Horatio Alger

“ Pitkin. It was you, to my thinking. You sent off that errand boy, and that is how the whole thing came about. If he had been in your store he wouldn't have met Uncle Oliver down at the pier."
"You and Alonzo persuaded me to discharge him."
"Oh, of course it's Alonzo and me! When you see Rebecca Forbush and that errand boy making ducks and drakes out of Uncle Oliver's money you may wish you had acted more wisely."
"Really, Lavinia, you are a most unreasonable woman. It's no use criminating and recriminating. We must do what we can to mend matters." ”

“ Pitkin firmly.
"We've all made a mistake, and the sooner we remedy it the better."
Mrs. Pitkin thought it over. The advice was unpalatable, but it was evidently sound. Uncle Oliver was rich, and they must not let his money slip through their fingers. So, after duly instructing Alonzo in his part, Mrs. Pitkin, a day or two later, ordered her carriage and drove in state to the house of her once poor relative. ”

“ Call as soon as possible at the house on Madison Avenue."
"Call on that woman?"
"Yes; and try to smooth matters over as well as you can. Take Alonzo with you, and instruct him to be polite to Philip." ”