yesterday, an OH
ma ain, I'm so hungry"
The speaker was a ragged, dirty,
unkept lad, of perhaps twelve years
of age, who stood at the kitchen door
of Josiah Green's farmhouse, one sui
try afternoon in July, and looked up
into Mrs Green's face with eager,
famished eyes.
Where did you come from, and
what's your name?" asked the house
wife, viewing him with suspicious,
though not unkindly eyes, and speak
ing in motherly voice.
"I'm from the city," said the boy.
I've been a bootblack there, and a
newsboy, and an errand-boy, and do
my very best, could hardly keep from
starving. There's a dozen boys for
every job, and some Of 'em are worse
off than | am, for L AIN all alone III
the world. One day a fine gentle
man, wot was having shine, told
me that he used to live on farm
when boy, and that if | would go
into the country, could get job at
doing chores for my board, and have
all the milk | could drink, and go to
school in the winter, and perhaps
grow up and be President" i"
The kind-hearted Mrs. Green
laughed as she invited the lad into
the house, and said that for once, at
least, he should have all the milk he
could drink. She was better than
her word, for she not only brought
him milk, but sweet homemade
bread, the like of which he had never
tasted before, and doughnuts, and to
crown all, mammoth piece of dried
apple pie, and goodly slice of cheese.
Placing chair at the table, she
said:
Now, my little man, eat your till.
Mr.. Green and my son, who is about
your age, will soon be home from the
village, where they have gone for the
mail, and then we will see what more
can he doue for you"
The motherly heart of Mrs. Green
was evidently stirred with sympathy
for the poor little ophan, for she softly
murmured to herself: my boy Ar
thurs age, and alone in the world.
Poor little lad"
You asked me my name, ina am,
and / forgot TO tell you, said the lad,
his mouth full of pie. Its Mark
Bloomer. The boys cailedme 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 en-
gagged in unloading sundry packages
of groceries. for which her husband
had battered butter and eggs at the
combine village store and postofilce.
She was assisted by her son Arthur
who was so greatly astonished at the
unexpected sight of Mark Bloomer,
that he dropped a paper bag he was
carrying, which bursting open, per-
mitted 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 burt, and it proved to be
the best introduction they could have
had. for they both laughed very
heartily, and when two boys laugh
over the same thingi it usually ends in
their becoming friends. The two
boys had just finished picking up the
crackers, when Farmer Green entered
the kitchen.
Hello, MOTHER he shouted, in his
rough but kindly voice. Where did
you find this ere youngsterF'
30, he happened along" laughed
Mrs. Green. He is from the city,
and he is looking for a place to do
chores for his board, and in the win
ter, go to school"
20 father, let him live with US. .
do keep him, father; l do so want
some one to play with"
Il don't believe 'twould be very
profitable speculation to hire a boy
just to play. Doing chore ain't play.
But we would make believe it
was urged Arthur. please, father.
let him stay"
We'll see about that. Come here,
youngster,m said the farmer to Mark,
who during the foregoing short dia-
logue had remained perfectly silent,
hoping against hope that Arthur
would prevail upon his father to per-
nit him to stay. Mark at once step,
ped up to Mr.. Green.
You're 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 works"