The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1900-10-18
VOL. XVI. New Series---Vol a..
boy WANTED.
A FAITHFUL BOYS FORTUNE.

Z
A FAITHFUL BOYS FORTUNE.
He Was Willing 70 Handle Rubbish.
| Boys and Girls.
People laughed when they saw the
sign again. 1t seemed to he always
in Mr.. Peters window. For a day or
two-sometlmes for only an hour OF
two-it would be missing, and passers-
by would wonder whether Mr.
Peters had at last found boy to suit
him but sooner or later 1t was sure
to appear again. z
"Wbat sort Of boy. does he want
anyway?" one and another would
ask, and then they would say to each
other that they supposed he was look
Ing for perfect boy, and, In their
opinion, he would look good while
before he found one. Not that there
were not plenty of boys-as many as
dozen used sometimes to appear
in the course of a morning, trying
for the situation. Mr.. Peters was
said to be rich and queer, and for
one or both OF the reasons, the boys
were anxious to try to suit him.
Gail he wants is fellow to run on
errands; it must be easy work and
sure pay"-this was the way they
talked to one another but Mr.. Peters
wanted something more than boy
to run errands. John Simpson found
1t out, and this is the way he did it.
He had been engaged that very
morning, and had been kept busy all
the forenoon at pleasant enough work
and although he was lazy fellow, he
rather enjoyed the place.
cit was toward the middle of the
afternoon that he was sent up to the
attic, dark and dingy place, inhabit-
ed by mice and cobwebs.
"You will find long, deep box
there" said Mr.. Peters, (which I want
to have put in order. It stands right
| in the middle OF the room-you can't
| miss it,"
John looked doleful.
ga long, deep box? I should think
it WIS" he said to himself, as the attic
4ool closed after him. cit will weigh
almost ton, guess; and what is
there in it? Nothing in the world
! tut cid nails, and screws, and pieces Of
iron, and broken keys, and things
rubbish, the whole OF it. Nothing
worth touching and it is as dark al a
! pocket up here, aud cold besides. How
| the wind blows in through the knot
holes! There's a mouse. If there is
| anything hate, it's mice! I tell you
| what it is, if old Peters thinks am
going to stay up here and tumble over
his old rusty nails, he's much mis-
taken. I wasn't hired tor that kind OF
work"
"Whereupon John bounced down
! the attic stairs three at time, and
was found lounging in the show win
dow an hour afterwards when Mr..
Peters appeared.
"Have you put the box in order
already ?" was the gentleman's ques-
ton.
didn't find anything to put In or
der there was nothing In 1t but old
nails and things"
"Exactly. It was the nails and
things that I wanted put in order
Did you do it?"
"No, sir. It was dark up there and
cold and I didn't see ANYTHING worth
doing. Besides, l thought 1 wa'
hired to run on errands?"
ooh, thought you were hired &c
do as you we're told"
But he smiled pleasantly enough,
and at once gave John an errand to
90 down town and the boy went OF
chuckling, declaring to himself that
he knew how to manage the old tel
low all 1t needed was little standing
up for his rights.
Precisely at six O'Clock John waf
called and paid the sum promised him
for days work /; and then to bis dis
may, was told that his services would
not be needed any more. he asked
no questions. Indeed, he bad time
for none. as Mr.. Peters Immediately
closed the door.
The next morning the old sign
"Boy Wanted" appeared In Its usua
place.
But before noon 1t was taken down
and Charlie Jones was the fortunate
boy. Errands-plenty OF them H'
was kept busy until within an houl
of closing. Then. behold The wa
sent up to the attic to put the lonl
box in order. He was not afraid o
a mouse nor OF tho cold, but D.
-.hlod ,nuch over the box. Moth