Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-06-13
A JUVENILES TRUST.

q uCttLlCL AtNlQ Steps OA my o11Alo AVL
a knock at my door. so l started when
a boys clear voice said:
"NHster would YOU like to have your
room cleared up"
Looking up. I saw a small boy Of
eleven or twelve years old standing at
my door
What is it you want my little
MANI
Would you like to have your room
cleaned?'
why is it not clean?' I said, look
ing around.
No, sir, answered the lad; look at
the windows YOU can't see through
EN-, and the floor is powerful dirty.
Well. go ahead l said. The win
d0wS are dirty. but do not talk TO me-
/ am very busy
The little worker was very quiet
The splash Of water and the sound of
scrubbing reached me occasionally. Al
ter a while I looked up, and the boy
asked: What time do YOU so TO dim
ner7"
Dinner? Why, I guess it's time
now"
We'll I will scrub the floor while
YOU are gone to dinner did not
want to bother you moving things.
When I returned to my Office every
thing was clean and bright and shin
ing I gave the boy so cents for the
job. and was going 10 my work, when
I noticed a troubled look on the lad s
face.
rs that not enough for the job?' 1
asked i'm some surprise.
ooh, yes. sir: but would YOU just as
leave give me q recommend as the
money!
"A what?" I asked, not understand
ing him.
a recommend; just bit Of paper
saying This boy knows how to clean
up. with your name signed to the bot
tom Of it,"
"Oh. a recommendation, I said,
| laughing. Are you a stranger In
J town?'
yes. sir; came this morning, and I
want jobs
gave the bit of paper, mad he
thanked me as he laid the money
/ down.
keep the money, too" I said. "You
earned IT,"
NO. sir" he answered, emphatical-
/ ~. Il do not take double pay for one
/ Job. and this paper is worth more 10
me than the money
I could not help feeling interested
/ in the boy. He had such an honest
/ face and such a firm. resolute mouth,
that he looked as if he intended to COM
Ouer the world. 50, meeting nun on
/ the stairs one morning, l asked MIN
I where ne STAYED at night.
We'll. I mostly sleep in the park.
The policeman there is a good fellow,
and he said he didn't mind little chap
like me sleeping on the benches.
/ When IL is raining l climb into some
barn and sleep on the hay, but l never
feel like il is right. sleeping in folks
/ barns without asking EN-, but II You
I do ask 'em. they mostly say no.
"But mvboy." 1 inquired, do younot
/ make money enough 70 rent room!
Eyes. sir: I makes enough. but /
have TO save it. have a family to
"A family to support exclaimed
In surprise.
Just so. sir; a little brother and sis
/ ter. and / saves my money Tor Jhem.
Us your father dead?' 1 asked.
Worse than dead. sir; he is a
drunkard." the child said, sadly
And Your mother?
The bows ewes filled with tears, but
he said nothing.and I naturally sup
posed the mother dead.
I went from Office TO Office that day,
| telling the story simply as the child
I had told il TO me. Many a rough old
I LAWYERS eyes flied with tears as he
thought of his own little ones at home,
we'll fed and we'll housed. while TINS
1itrle one lived as the birds, out OF
1oors. MANY a miser's hand went into
his pocket that day; grumblngly the
hands master gave him money, but the
ouiver of the hard lip showed that he
was glad to give.
Before night we had fitted up an old
lumber room i'm our building with ped
bedding. chairs. groceries. washing
utensils. etc. hardly thought the
how fin need Of the groceries, but l..
said IL he would cook his own meals
I n would be cheaper than buying them.
ON this economical hint Our dude
/ bought the child an oil stove for cook
/ ing.
4. week had gone by when Tom came
to my room, leading a shy, bashful boy
Of ten.
"Tbis is my brother, sir. I sent for
him as soon as I got that beautiful
room A boy likes to have his family
with him" ,
After shaking hands with the little
| stranger. I asked Tom whether mis-
brother would be much help to him.
II don expect him to do any work.
7 am going 10 send him TO school ana
educate him as a gentleman. Our "a
! tbor was n gentleman" he said. hold
/ ing his little head high. Then ms ue-
] light i'm his brother broke forth.
! II bought him some new clothes,
sir and some Undertaking. he added
"Tbese are the first underclotnes he
has had since ne was baby.
/ 7 cot I'm the habit Of dropping In on
\ the evening before going home. The
bright wood fire the spotlessly clean
room and the boys happy faces were
very inviting. They would frequently
nersuade me to partake some OF their
hot corn bread and a glass OF milk
Just to be sociable. IT,,
we always have lots of milk Tom
said. II milk Mrs. Smiths cows anu
She gives me a pitcher full every morn
ing and when I have time l churn ro'
her and then she gives me little pat
! of butter 49,