Horatio Alger

“ Tripp," said Chester, with a deep feeling of disgust and dismay.
"Do just as you like," said his employer. "You're onreasonable to expect to get high pay when business is dull."
"High pay!" repeated Chester, bitterly. "Three dollars a week!"
"It's what I call high pay. When I was a boy, I only earned two dollars a week."
"Money would go further when you were a boy."
"Yes, it did. Boys wasn't so extravagant in them days."
"I don't believe you were ever extravagant, Mr. Tripp," said Chester, with a tinge of sarcasm which his employer didn't detect. ”

“ Two days later Chester was walking through Union Square when he came face to face with Felix Gordon.
Felix espied him first.
"Hello! Chester," said his successor.
"Hello! I didn't see you."
"I envy you."
"Why?"
"You have nothing to do but to enjoy yourself," answered Felix, significantly.
"Oh, that's it!" said Chester, smiling. He saw that Felix thought him to be out of employment.
"That was the case with you before you succeeded me in the real estate office. How do you like it?"
"Pretty well, but I think I ought to get more salary. You got five dollars, didn't you?" ”

“ I suppose you will be able to carry back the empty basket, Abel," added Chester, as his successor emerged from the side door, relieved of his burden.
"I guess so," answered Abel, with a grin.
"I was never in Wyncombe before," began Mr. Conrad, "though I am a second cousin of your minister, Mr. Morris. I have to go away to-morrow morning, and wish to see a little of the town while I am here."
"Where do you live, Mr. Conrad?"
"In the city of New York."
"Are you a minister, too?"
"Oh, no!" laughed the young man. "I am in a very different business. I am an artist—in a small way. ”

“ A rich lady of my acquaintance sends me a hundred dollars every year to bestow in charity. I will devote a part of this to the young man whom you have so kindly taken in, say at the rate of eight dollars a week."
"That will make us feel easy," said Chester gratefully. "How much do you think his uncle offered me?"
"I am surprised that he should have offered anything."
"He handed me twenty-five cents, but I told him I thought we could get along without it."
"And you will. Silas Tripp has a small soul, hardly worth saving. He has made money his god, and serves his chosen deity faithfully." ”

“ Morris, though a minister, had none of the starched dignity that many of his profession think it necessary to assume. He was kindly and genial, with a pleasant humor that made him agreeable company for the young as well as the old. Mr. Conrad spoke much of New York and his experiences there, and Chester listened to him eagerly.
"You have never been to New York, Chester?" said the young artist.
"No, sir, but I have read about it—and dreamed about it. Sometime I hope to go there."
"I think that is the dream of every country boy. Well, it is the country boys that make the most successful men." ”

“ Mullins," said Chester, "if, through the meanness of others you get into trouble you can any time send to me for a loan of fifty dollars."
"Thank you," ejaculated Mullins, gratefully, wringing Chester's hand. "You are heaping coals of fire on my head."
"You will always have my best wishes for your prosperity. If ever you are able, repay the money you took from Mr. Fairchild, and I will venture to promise that he will forgive you." ”

“ As they walked through the chief business street Chester noticed with interest evidences of activity everywhere. Tacoma he found was situated, like San Francisco, on a side hill, sloping down toward Puget Sound.
"What a fine location for a town," he said.
"Yes," answered Mr. Dean, "this is destined to be a large city. Our people are enterprising and progressive. Seattle is at present ahead of us, but we mean to catch up, and that ere many years."
"At what price are lots selling on this street?"
"I see you have business ideas," said the broker, smiling. ”

“ Then, if my cousin comes, your mother will not be so lonesome."
"It is the very thing," said Chester, enthusiastically.
"What is your cousin's name, Mr. Gardener?" asked the widow.
"Miss Jane Dolby. She is a spinster, and at her age there is not much chance of her changing her condition. Shall I write her that you will receive her?"
"Yes; I shall be glad to do so."
"And, as Miss Dolby is a business woman, she will expect me to tell her your terms."
"Will four dollars a week be too much?" asked Mrs. Rand, in a tone of hesitation. ”

“ EDWARD GRANGER.
"I suppose you don't care to come back to the office, Chester?" said Mr. Fairchild, when Chester called upon him the next day at the office.
"I like my present position better," answered Chester; "besides, I suppose you are hardly prepared to offer me twenty-five dollars a week."
"Do you receive as much as that?" asked the broker, in amazement.
"Yes, sir."
"I congratulate you heartily," said Mr. Fairchild. "It is clear that you are too high priced for the real estate business." ”

“ He went the next day to the office of The Phœnix, and after delivering his sketches, said: "I should like leave of absence for two months. Can you spare me?"
"Does your health require it, Mr. Rand?" asked the editor.
"No," answered Chester, "but I own a little property in Tacoma, and there are parties out there who wish to buy. It is important that I should go out there to attend to the matter."
The editor arched his brows in astonishment.
"What!" he said. "An artist, and own real estate? This is truly surprising."
"I didn't earn it by my art," replied Chester, smiling. "It was a bequest." ”

“ Chester, this is my nephew, Arthur Burks. Arthur, this is Chester Rand, a young artist, who is assisting me."
Arthur came forward and gave Chester his hand cordially.
"You ought to wear spectacles," he said, "like uncle Edgar. You don't look dignified enough to be his assistant."
"That may come in time," said Chester, with a smile.
"Arthur, I am done with Chester for this evening," said the professor. "You may carry him off and entertain him. You may bring me the other two sketches whenever you are ready." ”

“ A boy needs more pocket money now than he did fifteen years ago. How soon shall you try to get even with that boy?"
"I think it will be prudent to wait a while. Mr. Fairchild may suspect something if I move too soon. The boy has been with us less than a week."
"He has been with you long enough to do some harm."
"That's true," said Mullins, with an ugly look.
"Does he seem to suit Mr. Fairchild?"
"Yes; he appears to be intelligent, and he attends to his duties—worse luck!—but he's a thorn in my side, a thorn in my side! I'd give twenty-five dollars if he was out of the office." ”

“ Chester smiled.
"I have been discharged from my position in the real estate office," he said.
"Then," said the landlady, in some dismay, "isn't it imprudent to take a more expensive room?"
"I have secured a much better place."
"Oh! that alters the case. Is it likely to be permanent?"
"If I lose it I will go back to my old room."
"I am sure I am glad to hear of your good luck, Mr. Rand. It is very seldom that a young man of your age——"
"Call me a boy. I am not a young man yet."
"You seem to be getting on as well as a young man. I think you are real smart." ”

“ At this moment Mr. Dean entered the office. David Mullins had returned to his desk.
"This young man wishes to see you, Mr. Dean," he said, formally, when his employer entered.
Mr. Dean looked at Chester, inquiringly.
"I am Chester Rand, with whom you have had some correspondence," said Chester, tendering his card. "I have just arrived from New York."
The broker regarded him in surprise.
"You Chester Rand?" he exclaimed. "Why, you are a boy."
"I must plead guilty to that indictment," said Chester, smiling, "but I am the owner of the lots which I understand are wanted for the new hotel." ”

“ But it is just for money lost at the gaming table—a gambling debt."
"Such debts, among men of honor," said Dick, loftily, "are the most binding. Everywhere they are debts of honor."
"I don't see why," grumbled Mullins.
"Come," said Ralston, soothingly, "you are out of sorts, and can't see things in their right light. I'll lend you fifty dollars more, making the debt two hundred dollars."
"I don't see how that will help me."
"I'll tell you. You must win the money to pay your debt at the gaming table. Why, two hundred dollars is a trifle. You might win it in one evening." ”

“ DICK RALSTON'S FATHER.
When Chester followed Mr. Perkins into the great dining room of the Fifth Avenue he was rather dazzled by its size and the glistening appearance of the tables.
"I hope you have brought your appetite with you, Chester," said his Western friend. "The Fifth Avenue sets a good table."
"My appetite is sure to be good. I was kept so busy to-day that I had hardly time to buy a sandwich for lunch."
"All the better! You'll enjoy your meal. As for me, I don't have the appetite I do at home. There's nothing like a tramp on the open prairie to make a man feel peckish." ”

“ I'm a leetle 'forehanded, that's all."
"I've heard people say you could afford to give up work and live on the interest of your money."
Silas Tripp held up his hands as if astounded.
"'Tain't so," he said, sharply. "If I gave up business, I'd soon be in the poorhouse. Well, what do you say? Will you stay along and work for two dollars and a half a week?"
"I couldn't do it," said Chester, troubled.
"All right! It's jest as you say. Your week ends to-morrow night. If you see Abel Wood, you can tell him I want to see him."
"I will," answered Chester, bitterly. ”

“ Rand had earned a small income by plain sewing and binding shoes for a shoe shop in the village, but to her dismay the announcement had just been made that the shop would close through the winter on account of the increased price of leather and overproduction during the year.
"What shall we do, Chester?" she asked, in alarm, when the news came. "We can't live on your salary, and I get very little sewing to do."
"No, mother," said Chester, his own face reflecting her anxiety; "we can't live on three dollars a week." ”

“ He's dreadful awkward, that boy!"
"Poor Abel!" thought Chester. "I am afraid he won't have much salary coming to him at the end of the week."
"You never broke no eggs while you was here, Chester."
"No; I don't think I did."
"You'd ought to have stayed."
"I couldn't stay on the salary you offered. But, Mr. Tripp, I've come here on business."
"Hey? What about?"
"Your nephew, Walter Bruce, is staying at our house."
"Is he?" returned Silas Tripp, indifferently.
"And he is sick."
"I don't feel no interest in him," said Silas, doggedly.
"Are you willing to pay his expenses? He has no money." ”

“ Silas Tripp was amazed. Nay, more, he was incredulous. But it so happened that Chester himself came into the store in five minutes, and confirmed the news.
"Where did you get the money, Chester?" asked Mr. Tripp, curiously, eying the boy with unwonted respect.
"I saved it. I received high pay in New York."
"But you've lost the place?"
"Oh, no! I go back to work next week."
"How much pay do you get?"
"Thirty dollars a week."
"Don't try to fool me!" said Silas, with asperity. "It ain't creditable to deceive a man old enough to be your grandfather." ”

“ Long," said the broker, "here is your receipt. It is clear that you have paid your rent. You will have no more trouble."
Then, as the mechanic left the office, the broker, turning to the bookkeeper, said, sternly:
"Another such transaction, Mr. Mullins, and you leave my employ."
"But, sir——" stammered Mullins.
"You may spare your words. I understand the matter. If you had not been in my employ so long, I would discharge you at the end of this week."
Mullins went back to his desk, crushed and mortified. But his brain was busy with the thought, "Where could James Long have obtained the receipt?" ”

“ Tripp to raise my pay to four dollars a week."
"But will he do it? He is a very close man, and always pleading poverty."
"But I happen to know that he has ten thousand dollars invested in Pennsylvania Railroad stock. I overheard him saying so to Mr. Gardner."
"Ten thousand dollars! It seems a fortune!" sighed Mrs. Rand. "Why do some people have so much and others so little?"
"It beats me, mother. But I don't think either of us would exchange places with Silas Tripp with all his money. By the way, mother, Mr. Tripp is a widower. Why don't you set your cap for him?" ”