The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1896-01-24

days. That poverty is the hardest of
| all to bear, as Charley well knew; and
it was his hope and his aim to bring
about brighter times as soon as he
could.
He was anxious to be in school for
he realized that his education would
fit him to fill higher position than he
could find without it. But after
talk with his principal, with the min
lister and the leader of a night school
he found that he could advance as
rapidly by attending the evening
classes, with the addition of two
studies III which the principal could
still allow him to continue as though
he were to remain in the high school
And he had learned from the other
boys that the sub-clerk was to have
two hours a day free for school work
for Mr.. Adams knew very well what
was the value OF an education.
About ten o'clock, on Charley's first
morning, Mr.. Adams, Sr., came down
the store to the counter where his
young sub-clerk was doing up "a little
bag of nails for Johnny Smith.
"Oh, by the way, Winchester" said
Mr.. Adams, Il wish you'd tackle the
old back storerooln, the ell to the large
storeroom we use now. The old one
has been waiting some time tor "a good
cleaning out. You can begin when
you see chance, some time That
was leaving Charley quite margin
and Arthur or Tom, his predecessors,
would surely have put it off until
more convenient seasoh-tlli to-mor-
row, at any rate.
But Charley soon found out from
- l.. /
the clerks that he was not needed III
the store, and would not be, probably.
for the rest OF III" morning, and he
went at once on ms iatrlul GApe'!tion.
lie discovered" 'iie SaiiAS 0i'"'9 winch
had conquered tie explorers before
him, but he SET resolute!y 10 work;
He could not help Wondering ut. aud
rather crlticIslng, the chreIeSSne$s al
his employer, though he tried TO "X
cuse him as far as he could.
Nevertheless, Charley determined
that order must be restored, even at
this late day, and how he ana work
All the rest of the morning he rolled
and pied the barrels ana poXes, until
he had the center OF the deck cleared
Tor acIloh: as ne !u5 ~. men Mlial
90 you tblhk ne lrle" heAt some
thing that most boys uoh especially
ENJOY. Ana now Mr.. ADAMS eyes
danced, when he looked III ABOUT
noon. to see young winchester down
on his knees, scruDDIng with all his
might
Charley Strengthened himself with
as dignitied an air as was possible
under such circumstances CHS sleeves
were rolled up, ana lie was wearing
as an apron large busting ciotA
which happened to be the only clean
thing Anderson, one OF the clerks,
could find Tor hlm}. lie flushed 1T
tie, but tried TO make ms erecting
very quietly courteous ana ihuiilef-
ent,
ut Is rather damp mere Tor you,
fear, Mr.; Adams. ION VIII md that
place rather soapy. l III Just letting
the soap SINK IN on thaI sRot as me
only way TO take 1t out. reward the
left you VIII ind 1t drier, think.
Il won't get it done today sir; but
you said there was no hurry, Char-
ley went on, devOutly hoping hat the
proprietor would betake himself else
where very speedily; for it is embar
raising to have a man stand by and
watch you mop, especially If you
cam lind any mop handle and are
obliged to kneel more or less graceful
ly to work.
"Oh, no, 10 hurry; not i'll the least
Mr. Adams FASTENED to assure him.
Mr.. Adams must have read young
Winchester's thoughts. For he was
softly chuckling to himself as he Went
back to the store. He'll do, he'll do.
he thinks its girls WORK but he won't
be ashamed OF 1t; and he Is as thorough
as can be :,
The next day 1t was raining
and there was not much to do
in the store, so Charley had long,
busy day i'll the shed room. And by
night the task was done. Every
thing was cleaned. sorted and neat
ly arranged, and what seemed utter
ly worthless laid aside i'll Il heap just
outside the door, where Mr.. Adams