The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-07-15
(By Sy1neY DaYre.l

iNb BbtN.
(By Sydney Dayre.)
"Goin to the Fair, Bill?'
"No" Bill shook his head. costs too
much. Your
mo. That's the trouble with me too.
Twenty-Five cents to get there, half fare'
twenty-five cents to get in"
And this Is an awful place TO get any
thing to DO in"
awful
The two boys resigned themselves to at
least half-minute's reflection on the
gloomy outlook. Both were kept at school,
had a comfortable home. with enough OF
wholesome food, and clothes which were
warm, although not fine. But cent 10
spend. which was not of their own earn
ing, neither of them ever thought OF nav
ing.
And over in the next town was to be
held the County Fair, with delights and
wonders in the way OF fine horses and
cattle, big pumpkins. splendid fowls, mer-
ry-go-rounds, trotting, crowds, band music
and a balloon ascension. Does any one
know a medium-sized boy whose heart
would not be heavy with despair at
thought of missing Il?
Il could get job piekin' up taters at
Farmer Capron's, said Bill; but it's too
much work for the money"
How much"' asked Johnny.
Cant make more'n five cents day
workin' all the time out of school.
"And it's a week to the Fair Wouldn't
Farmer Capron let you have enough 10 80
on, and make it up afterwards
Il spCse ne would, but / didn't ask him.
It's too hard work. Why" Bin straight
ened himself up and spoke with enthu-
sasm. once there was a man who got
me to carry valise to the station Tor
him, cause he was 'fraid he'd lose his
train, and We had to run like sixty And
he paid me fifty cents for IT, Fifty cents
in leSS'n half an hour!'
Yes" said Johnny" who had often
before heard the fifty cent story, but
what we want to know now is what we
can do now. If l lived to your end Of
town and could get so easy out to Cap
rons Id pick the taters."
Il won't" said Bill stoutly. Come on
I'm goin' down street to watch for some
kind of a job. II We take all this Satur-
day afternoon to II it's 4 pity II We can
lind some thing"
The boys hung around for a while, to
become at length discouraged at finding
how few things seemed waiting for boy
TO do for which anybody cared TO pay any
loose change.
They came at length to where a man
was laying "A brick sidewalk.
Want any heip?' asked Johnny.
"Weil yes, / DO" said the nam. ! eN-
pected TO have my boy TO Wheel sand and
brick for me But when ] got home 70
dinner | found he'd gone fishing. So I'm
getting along the best can without hin"
"WhatH you payy' asked bill eagerly.
apiece from now iii teatime"
ITO wheel bricks and sand all that
time? Why, one day man paid me nifty
''Oh. go long with your fifty cents"
said Johnny, with a SOOd-huWored laugh.
"You wouldn't find such chance m0re'n
once In year, II you did then"
well | sha'n't work all the afternoon
for ten cents" said Bill. I'm look round
for something else. I'll do errand or
something thatll make me twice as much
ana wont take half so long.
Johnny before long was obliged to con-
fess TO himself that he, too, would far
prefer TO earn money little more east
ly. The afternoon was hot the bricks
and sand heavy, and the way over which
he had to wheel them rough. lie grew
tired. and his back ached long beore IL
was time TO stop.
But he worked away with sturdy cheer
fulness feeling glad OF his good luck in
getting anything at all, and settling with
In himself that saying he had once
heard IF you can't get what you want
you'd better take what you can get"
was very wise one, and one which boys
would do well to heed. From brick pile
to sidewalk ne wheeled. occasionally get
ting a few moments in which TO sit on q
handle Of the barrow while ne took
breath and chatted with the man, of his
hopes OF making within the next week,
enough money TO take him TO the Fair
We'll you're tiptop worker" at
length, SD Mr.. Green, as with the set
ting OF the sun the walk was finished
when | have TO hire a boy again
hope III have you. And III pay better
next time"
I'm come" said Johnny. THANK
you" he added. as the dime was put
into his dusty little hand.
1T was not large piece OF money, but
1t looked good in his eyes; clean and
white and solid. as money well and hon
estly earned is sure to look.
You've done now said Mr.. Green
tn just sweep Up this little pile OF
sand and wheel it on SOS 10 leave the
walk lookin neat" said Johnny.
Just at that time Bill was slowly max
Ing his way back to where he had left
Johnny, looking with great satisfaction
at two small coins he held i'm his hand
FIFTEEN cents. Waited round the
whole afternoon thinkin' I'd never get
job, ana then come along man wantin'
letter took to the post Office In a hur-
ry. DIDN'T take me more'n twenty min
utes to make more'n Johnny's made
workin hard all the afternoon. Won't
crow over him, though, l wonder what's
goin' on round or that street"
Quickening his usually lazy gait, Rill
rounded the corner to come upon a scene
OF little excitement.
A small pony carriage had been stand
Ing in front OF the house next 10 Mr.
Green's. The gentleman driving ii had
gone into the house, leaving the pony
united and little girl sitting in the car
rage: a noisy wagon being driven rap
Idly by had frightened the sklttish little
animal and he began backing and rear
ing, hhaiiy turning sharply and starting