Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-11-24
il COMING MAN.
By Charles Scanlon.

on the hOor by t1cle in the center Of
the room examining something carefully. !
Presently he rose With a book in his
hand, and approaching the proprietor,
asked tho price When told that il
was 90 cents his cGuntenance fell and
he said, ~ have only thirty cents" The
owner said kird!y. but in a matter of
fact way. "Wcil 10 and earn twenty
cents more ard come back and get it."
The little fellow returned the book to
the shelf from which he had gotten
it and examined others, but apparently
with less interest
This occurred IN my presence in a
store in Philadelphia, where old and
new books ale handled. The boy was
not more than ter years old at most.
His hands were gTimy, his clothes
shabby ana lie was small, but had
sensitive. intel CERT face and his look
OF disappointment when told the price
of the book excite: my interest. | went
over near him and asked him il ne
liked to read Without rising from the
floor, he lifted ll'3 face and replied in a
courteous, aui.b Ri: voice that he did.
asked him 10 i:t ne see the book he
had shown the Dvrer, and he handed
iHS oVC % III W aiISS ~. odlI Sio,
entitled, "i'rOr a.. Log Cabin to the
White Houre rad good type, fair
paper, and va, n.atly bound and H.
Illustrated. On tic outside of the COW
er was the fgur: Of stalwart young
man in the dscS, Gf a farmer, with
sleeves rolled d1cSe his elbows and
leaning on hoe Beside him vas a
small log cabin '1-d in the distance
loomed the picture Of the White House
and the dome % t.. Capitol
AS glarIel e. ugh the book the
little fellow witcr.t NE closely, and |
fancy feared t,it the stranger might
buy his treasure ard take il away. for
he had returrcd I, TO the Shelf near
the floor, hoping re t0ubt to return and
claim it whcr he had the additional
twenty cents JsSed if he would
like to have HIc book. In the clear
and silvery voice OF a child ne re-
piled that he @ou.t. but added that he
did not have cnOuse money To buy it,
AS | handed him the book | laid a
silver coin or is cover and told him
that as boy had ttCle to read but did
not have the BOOKS, and now as a man
! had the BOOK, but did not have the
time to read, ara asked him if he
would not read the book for me-
He inquired lf .:eant to give him |
the money ard bci.g told that ! did, |
his dark eyes sparkied and his face
was all aglow Ie FASTENED III the |
owner, presented tire book and the |
money with an s,r OF satisfaction then |
proudly placed it 10 a basket which he
carried on his arm and with Fastening
stems
throng.
>. Addressing me. tive owner said, "You
ala not waste ,our money. Tina bov
Is steady He comes here regular
iy and never buys trash. He will be
heard of sor,c day"
| have MANY ycunE friends in many
parts OF the United States who are en-
richlng and sSeetening their lives by
reading good books Of history BIZ |
ography, travel. discovery, invention or
poetry, instead Of wasting time on
cheap or sensational Action. If cir
cumstanceS connect my little friend in
fhiladelnhil 10 live IN humble home
on an obscure street or aIley. by read |
ing good books, 81 spirit. he NAV be
living and commua,as with the roSlest |
minds OF all tie age. One whose MIN D..
S filled with itesi, Of roblene,, and |
usefulness does rot need A fine mouse |
md cXpenS,g. fIsr Shings "a be han
py.
Among ~ cho;Cest treasures are
TWO hleS OF letters from boys anG girls
10 whom have gi"en books from fine
10 ume, and ~heG I t''ink OF the in
Spiratlon and NaaacaNc Of ore GOOD
nook upon Ynun% lie md hoa TIA, in
huence MAJ be passed ~ to others. !!
picture my little Pn.!a te'ptn. friend
useful man ,E t.,r future