Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-01-09
Plucky Boy.

The boy marched straight up to tn
counter.
"Well, my little man" said the mer
chant, complacently, he had just risel
from such glorious good dinner
what will you have to-day?"
"Oh, please, sir, mayn't / do som,
work for your"
1t miget have been the pleasant blu,
eyes did it, for the man was not accus
toned to parley with such small gen
tlemen; aud Tommy wasn't seven yet
and small for his age at that.
There were few wisps Of hair along
the edges Of the merchants temples
and, looking down on the appealing
face, the man pulled at them. When
he had done tweaking them, he
gave the ends Of his cravat brush
and then his hands travelled down tO
his vest pocket.
"Do some work for me, eh? Well,
now, about what sort Of work might
your small manship calculate to be able
to performs Why, you can can't look
over the counter"
"Oh, yes, can, and rm growing,
please, growing fast. There, see if !
can't look over the counter?n
"Yes, by standing an your toes. Are
they coppered ?"
what, sir 2"
why, your toes. Your mother could
not keep you in shoes If they were no" I"
"She can't keep me in shoes, any
how, sir" and the voice hesitated.
The man took pains to look over the
counter. It was too much for him-he
couldn't see the little toes. Then he
went all the way around.
II thought l should need q micro
scope" he said very gravely; "but l
reckon, if get close enough, / can see
what you look like"
"I'm older than I'm big, sir, was the
neat rejoinder. Folks say am very
small Of my age."
"What might your age be, sir?" re-
sponded the man, with emphasis.
"I'm almost seven," said Tommy,
with look calculated to impress even
six feet nine. "You see my mother
hasn't anybody but me, and this morn
saw her crying, because she could not
ind five cents in her pocket-book; and
The thinks the boy who took the ashes
,tole it. MISUNDERSTANDING
ANY breakfast, SIR" The voice again
and tears came to the blue
ayes,
III reckon I can help you to break
asst, my little fellow" said the man,
ceiling in his vest pocket. "There will
hat quarter do?" The boy shook his
read.
"Mother wouldn't let me beg, sir"
vas the simple answer.
"Humph! Where is your father?"
"We never heard of him, sir, after he |
vent away. He was lost, sir, in the |
teamer City of Boston.
"Ah, that's bad. But you are q |
lucky little fellow, anyhow. Let me
ee," and he puckered up his mouth,
nd looked straight down into the boys |
yes, which were looking straight into |
lis. Saunders" he asked, addressing
clerk, who was rolling up and writ
ng on parcels, "is Cash No. 4 still sick?" |
dead, sir-died last night" was the
ow reply.
"Ah! I'm sorry to hear that. Well,
ere's a youngster that can take his
lace"
Mr.. Saunders looked up slowly, then
II,
lance travelled curiously from Tommy
D Mr.. Towers.
"Oh, I understand" said the latter:
yes, he is small, very small indeed;but
like his pluck. What did No. 4 get?"
Three dollars, sir" said the still as
)nished clerk.
"Put this boy down at four. There.
give him your name, and
In home and tell your mother that
ou have got place at four dollars a
eek. Come back on Monday, and I'll
III you what to do. Here's a dollar in
1vance' Til take it out of your first
eek. Can you remember?"
Work, sir, work all the timer"
"As long as you deserve it, my man.
Tommy shot out of that shop. If
YER broken stairs that had twist
trough the whole flight creaked and
embed under the weight of a small
Dy, or perhaps, as might be better
ated, laughed and chuckled on account
"a small boys good luck, these in that
house enjoyed themselves
that morning.
"I've got it, mother Im took. I'm
cash boy! Don't you know, when
icy take parcels, the clerks call 'Cashv
|ell I'm that. Four dollars a week!
I'D the man said I had real pluck
'urage, you know. And here's dol
r for breakfast; and don'tyou ever cry
gain, for I'm the man of the house
Dw."
The house was ouly little 10x15
'om but how those blue eyes did mag
ify it! At first the mother looked con-
unded. Then she Iooked-well, it
assed my power to tell how she did
ok as she took him in her arms and
lgged him, kissed him, the tears
roaming down her checks. But they
ere tears of thankfulness.-E English
)uTnGI
The Hottest Spot on Earth.