The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-06-18

4 M
mined that his mother should DE as
| comfortable as possible.
never mind. mother" he said cheer-
| ri. uben Mrs Doland demonstrated
| ,Sat che could do without the deiicacies
~ he provided" 'I1l get something 10
40 IN the fall. and then the money can
he mt back again. and more besides.
rim maintained his usual cheerfulness
! hofore his mother but there were times
| ,yben he was alone that he would cry
bi,torlv II seemed so hard 10 see her
| face grow whittier and thinner, and 10
know, that unless a change for the bet
tor should set in. the faint spark Of life
would 20 out. and that the voice that
| eai1 "Tim" as no one else said II, would
be hushed forever
| ono nigbt when Mrs. Doland was very
| az che called Tim to her bedside, and
messing his hand, said 10 him In her
| fondest way:
"WelI Tim. n anything happens. you
won't have nothin' 10 regret. NO boy
could have been better TO mother than
you've been 20 me-
| Looking over the want column III
| the newspaper at the grocery store one
morning. this attracted Tins attention
as the most promising chance Tor Worh'
Hands wanted TO clean rubbish out Of
new houses at Susquehanna and Mon
| tame streets.
He ran home. babe his mother good
| bye and set out for one OF his faVorlte
| new sections Of the city. Happily ne
| found. upon reaching the place IN chaIEe
! Of the work Of cleaning a man WIN
whom he had often talked about mousse
! buldinp II was not boy hands that
! were wanted; but the man hau taken
liking for Tim and said:
eco ahead. youngster. Pay Is twenty
cents an hour. and you can stop "hen-
ever you get tired.
Tim was not afraid Of hard Work. lie
was strong and rugged and willing ana
he soon found something 10 enjoy IN
sweeping the rooms clean OF shaVinSs
and scraplng the dried droppings Of plas-
fer off the cemented cellar floors. The
man that had employed him nodded APP
provingly as ne passed; for the fact was
that Tim who had the soul Of an artist
i'm his wiry little body was doing the
work better than any Of the unskillcd
laboring men that had been employed.
Towards noon the owner Of the houses
called 10 him from the front room Of the
coffee" house, which Tim was sweeping.
Here boy. take charge OF things till
get my dinner. You won't have any
thing TO do but stay I'm the Office, and
tell the prices TO anyone who happens
TO ash about the houses"
Eyes, Mr.. Rhodes" said Tim taking the
bunch Of keys that the owner handed 10
him.
There vas blank paper on the desk and
Tim soon found himself pleasantly en-
ployed drawing a diagram Of house. IN
idea had come 10 him when at work. and
he was anxious 10 see If IL were pracu-
cable
lie was deeply absorbed when a stylish
carriage stopped al the door. \ pleasant
looking. rniddlc-aGed man and a very
pretty young girl alighted and entered
the building. Tim rose, bowling politely,
and he smiled as he recognized Lillian
Hapgood.
Lillian offered her dalnuly gloyed hand
and seemed quite delighted to see Tim.
Papa. this is Tim Doland. one Of our
scho0lb0ys: she said by way Of intro
duction. and then Mr.. Hapgood shook
hands with Tim very cordially. He had
heard from Lillian Of Tins manly con-
duct at school and ne was q man that
never forgot little things Of that kind.
I'm very glad TO meet you. Tim" he
said. "Are you i'm charge here?'
eyes. sir; for a while" replied Tim
modcstly Mr.. Rhodes is out; but / can
show you through the houses and tell /
you their prices
Mr. HapgOod was much pleased with the /
manner I'm which Tim talked about the /
DWELLINGS and drew his attention 20 their /
points Of excellence and convenience lie F.
owned great deal Of city real estate ana F.
was continually adding TO his properties /.
lie was struck with Tins good taste and j
Judgment and accurate knowledge OF /.
things relating 20 building.
where lid you pick up all your in /
formation about houses. Tim" he asked. /
smiling, when they had returned TO the F..
Office
Every where. I've always been fond OF /
looking at new houses, and I'm nearly /
always thinking about IN M" answered 4
Tim. Perhaps" ne continued. -ns0ur- I
aged by the respectful listening attitude I
Of Mr. Hapgood and Lillian IT'S because /
] want so much 10 buy a house for my (
mother"
"Ah. you want to by houso?" Mr.
IIapgcod looked a little surprised but 1
there was pleasant smile around che
corners OF his mouth
eyes, sir; If ] could only get employ
ment-stcady work. that / could CONT
upon. Mt Rhodes sells some houses on
long time. and my health IS so good that
! wouldn't be afraid 10 buy a small house.
If had something % do. Then I would
move mother right into IL. and that would
BE- SO good FOR her. She is IN now. and I
! sometimes think she never will be
better I'm the court where We live"
Tins voice died ont and there was
silence for some time Mr.. Hapgood /
had listened with an interested. sympa-
thetic look, occasionally turning his eyes
from Tins earnest face 20 the drawing /
on the desk. His gaze fingered on the /
drawing, but al last he spoke.
"Wel, Tim. l think Wen be able 10 .
manage this house business for YOU" 1
ne said in his clear smooth. gentlemanly |
tones. "Pam going 10 take six Of these
small houses that YOU like so We'll and /
III sell one Of them 10 you on as long
time as you want I see by this drawing
that YOU are a natural architect. and /
I'm going 20 give YOU a chance 10 study
with brother Of mine. who Is an archi-
tect. At the same time. you can look
after my houses as an agent. for which
work will pay you fifty dollars a month
10 begin with. How Will this suit you,
Tim?'
"Oh thank YOU Mr.. Hapgood" ex-
claimed Tim, his bright glad eyes tell
ing better than words could how happy
he was
whats that. laughter" continued the
owner Of large estates. giving attention
10 q whlsper from Lillian; "the carriage
yes-pm glad you mentioned II. my dear.
Tim Lillian and have some errands that
we want 10 do on foot this afternoon.
and If YOU think your mother would be
able TO ride out 10 see your new house,