The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-11-25

"a True stsry 81 oslf certrsl Nslatet
By . Chicago Merchant.

IS
BY Chicago Msrchaat.
The following "really true" incl
dent is told about q little fellow
still in the knickerbocker stage, who
works for Z large Chicago paper
house. One day be was called "a
the telephone and after listening
minute turned pale and hung UP
the receiver quietly and hurried 70
the managers Office. The manager,
however, had gone out to lunch, %
the boy left note reading, Il hav
to 60 hoam. Tommy Barrett" The
manager found the note when b.
returned. but soon became busy
with important matters and forgot
al about the boy.
Three days later, Monday morn
ing, Tommy Barret came back "a
work. To the other boys queries
Of ben sick, Tommy be main.
tanned 4 rigid silence. He worked
rs hard Is usual, and finally the
boys ceased to question him regard
ing his absence. Neither did they
insist again after his second re-
fusal to accompany them at noon
for the usuA five cent lunch Of cot.
fee and bismarcks. having come ia
the conclusion, as they expressed II
that Tommy had a Crouch
One day the manager was called
at noon TO inspect . certain grade
Of paper in the stoyeroom on the
top floor. AS he and his foreman
wendell their way through the huge
rolls Of paper they heard the sound
Of low sobs. Silently they peered
down the long aisles Of paper rolls,
and finally in the corner Of one
narrow one they saw the pathetic
figure OF a little boy. The aisle be-
ing too tubelike for the portly form
Of the manager. he babe the boy
come out.
II was Tommy Barrett, his face
flaming with embarrassn<nt. his
cheeks tear stained and dirty from
contact with the grimy little hands,
~Why, Tommy, what Is it-6ghi
Nth one Of the boys ?" questioned
the manager.
mo. sir.' faltersd Tommy, nov
striving manfully 70 raiss bis voics
sbove the threatening sobs.
~Then what vas it," The man
ager laid his hand on the boy'i
head resssuringly. Tommy bit his
lip for composurc, then. dry eyed,
answered firmly, my mudder died
last week"
The manager turned away a. the
chain Of memory waited. him bach
20 bis own similar loss years ago,
when II took the. united efforts OF Z
host Of relatives and the entire
community Of a sympsthizing small
country town TO comfort him with
chocolate drops, '1ittlc pies" and
miniature express wagons. And
here. he thought. was this LITTLE
chap working IN silence and con.
trolling the misery Of bis heart until
he could steal away at noontims
and sob il all out alone among the
paper rolls.
"lIayc you come up here before
TO cry?" the manager inquired
when he felt sure Of his own voice.
"Yes. SIR" Tommy answered tim.
idly, adding apprehensively, 'bu'
don't FIRE me, sir-I won't do II
again"
Sire you" the manager ejacu'
lated. well, I guess not. A DO,
i, not % high As q yardstick, and
With . mans self control" Tom.
my iookco up tnankluiiy ~ this -
surance.
Nov run and wssh your face,
the manager continued kindly
You're going 70 lunch With me q
9 o'clock
An hour later Tommy, With fac,
glossy from recent battle will
pumice stone soap, was partakiny
OF . substantial lunch With his EN-
ployer, who waved cheerful, conf
dental, even chummy, to put In,
boy at his case. Al they finished
The dessert he nominated and elect
ed Tommy ''bosss Of the twenty
four boys at the envelope table. bul
not the slightest reference VA
made TO the boys bereavement. 70,
the manager understood the ans
ness Of Tommy's feelings and n
spected them Chicago Tribune.
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