Jr. Horatio Alger

“ After Roy, with Andy's assistance, had prepared his lesson in Caesar, John Crawford began to converse with him with a view of forming a judgment of his business qualifications.
"Are you especially interested in the jewelry line?" he asked.
"No, sir. It was merely chance that led me to Mr. Flint's store."
"I see you are a Latin scholar. What career did you expect to follow if your father's misfortune had not interrupted your education?"
"I don't think I should care for a profession. I prefer a life of business." ”

“ Gale paid me?" asked Andy, smiling.
"Then he does get three dollars a week," reflected Conrad.
He redoubled his entreaties, but Andy refused firmly.
Half an hour later Conrad met on the street a shabby figure with whom we are already acquainted. It was the tramp who figured in an encounter with Andy when on his way to Benton.
"Young gentleman," said the tramp, with a whine, "you look rich and generous. Can't you spare a poor man a trifle?"
"You look as if you drank," replied Conrad, with brutal frankness. "Your nose is red." ”

“ At seven o'clock he left the farmhouse, and on arriving at the hotel found Mr. Gale sitting on the piazza.
"I was looking for you," said the young man. "Come up to my room."
He led the way to a front corner apartment on the second floor. It was the best room in the hotel, and he had furnished it in the most comfortable and attractive manner. Pictures hung on the walls, and there was a bookcase containing a goodly array of volumes.
"What a pleasant room!" exclaimed Andy.
"Yes; I have tried to make myself comfortable. What I lack most is society." ”

“ I suppose I look poor, for I never cared about my personal appearance, but I am one of the largest owners of real estate in Tacoma, besides having some thousands of dollars in a San Francisco bank. But what good will it all do me? Here I am, sick, and perhaps near death."
"I will do what I can for you," said Andy. "I am myself a visitor in Tacoma. I came on business for a New York gentleman. I am authorized to buy lots in Tacoma. When you are better, I will make you an offer for your land, if you care to sell." ”

“ Two days before the picnic Valentine happened to meet Conrad at his father's store.
"Are you going to enter the boat race at the picnic?" asked the latter.
"I am not certain."
"You have the only boat that can compare with mine. Have you been practicing any?"
"I have been rowing a little."
"I shall have to look out," said Conrad, but his manner did not indicate apprehension. "Probably the prize will go either to you or me."
"Thank you for the compliment."
"Suppose we have a little trial by ourselves? It may do us both good." ”

“ By this time the cars had reached the Brooklyn end of the bridge.
"Why, there is your purse," exclaimed the adventurer, with a sudden glance downward. "You must have dropped it."
"Oh, thank you, sir!" said the poor woman, overjoyed.
"I hope you won't suspect a gentleman again," said the thief, in lofty indignation.
"No, I won't, sir. I was sure you didn't take it."
Andy, who had seen the trick, smiled, but he was satisfied with the recovery of the purse.
The passengers looked puzzled. They had not made up their minds as to the guilt or innocence of the man charge with the theft. ”

“ You can't say but I've warned you," and she sniffed severely.
"I wonder what makes Aunt Jane so disagreeable," thought Andy.
"Perhaps you'd like to go and take care of him," suggested Mr. Grant, with a smile. "You are old enough to take care of yourself."
"You needn't twit me with my age, Sterling," said Jane, with an injured sniff.
"I don't. Old age is honorable."
This made matters worse.
"You talk as if I was seventy-five. I don't consider myself an old person."
In spite of the melancholy presentiment of Aunt Jane, Andy set out for New York with Mr. Gale. ”

“ He is certainly able to earn money by selling papers or tending an office. "As for myself, I am not a rich man, but have always been careful to meet my expenses and provide for the future. I, too, have a son, Conrad, whom I think it my duty to educate and start in life. Any money I might send you would be so much taken from him. I advise you to apply to some charitable society if you need temporary assistance. It will be much better than to write me begging letters. Yours truly, "PHILEMON CARTER."
"This is a very cold-blooded letter," said Andy, indignantly. ”

“ Then Eva came up with a pitcher of water and a towel.
"Will one do you?" she asked. "The rest are in the wash, and I'll bring you another this evening."
"One will be sufficient for the present."
"So you're comin' here to live?" she said, sociably.
"Yes, Eva."
"I hope you don't have fits, like Mr. Warren."
"I don't think I ever had one yet," answered Andy, with a smile.
"I'm glad of that. I'm afraid of gentlemen that have fits."
Eva went downstairs, and Andy proceeded to make his ablutions. It was a dusty day, and the water was refreshing. ”

“ You have been spending three hundred dollars a year for me, besides the expense of my clothes. If that is saved, it will make up your loss of income."
"But, my dear boy, I don't like to sacrifice your prospects."
"It won't be sacrificing them," said Andy, with forced cheerfulness. "It will only change them. Of course, I must give up the thought of a college education, but I may make a success in business."
"It will be very hard upon you," said Mr. Grant, sadly. ”

“ Compare your position with that of Nathan Lawrence, forced to flee in disgrace under a load of shame."
"You are right, wife. He is more to be pitied than I am."
"Is he a married man, father?"
"No; that is, he is a widower."
"While we are spared to each other. We must trust in God and hope for the best."
"Mother tells me you expect to get part of the money you need from Squire Carter," said Andy.
"Yes, he has promised to take a mortgage of three thousand dollars on the old place."
"I have heard he is a hard man, father. I don't think he is influenced by kindness." ”

“ Andy opened the door and entered.
On the bed lay a man, advanced in years, with hollow cheeks and every appearance of serious illness.
"I am afraid you are very sick," said Andy, gently.
"Yes; I have an attack of grip. I am afraid I will have to pass in my checks."
"Oh, it isn't as bad as that," said Andy, in a reassuring tone. "Have you no one to take care of you?"
"No; everybody here is occupied with schemes for money-making. I can't get any one to look after me for love or money."
"Then you have no near friend or relative in Tacoma?" ”

“ One old gentleman, who was fond of giving advice, said, reprovingly:
"My boy, you will find it best to hand the gentleman his pocketbook. It is sad to see one so young guilty of theft."
"Perhaps the boy is not guilty," suggested another guest.
"I am in the employ of a gentleman in New York," said Andy, "and this man is scheming to rob me."
"You are perfectly shameless!" said Robinson, encouraged by what the old gentleman had said. ”

“ Did I not understand that he had to mortgage his farm."
"Yes, sir."
"I hope there is no danger of foreclosure?"
"There might be, sir; but when the danger comes I shall be able to help him."
"I am not much of a capitalist, Andy. I understand Latin and Greek better than I do investments, but if a loan of a few hundred dollars will help him I shall be willing to let him have it."
"Thank you very much, Dr. Crabb, but my employer, Mr. Crawford, will give me all the help I need."
"I am truly pleased to hear it. I wish you were able to return to the academy. ”

“ Squire Carter was surprised to find that both Andy and his father were cool, and apparently not suffering anxiety. He had thought they would be sad, and would resort to entreaties.
"Does it strike you, Squire Carter, that you are trying to drive a very hard bargain with my father and myself? You offer a very low sum for the cows and for my boat."
"If you can get more anywhere else, you are quite at liberty to do so," said the squire, in a tone of indifference. ”

“ John, will you oblige me by taking Andrew's place till I have a chance to secure another boy?"
"Yes, Uncle Simon, but I don't want to feel that I have had anything to do with Andy's discharge."
"You have not. No one is responsible for it but himself."
"Then I will stay while you need me. I don't want to leave you in a hole."
Simon Rich went to the money drawer and drew out a five-dollar bill.
"Here is your pay to the end of the week," he said.
"I prefer to accept pay only to to-day," replied Andy.
"As you please."
Andy walked out of the store feeling crushed and overwhelmed. ”

“ At the end of six months Andy had acquired a large practical acquaintance with the real estate business. He displayed a degree of judgment which surprised Mr. Crawford.
"You seem more like a young man than a boy," he said. "I am not at all sure but I could leave my business in your hands if I wished to be absent."
This compliment pleased Andy. He had also been raised to seven dollars a week, and this he regarded as a practical compliment.
One evening on his return from West Fifty-sixth Street he strayed into the Fifth Avenue Hotel, where he sat down to rest in the reading room. ”

“ He went up in the elevator and found Mr. Gardner in.
"I come from Mr. Crawford," said Andy. "He says you need a typewriter."
"Are you a typewriter?"
"No; I ask for the position for a lady;" and he told the story.
"You say she has had experience in a lawyer's office?"
"Yes, sir."
"That will make her more desirable. When can she call?"
"I will have her here to-morrow morning at any hour."
"Say ten o'clock—a little before, perhaps."
The lawyer was a pleasant-looking man of medium age, and Andy felt sure that he would be a kind and considerate employer. ”

“ He felt a pang of mortification to think that the farmer's son should have a boat so much superior to his own.
"If you change your mind, let me know," said Andy.
"Conrad is jealous," remarked Walter Gale. "He doesn't like to have you own a boat that is superior to his." ”

“ My employer wouldn't care to have me stay at such a house."
"You are mighty independent for a young boy. I want you to return the pocketbook of which you relieved me."
Andy was startled at this reckless charge.
"What do you mean?" he demanded, hotly. "You know that this is a falsehood."
"We'll see if you will brazen it out. If you don't give me back the pocketbook, which I have no doubt you have in your pocket at this moment, I will have you arrested."
Andy began to feel nervous. He was a stranger in Chicago. There was no one to identify him or vouch for his honesty. ”

“ I am to be telephone boy at an uptown hotel. My cousin got the place for me."
"I am glad of that."
"It will be a soft snap, I think."
"What are the hours?"
"I go on at five o'clock in the afternoon, and stay till midnight."
"Will you like that?"
"Oh, well, I can lie abed the next morning till ten or eleven o'clock, and I won't have much to do when I am on duty. I shall buy a lot of dime novels, and that will fill up the time."
"How do you like the real estate business?"
"Oh, so-so. I guess I'll like being a telephone boy better." ”

“ Andy left the depot with his new acquaintance, who gave his name as Percival Robinson, and, following his lead, boarded a horse car, which took them both a distance of three miles to the southern part of the city. As they went on, dwellings became scattering.
"Your friend's house seems quite out of the way," said Andy.
"Yes; but Chicago is a city of distances. It really doesn't make much difference where you stop. Street cars will carry you anywhere." ”

“ Mrs. Grant was greatly pleased that Andy had not lost his taste for home fare.
"How you have grown, Andy!" she said. "And you are looking so well, too! Do you have to work very hard?"
"Hard work agrees with me, mother. No; I don't hurt myself."
"I wish I could be here when the squire comes for the interest," Andy said, later.
"He will call this evening. You will see him," said Sterling Grant.
"Then I shall be sure to stay at home."
Meanwhile, at the house of Squire Carter, there was a conference between father and son.
Conrad had a new and bright idea. ”

“ Are you going home? If you are, I'll walk along with you."
"We can do better than that; I've got uncle's buggy on the other side of the depot. I'll take you, bag and baggage."
"Thank you, Roland. My bag is rather heavy, and as it is a mile to the house, I shall be glad to accept your offer."
"Bundle in, then," said Roland, merrily. "I don't know but I ought to charge you a quarter. That's the regular fare by stage."
"All right! charge it if you like," rejoined Andy, smiling. "Are your folks all well?" ”

“ I should like to sell the plot if I could get a purchaser."
"If the Northern Pacific Railroad is ever completed, the land will be valuable," replied the other.
"True; but will it ever be completed? That date will be very remote, I fancy."
"I don't think so. I would buy the land myself if I had the money, but just at present I have none to spare. How much did you invest?"
"A thousand dollars."
"You might sell, perhaps, through a real estate agent?"
"The real estate agents here know very little of Western property. I should not know to whom to apply." ”

“ Mason. "You can come here at eight every evening."
"I will do so with pleasure."
"And for compensation I will pay you as much as my brother does."
"I wouldn't charge anything for helping Roy," said Andy. "It would only be a pleasure to me."
"Andrew," said Mr. Crawford. "I am afraid you will never make a business man if you are willing to work on those terms. My advice to you is to accept my sister's offer. She can afford to pay you what she offers, and you have your living to make."
"I shall insist upon paying," said Mrs. Mason, "though I appreciate Andy's generous offer." ”