Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-09-29
How Charlie 5 For
tune Was Told

6SSSVS ~ SO = W -
This happened a good many years
ago. and I'm not going to tell you the
real names of these two persons. be-
cause have not their permission,
though they would probably be willing
to give it. y
Mr.. Allen was a well-to-do but quite
peculiar old merchants; and when he
needed a boy one time, he found a
very original way of trying him. The
boys OF the town who wanted place
in the store came at once when they
saw the sign boy Wanted" in Mr.. Al
lens window There were six boys
who applied, but none of them stayed
more than a few days; for Mr.. Aliens
test found them more or less lack
ing.
Such queer test as it was! UP in
the attic over the store was big,
long box full OF nails and screws and
rusty iron, good for almost nothing
unless to try the patience of boy
very severely. Each boy In turn had
a trial over that box-not the first day
or hour. perhaps. but some time when
there seemed nothing else to do. For
il the boys had realized that this work
was a test, of course they would have
persevered. But to each boy Mr.. Allen
had given the task of putting to rights
that box of iron trash" a they called.
Some Of them had worked very we'll
for a while, but sooner or later had
given up in disguest, telling their en-
ployer that their was nothing worth
saving there. And soon after that
they were soon sent away.
BY and by Charlie Dixon came. He
had not applied before. because he
But Jimmy Jackson. the grOcer's son.
was to help his father as soon as his
term Of school closed. and the grocer
would not need Charlie. who must find
another place. as he helped to support
his widowed mother. AS Charlie did
not know the other boys, having been
too busy to play, and not being able to
attend school because of the need OF
helping his mother, he had not heard
of that box He did the errands given
him the frst day like any errand boy.
But the second morning, a rainy one.
brought few customers, and there was
less work to be done. So, In leisure
time. Mr.. Allen told him to go up in.
to the attic and put in order the long
box of iron. Dinner-time came. but no
Charlie. He was still working away.
Have you got through?' Mr.. Allen
called up the stairs.
mo, SIR" came down the answer;
mot half, think
We'll, it's dinner time now. Go to
q hoo
to the box, Mr.. Allen told him.
After Charlie had eaten his dinner.
he went back again to his task. And
all that long, rainy afternoon he
worked away at the trash" At last,
when it was almost dark. and his
hours for work were really up. and
more than up, Charlie came down into
the store
1--WE done the best could. Mr.. Al
len," he said. 1--we got 1t in order
now. And | found this at the bottom
of the box" And he handed Ave
dollar gold piece to his employer.
Queer place for gold,' unused the
merchant, and the darkness hid the
twinkle in his eye as he took the mon
ey Charlie held out to him. Glad you
found it. Well, good night. You'll be
on hand in the morning. of course?'
Eyes. SIR" replied Charlie, glad that
the merchant seemed planning to
keep him.
After Charlie had gone home Mr..
Allen took lantern and went up In.
to the attic. There was the big box
in perfect order. in spite of being the
gathered rubbish of many years. Mr..
Aliens eyes twinkled again as he
looked at it. Charlie had been most
thorough. He had made little CON-
partments with some shingles, and
each till was labeled carefully. a shin.
gle with the words marked plainly
being laid on top Of each: Screws"
Fairly Good Nails" Poor Nails"
Picture Hooks" Keys" Bent Keys"
Iron Scraps and 80 on.
How Mr.. Allen laughed ITO himsel
over his rubbish box! 1--WE found
boy. and rather think he has found
fortune" he chuckled to himself
alone in the attic.
from the window. Mr. Allen had
found his boy One day the old mer.
chant brought motto for Charlie and
told him to hang It at the foot of his
bed. 1T tells your fortune for you,"
he said.
Charlie unwrapped 1t and read He
that is faithful in that which is least
is faithful also in much" Charlie
had told his own fortune in that rainy
days work on the old box. But 1t was
not until long time afterward that
he learned the secret of that old box
of iron trash. Charlie owns the store
now. Mr.. Allen made him partner
years later. and, when he died. left
it all to his one-time errand boy.
on came the soldiers-the Michigan
cavalry. They were following Morgan's
tracks. kept the boy till evening, kept
him against his will He sat very still
.,G,<,l nd ditcfa, I