South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1890-11-14
A Plucky Boy.


counter.
We'll, my little man. raid the
merchant, complscently, he had just
risen from such glorious good din
ner. what will you have todsys'
oh, please. sir, mayn't DO some
work for your
1t might have heen the pleasant
blue eyes that did IT. for tue man was
not accustomed, to parley, with such
small gentlemen and Tommy wasn't
seven yet, and small -for h s age at
that.
There were few wisps of hair p
long the edges OF the merchants
temples. and, looking down on the
appealing face. the man pulled al
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 Tor me, ebS Well
now, about what sort of work nigh;
your small msrship calculate to I've
able to performr Why, you can't
look over the counter.
oh, yes, l can. and I'm growing
please, growing fas' ; lhese. see il
cant look over the COUNTER
Yes, by standing on your toes ;
are they eppretedp'
what, sil2' r.
why, your toes. Your mothei
could net keep you in shoes If they
wdre not
She cans keep me in shoss. any.
no v, sir and The ice hesita.ed
The man took pains to look owe
the coun or. I, VAS too much for him
he couldn't see the little toes. Then
he went all the way AROUND. -
Il thought would need micro.
scope he said, very gtaveiy, but
reckon II | get close enough can
zee what you 10 TX like
I'm older than I'm big sir. wa
the neat rejoinder. Folks say / an
very small OF my age
What might youi age be, sir2' re-
spondel the man, with emphasis.
i am Almost seven said Tommy
with look ,lculated to Impress ev
tn six feet nine. You see my n til
er hasn't anybody but me. and thi
morning | saw her crying, brcaus,
she could not find Ave cents IN he
pockeLbook, aud 'she thinks the DO,
who took the ashes stole it--and-
= have mot had any breakfast
SIR Tho vote again hesitated, ant
tears came to The blue eyes. -
Il recon can hep you TO br, az.
fast> my little fellow, SAID the man
feeling in his vest pocket. There
VIII that quarter doH' The boy sh 'ol
his head.
Mother wouldn't let me beg, sir,
was the simple answer.
'HumphP Where is YOUR fsthsIP'
We never heard of BIN, sir, afte
he went away. He was lost, sir, il
the steamer, City of BOSTON,
All: that's bad. But you are
plucky little fellow, anyhow. Let mC
see.' and he puckered up bis mou,t
and looked straight iuio the boy,
eyes, which we're looking straight in.
10 bis. Saunders, he asked, adj
dressing q clerk, who was rolling ar
I'D wri ing on parcels, lie Cash No
4 still sick2'
Dead. sir; died last night vas Ihc
low reply.
Alb, I'm sorry TO hear thst. well
here's a yOungster that can't take bis
place.
Mr.. Saunders looked up slowly,
then he put his pen behind hts ear,
then his lance travelled ouriously from
Tommy to Mr.. Towers.
oh. | understand said The latter ;
yes, lie 10 smsll, very small indeed.
bat | like bis pluck. What did No.
4 gOtP
Three dollars, sir, said the sill
astonished clerk.
Put this boy down for. Tba,e.
youngster, give bin your name AMI
run home add tell your mother that
you have got place Of four dollars
a week. Com back on MONDAY and
III tell you what 70 10. Here's a
dollar In advance; I'll take it out Of
your Grst week. Can you remcm-
beT2'
Work, sir, work al The timer
AS long as you deserve It, my
man
Tommy SHOT out Of that shop. IF
ever broken s'sirs that bad twist
through the whole fight creaked and
ttrcmoied under tho weight OF a small
boy, or perhaps, as might be better
stated laughed and cbuckled on ac-
count Of small boys good luck,
those IN that tenement honse onioyed
themselves thoroughly that NOM
ing,
live got IL. mother! Pm took .
I'm a cash bOv Don't vou Mo-,