FOR THE CHILDREN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15951, 23 June 1915, Page 10

FOR THE CHILDREN.

THE MAN OP THE FAMILY.

"A citt merchant who had advertised for an office-boy was busy at his desk onS morning when a clerk approached him. "A boy, sir, to apply for the situation."

The merchant looked up for a moment. "Let him come in," he said. And ho bent his head again, and was instantly; engrossed in some important business. In silence an horn- passed, and then another, and it was lunch-time. As the clock struck one the merchant put aside bis papers and stood up.

To his amazement, he found himself looking down into a pair of very bright eyes. The eyes belonged to a small boy, who stood patiently with folded hands, like a little sentinel, behind his desk.: He was so tiny that a tall stationery cabinet and a mass of piled-up papers had completely hidden him.

"Bless -my soul!" exclaimed the merchant in surprise. " How long have you been waiting there? "

"Since you .sent for me, sir." The merchant glanced at the clock, and back again to the eager, intelligent little face before him. He fell back into his seat and bade the boy sit down.

The little fellow obediently dragged a chair forward, climbed up into it, and waited in silence.

"I want an office-boy, but you are top young—much too young." "I am nearly ten, sir" " You ought to bo at school." "T mast earn my living, sir. I am , the only man in the family. My father is dead, and my mother works so hard that she is making herself ill.": "But you would be of no use to, rae< What do you know of office work? ; " Nothing, sir. But I can do as I an) told, and I never forget." *' But you are so small," objected thd merchant.

"I. am growing." persisted the Boy, "Mother says I grow too fast." And ha looked down at his skimpy knicker* bookers, already two sizes too small fo? him.

The merchant smiled and considered* After a pause, he said - "I will give you five shillings a weeK for a month; then, if you do well, your wages shall be raised." He liked the lad's fine spirit, and saw, in him the making of a successful business man. And he was not mistaken, for at twenty-five the boy had risen to be head .clerk, and five years later he became assistant-manager to one of th« most important commercial houses in the city.

THE IMP WHO MOVED THE TENT-PEG. One of the impish desert goblins of the Arabian desert at last repented of the tricks he had played on travellers, and resolved to go to the nearest town and make friends with mankind. " Do takj our son with you," said two other goblins of the neighbourhood. "I* will be a good training for him to travel with one so good and kind as you." "I am afraid your son is too wild with mischief to 'be ray fellow-traveller* Will he swear by the Seal of Solomon to do no harm to man. beast, bird, or creeping thing while he is with me?" ■ The young sprite was so anxious to sea the world that he readily took the solemn oath required of him. So the two set out together but the young rascal quickly found that life was not worth living if there was no chance of doing a little mischief.

Arab goblins always travel by night and sleep by day, and one dark", moonless night the two travellers passed, through a large camp of sleeping Bedouins without disturbing a soul. For the older, repentant goblin kept his eye sternly fixed on his young companion. Suddenly the young sprite turned back to the camp, saying he thought he had dropped something. He was not gone long, scarcely % minute, and the two travellers continued on their way. But before they had 50ns many steps there arose in the camp behind them a din to wake the deadhorses neighing, dogs barking, women screaming, and men shouting angrily. "You young villain!" cried the old goblin, turning in anger on his companion. "You have broken your oath!'' " Not at all," said the imp of mischief. "I have done no hurt to any« thing alive."' "What is the meaning of that noise, then?" asked his master.

"I can't make it out," said the young goblin in a mild, gentle voice. " Perhaps one of the horses got loose. Ha was tethered to a tent-peg, and I thought it well to. seo he was securely fastened. Perhaps I loosened the tent-peg a little." From this story comes the saying the Arabs use when someone does mudj mischief indirectly : , " He only moved the tent-peg.'*