The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1905-12-13
Homer in Business,

Homer IN BUSINESS.
For some time Homer had known
! that money is useful-One can buy
such nice things with it. Next he
learned that having pennies given one
by grown-up folk is not the same thing
as TO earn them by doing some work.
Homer thought he would like to be a
wage-earner.
So at the breakfast-table he asked
father for work.
"Hum-m!" said Mr.. Barber, looking
thoughtfully at the small figure Of his
son. Nearly every day men come into
my Office looking for employment, and
now you want work! What could you
do, if may ask?"
ION, could do most anything said
Homer, hopefully.
Father thought little. The desire
| to work is such fine one that it
ought to be treated seriously. even in
such a small person.
Very well.' he said. finally. DO
you remember the kindlings that a
man unloaded yesterday over the back
fence? Well, you may carry them to
the wood-shed and pile them up neat
ly When come home tonight | will
pay you"
Homer worked bravely, but how
| tired he did yet! You see, he was very
little, and even laborers much older
get tired of their work sometimes.
put ho kept manfuIIv at il
At night Homer sat on the gate-post,
waiting for his father, and proudly led
him to the wood-shed to see the neat
pile of kindlings.
THE work is certainly well done"
said Mr.. Barber. 81 will pay you
promptly, as soon as you send in your
bill"
bill? What's that?" asked Homer,
puzzled.
at is the custom in business eX-
planned father, "to present a bill. a
written statement of goods sold or
work done, together with your charge.
We must be business-lilIe. of course"
Homer was trifle disappointed, for
he had expected his wages at once.
But still hopeful, he asked his father
to explain a little; and then he was
hard at work again, this time with pen
ell and paper.
AT the end Of fifteen minutes he pre-
sented this "bill'':
Mr.. 4. b. Barber.
Dear Sir,
n "
wood. Yours with love, Homer.
This bill" said father, "is not
exactly like others that | have seen,
but there is something about it that l
like, after ALL"
The bill, passed round at the sup
portable, seemed to please everybody.
Indeed, grandma smiled and smiled un-
til she had to wipe away tear.
Homers eyes were sparkling. Faith
er counted out seventeen cents-one
dime and seven shining new pennies
and laid them on the table.
"Will you kindly write me out re-
ceipt for this money, Homer?' he said.
What's a receipt" demanded Ho-
mer, little tired of "the laws delay"
"a receipt is written statement
that you have received your money. 1t
will insure me against having to pay
this bill a second time" said Mr.. Bar
Der, gravely.
Again Homer toiled over a pencil
and sheet of paper, until he finished
this receipt:
Dear Father,
I've bin pade,
Homer.
Don't you think" asked mother. in
a low voice, that we ought to correct
the spelling?"
NO" said father, quickly. HE will
learn to spell soon enough, and in
tend to keep these papers just as he
wrote them. There is more in them
than the spelling"
And he did keep them. Just few
days ago Homer, now grown-up
business man, with boys and girls of
his own, came to visit his father and
mother. And father, now white
haired old gentleman, generally called
grandpa" nowadays, opened drawer
| in his desk, and took out that very
bill" and receipt" which he had
kept, oh, ever so many years! The
papers were yellow with age. He told
them all how Homer earned his first
money.-Emfeigh Merwin, in Youths