Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-01-10
a Plucky Boy.

The boy marched straight up to the
counter.
"Well, my little man." said the mer-
chant, complacently, he had just risen
from such a glorious, good dinner,
what will you have to-day?"
"Oh, please, sir, maynt I do some
work for you?"
1t might have been the pleasant blue
eyes that did it, for the man was not
accustomed to parley with such small
gentlemen, and 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 ap-
pealing face, the man pulled at them.
When he had done tweaking them he
gave the ends of his cravat q brush,
and then his hands travelled down to
vest pocket.
! "Do some work for me, Ell? Well,
now, about what sort of work might
your small manship calculate to be
able to perform? Why, YOU can't
look over the counter"
,"Oh, yes, | can, and I'm growing,
please, growing fast; there, see if 1
can't look ovor the counter?"
Yes, by standing on your toes; are
they coppered?"
what, sir?"
why, your toes. Your mother
could not keep you in shoes if they
were not"
"She can't keep ME in shoes, any
how, sir, and the voice hesitated.
The man took pains to look over the
counter. 1t was 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 gravely, "but 1
reckon if 1 get close enough 1 can see
what You look like"
"Im older than Tn big, sir, was the
neat rejoinder. Folks say I am very
small of my age"
what might your age be, sir?" re-
sponded the man, with emphasis.
Il am 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
ing I saw her crying, because she
could not find five cents in her pocket
book, and she thinks the boy who took
the ashes stole and-I--have-not
had-any breakfast, sir" The voice
again hesitated. and tears came to the
blue eyes.
II reckon I can help you to break
fast, my little fellow" said the man,
feeling in his vest pocket. ".There,
will that quarter do?" The boy shook
his head
Mother wouldn't let me beg. sir
was the simple answer
"Humph? Where is your father?"
Eve never heard of him, sir, after he
went away. He was lost, sir, in the
steamer, City of Boston,
"Ah! that's bad. But you are a
plucky little fellow. anyhow. Let me
see" and he puckered up his mouth
and looked straight into the boys ewes,
which We're looking straight into his.
Saunders" he asked, addressing a
clerk, who was rolling up and writing
OH parcels, sis Cash No. 4 still sick %
dead, sir; died last night, was the
low reply.
"Ah, I'm sorry to hear that. Well,
here's youngster that can take his
place."
Mr.. Saunders looked up slowly, then
he put his pen behind his ear, then his
glance travelled curiously from Tommy
to Mr.. Towers.
ooh, 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
astonished clerk.
"Put this boy down four. There,
youngster, give him you name, and run
home and tell your mother that you
have got place ut four dollars week.
Come back on Monday and I'll tell you
what to do. Here's dollar in adj
vance; I'll take it out of your first
week. Can you remember?"
"Work, sir, work all the time?'
GAS long as you deserve it, my man."
Tommy shot out of that shop. If
ever broken stairs that had a twist
through the whole fight creaked and
trembled under the weight of small
boy, or perhaps, as might be better
stated, laughed and chuckled on ac-
count Of q small boys good luck, those
in that tenement house enjoyed them
selves thoroughly that morning.
"I'ye got it. mother! I'm took. I'm