Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-02-28
MARK, THE CHORE BOY.

The speaker was II ragged, dirty, un-
kept lad, of perhaps twelve years of age,
who stood ut the kitchen door of Josiah
Green's farmhouse one sultry afternoon
in July, and looked up into Mrs. Greens
face with eager, furnished eyes
'Whcrc did you come from and what's
your name!' asked the housewife. viewing
him with suspicious, though not unkindly
eyes, and speaking i'll a mothcrly voice
."Im from the city" said the boy.
''lvc been Il boothlack there, and Il news.
bog, and an crrand-boy, and, do my very
best, could hardly keep from starving.
There's dozen boys for every Job. and
some of en- are worse Off than am, for
am all alone i'll the world One day II
line gentleman, wot was having a shine,
told me that he used to live on a farm
when hoy, and that if would 90 into
the country, could get IL job mt 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"
The kind-hcartctl Mrs Green laughed
aS she invited the lad into the house. and
said that for once, ut least, he should
have nIl the milk lie could drink. She
was better than her word, for she not
only brought him milk, but sweet home
made hrcat, the like OF which he had
never tasted before, and dOu"hnu.s, and
to crown.all> rlammoth piece of dried
apple PIE. and .oodly Slice of cheese.
Placing n chair al the table. she said:
Now. my little man. eat your iii.
Mr.. Green and my son, who is abom your
agc will soon he home from the village
where they have gone for the mail and
then we will see what more can be done
for yon.
The mothcrly heart of Mrs. Green was
evidently stirred with sympathy for the
poor little orphan. for she softly muir
INJURED TO herself: "My hoy Arihurs asc.
and alone III the world. Poor little
lad. -
"Nou asked me my name, ma am, and
| forgot To tell you, said the lad. his
mouth. full of pic. "lt's Mark Bloomcr.
The boys called me Bloom for short.
L" Bui before Mark could complete
another sentence, Mr.. Green drove ,Ip to
the door, the horse was halted, with Il
loud whoa, and Mrs. Green was soon
'husiy engaged in unloading sun,irv
band had h,rtcrrJ hu,icr AMI c.,n" =, w..
combine VILLAGE storc ard mos,nti;rc sho
was assisted hv her SON A,,i,ur ,yhn ,r..
So greatly astonishcl nj the unexpected
sight of Mark Bloomcr, that he dropped
paper ba" he WAS carrying, which,
bursting open permitted the milk crack
crs ii contained To roll like 50 many small
Arthur both spr,nm IN nick Them nm AMI
in DOING So bumnrl ,hrir heads ,o.I r
Neither WAS hur, and !, nrovcd n Inc ,h,
hes, introduction thrv rnuld h,vc h,I
for they both laughed very heartily. and
when Two bows lau.h ov,r I'm. snn,,.
,hinu it usually ends in heir hr,ou;r,r
friends Thc. f,vn bovs had inst n,ishnd
nickin" M the crackers when Farmer
Gr,.o, o,t,ir..I H.. - az '''''
..Hcllo. mother" he shouted IN his
rou"h but kindly vo;,o ..WLorc iii
Won find his ere vounns,cr,r w
40 he honncncI ,Ion,r " l,,r,od >,,s
Green ..Iic i from ~ ,.;,y and h.. l.
looking for plncc to do chores f,r hi.
hoard and in fine winter .go ~ .chnoI :,
20 father. Let him live with 49, n
do keep him, father; | do so want some
one TO NAV with
~ don't bcli.vc ,,would ho ,.o..
profitable sncrnlntio, tn h;ro hnu 49,,
10 play. Doinm chorr ,in.t nl,v ~
..But we void .m;kr hcl;cvc' II vas :.
urped Arthur ..plrosc rothcr H., h;,,
stay" '''"
:.Wen 500 obord flat co,,o ,oro
vounaster.n said fine f,rmor 70 Mail,
,yl, III. H. fa III v. i"' N '
had remained nrrfectly s;lcnt h",I;, w.
aomnst hone tb,t Arthmr would "raua;
upon his father to norm;r. him, - s,",.
Mark at once stcnncd nm ~ Mr. cros s'"'
..You're an honest look ;r~ l,d cno"',,,
THOUGH Won nrc raoo.d ,md 7,;" r, my ~
so YOU want to do Chores for vnur ho,rd
oh; What do vom tnaw. s ,",, 'V e'''
work,r O''' '"' y
s.Not anvthino said ,I.rl, ..1.,o 81,
WAYS lived in thc c;tv pnt1 tno,,. :"
cnn,a learn w;n IL, ms. ,'a,... n.o"