The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1895-11-22
WANTED--A BOY.
BY JEAN HALIFAX.

Perhaps you have heard about this
boy already; for Mr.. Winchester is a
business man now, and is very fond of
telling this story. But, if you have not
heard it, III tell you as nearly as L can
in the way he gave it to us one evening
at dinner, when the conversation had
turned on making ones way in life
Old Mr.. Adams-for so he was called
to distinguish him from young Adams,
his son, who was in partnership with
hiiu-owned a large hardware estab-
lishment in a prosperous Massachusetts
town. He was rich, and growing steadi
ly richer, for he was as keen and ca
pable as he was kiad and honest; more
over, he had the reputation of being the
best of employers toward those in his
service. So that when day after day
that sign: "Wanted-a Boy" appeared
so regularly in the Adams window
everybody wondered why the boy wasn't t
found.
1t certainly wasn't for lack of boys.
There was a steady stream of them
passing through the doorway day after
day. Sometimes they left in less than
ten minutes; sometimes they stayed all
day But as regularly as the sun rose
and shone on that square little sign the
iu1uiring boy" came and went.
He ants full-hedged angel, with a
dozen pairs of wings; that's what the
old Adams wants." snapped one disap-
pointed fellow, who had been airing his
grievances with little knot of other
youngsters on the sidewalk in front.
Whatever he wanted, he seemed to be
having rather hard time in getting 1t;
but Mr.. Adams had the reputation of
always knowing what he was about, so
no one interfered, though several were
tempted TO ask the why and the where
fore of this freak
The boys were shown one by one into
his office; and one by one were told
what it was that Mr.. Adams wanted.
That was, a trusty, faithful, capa BILE
sub-clerk. Of course each youngster
was delighted to find out that it was not
merely boy to run errands, but gen
uine assistant clerk that was being
sought for. Why the owner of the es-
tablishment should be willing to take
a boy instead of one of the many grown
men, who would have been glad of such
place. they could not understand.
But they could understand that it was
splendid place for young fellow just
beginning life, and all were eager to OBJ
| tain it.
Andrew Mathers stayed just one day;
Frank Scolley one hour; Matt Wyman
20 minutes, and some of the boys who
applied never got further than the office
door and a three minutes interview.
What could the matter be? Suppose
we see.
Andrew was bright, pleasant-faced
young fellow, and came from good
family. The boys thought that if any
one stood a chance, that one would be
Andrew.
"Good morning, sir" said Mr..
Adams, politely, as Andrew entered the
office And the boy answered with his
best bow and with his most courteously
business-lilke manner. So far so good.
Mr.. Adams briefly explained that
long-4elt want, "a boy to be sort of as
sistant clerk" Andrew held his head a
little higher, as if he already saw him
self real live clerk instead of the
drudglng boy of all work that he had
been before. And to help around gen.
erallv, for odds and ends" The young
fellows face fell. That sounded rather