Jr. Horatio Alger

“ Leaving the squire in the sitting room, Herbert went in quest of his mother.
“Squire Leech is here,” he said.
“What shall we say to him?” asked his mother, soberly.
“Wait a minute and I will tell you,” said Herbert, his face brightening.
“I've had a stroke of luck, mother. I've been engaged to work afternoons, at five dollars a week.”
“Who has engaged to pay you such high wages?” asked Mrs. Carter, astonished.
“A young man staying at the hotel, whose eyes are weak. I am to read to him, and do whatever else he requires. I got the chance through the landlord.” ”

“ The manufacturer went on:
“I consider it practicable, and am disposed to make you an offer for it. Are you authorized to conclude terms?”
“My mother will agree to anything I propose, sir.”
“Then this is my offer. The model must be patented at once. I will see to that. Then make over to me half the invention, and I will agree to pay you and your mother one thousand dollars a year for the next ten years.”
“Are you in earnest?” gasped Herbert.
“Entirely so,” said Mr. Cameron. “Will that satisfy you?”
“I would have accepted a quarter of the sum you offer, sir.” ”

“ In the first place, are you willing to leave Wrayburn?”
“I am willing to live anywhere if we are together.”
“Mr. Cameron proposed to me to accept a clerkship in his office, but for the present, I told him, I wished to make up the deficiencies in my education. In the town where he lives there is a flourishing academy. I propose that we move there, and I spend the next two years in study. We shall have a competent income, more than enough to support us, and so I can afford the time.”
“I fully approve of your proposal, Herbert. We may sometime lose our money, but a good education never.” ”

“ He had succeeded in saving up about two thousand dollars a year for some years; but what was that to twenty thousand dollars made in six weeks? Still, prudence led him to suggest: “But isn't there danger of losing heavily?”
“Not if you are acquainted with the stock market. It is the ignoramuses that get bit.”
“I know very little of the stock market myself,” confessed Squire Leech. “I own some bank stocks.”
“No money to be made in bank stocks.”
“They pay good dividends.”
“No doubt; but there is little or no variation in value. It's fluctuation that gives a man a chance.” ”

“ Cameron smiled to himself. The lady referred to was not unlike her brother and nephew, being pompous and presuming—one, indeed, whom he secretly disliked.
“She wants me to prepare for Yale,” said James.
“Of course we Yale men are biased, but we think no student can do better than to come to Yale.”
“My father wants me to be a professional man—a lawyer.”
“A good profession. Do you think you should like it?”
“Yes,” said James, complacently. “It's a very genteel profession. Besides, most of our public men are lawyers. I might stand a chance to get into public life.” ”

“ James looked after him with a scowl. He was sharp enough to see that Herbert, in spite of his patched pants, was a better scholar and a greater favorite than himself. He had intended to humiliate him on the present occasion, but he was forced to acknowledge that he had come off second best from the encounter. He walked moodily away, and took what comfort he could in the thought that he was far superior to a boy who owned but two pairs of pants, and one of them patched. He was foolish enough to feel that a boy or man derived importance from the extent of his wardrobe ”

“ Though political economy is generally studied in the junior or senior year at college, its principles, if familiarly illustrated, are not beyond the comprehension of a boy of fifteen. He found himself reading with interest, and when he came to act the role of professor he acquitted himself more creditably than with logic.
“I think,” said Cameron, “I shall recommend you for the chair of political economy.”
“I like it much better,” said Herbert.
“So do I. Still, logic is important in its way. Tomorrow I must try you on Latin.”
“I am afraid it won't be much use,” said our hero. ”

“ Squire Leech thought more of Herbert than of his mother, for he was convinced that but for him he could have talked over Mrs. Carter six months before.
“Serves the boy right,” he said to himself. “It was preposterous in him to oppose my wishes. He might have known I would advise what was best.”
The squire meant what was best for him. He had not given much thought what would be best for Mrs. Carter.
“Some men would take advantage of their situation and reduce their offer,” thought the squire, virtuously, “but I won't be hard on them. They shall have the three hundred and fifty dollars.” ”

“ Herbert proved to be right. Two days later the squire offered six hundred dollars over the mortgage for the place, and it was accepted.
“The place is worth more, mother,” he said; “but it will relieve us from care to sell it.”
James was even more annoyed than his father when he heard of Herbert's good fortune; but after his first annoyance he showed a disposition to be friendly. It is the way of the world. Nothing makes us sought after like a little good fortune. James felt that, now Herbert was in a position to live without work, he was a gentleman, and to be treated accordingly. ”

“ My friend assures me that I stand a chance of making twenty thousand dollars,” concluded the squire, complacently.
“That's a big pile of money,” said James. “Are you pretty sure of making it?”
“The chances are greatly in my favor. Of course, it depends on the turn of the market.”
“If you succeed, will you move to New York, father?”
“Very probably.”
“I hope you will. This village is awfully slow. New York is the place to see life.”
“There are some kinds of life it is not profitable to see,” said the squire, shrewdly. ”

“ My own father is rich now, but when he was of your age he was only a poor 'bobbin boy' working at scanty pay in the factory of which he is now owner.”
“I should like to be rich for my mother's sake,” said Herbert.
“With money one can do a great deal of good, though not all rich men choose to apply their riches worthily. How smooth the water is to-day! Isn't there a boat somewhere that we can use?”
“There's one a few rods from here, but it belongs to James Leech.” ”

“ Herbert was inclined to be surprised at the squire's apparent interest in their affairs, but the motive soon became apparent.
“Well, you have made up your mind to sell the house now, I suppose?” said the squire.
“No, we hadn't thought of it.”
“But you'll have to.”
“Not if I can get employment,” said Herbert. “Our expenses are very small, and we can live on a little.”
The great man frowned. “That is all nonsense,” he said, impatiently. “It is quite impossible for you to hold on to the house. I am willing to give you cash down three hundred dollars over and above the mortgage for it.” ”

“ Carter, irresolutely.
“You don't know how strong I am,” said Herbert; “I shan't get tired so easily as you think.”
“But twenty miles is a long distance.”
“I know that, but I shall take it easy. The stage fare is seventy-five cents, and it's a good way to save it. I wish somebody would offer me seventy-five cents for every twenty miles I would walk. I'd take it up as a profession.”
“I am afraid I could earn little that way. I never was a good walker.” “You're a woman,” said Herbert, patronizingly. “Women are not expected to be good walkers.” ”

“ Carter,” persisted the squire, “of the advantages of my proposal. Think how comfortable you would feel in knowing that you had three hundred and fifty dollars on interest in the savings bank. I admit that I may not offer you quite as much as the place cost, but houses never fetch their first cost. I've made you a very fair offer, ma'am, very fair.”
“I won't say anything as to that, Squire Leech, but this house my poor husband built—in this house I have passed many happy years—and while we can keep it, Herbert and I, we will. There is no other place in town that would seem so much like home.” ”

“ Cameron's father has agreed to pay two hundred dollars for father's model!”
“Has he, really?” asked Mrs. Carter, her face lighting up.
“He has bought it, that is, half of it; but he is to pay more than that.”
“More than two hundred dollars, Herbert?”
“More than three hundred. What do you think of that?”
“Are you in earnest, Herbert?”
“Quite in earnest, mother; only it is better than a dream. You mustn't be too much excited, mother, when you hear the whole. ”

“ Herbert gladly accepted the invitation. He was tired of wandering about the great city, not knowing where to lay his head; accordingly he joined his genteel cousin, and they walked toward Bleecker Street.
“Have you got any money?” queried Cornelius, cautiously.
“Not much. If I don't find something to do in a week, I must go back to the country.”
“A week's a short time to find a place. But hold on! We want a boy in our store. I guess I could get you in.”
“What wages would I get?”
“Two dollars a week, to begin with.” ”

“ Don't make a fool of yourself,” said his wife, in an imperious tone.
The poor man was fain to be silent, but the lawyer was indignant, and said: “Mr. Pinkerton, I will certainly not pay your legacy, nor your children's, to anyone but yourself. I will send Mrs. Pinkerton a check for her own share—one hundred dollars—since she desires it.”
“I insist upon your sending me the children's money also,” said the lady angrily. “He ain't fit to take charge of it.”
“You may insist as much as you like, Mrs. Pinkerton,” said the lawyer, coolly, “but it will be useless. ”

“ When a gentleman takes a drink he takes his bitters. Now, what'll you have?”
“Nothing, thank you.”
“Oh, you needn't thank me. I didn't offer to give you a drink. What do you want, anyhow?”
“Have you got a directory?”
“No; we don't keep one. We don't care where our customers live. All we want is their money.”
Herbert did not fancy the bartender's tone or manner; but felt that it would be foolish to get angry. So he explained: “I have a cousin living in the city; I thought I could find out where he lived in the directory.”
“What's your cousin's name?”
“Cornelius Dixon.” ”

“ It was a sad thing to think of, yet there was this consolation: the three or four hundred dollars cash which the squire would pay would tide over the next year or two, until Herbert was older and could earn more.
But, after all, was it certain that he would earn more? Could he sell more papers two years hence than now? That was hardly likely. If he wanted to advance his income, it must be in some other business. Yet, to a boy situated as he was, there was little chance of getting any employment that would make as good immediate returns as selling papers. ”

“ He acts as if it was your duty to oblige him.”
“I don't know but we shall have to come to his terms,” said Herbert, rather dejectedly. “We certainly shall if I don't find anything to do.”
“I wish I could help you; but, if you were to learn my trade, you wouldn't be worth any wages for nigh a year, and you couldn't afford to work so long without pay.”
“No, I couldn't.”
“Besides, in a village like this, there isn't more than enough work for one man. Why, there isn't more than one new house built a year. If the squire wants to provide Mr. Banks with a house, why doesn't he build him one? ”

“ I didn't know that.”
“Suppose my uncle had left me all his fortune—a hundred thousand dollars—would I have been a gentleman, then?”
“Yes, but it isn't the same as, if you had always been rich.”
“I don't agree with your ideas, James. It seems to me something besides money is needed to make a gentleman; still, I hope to get on in the world, and I shouldn't object to being rich, though I don't see any prospect of it just at present.”
“No,” said James. “You will probably always be poor.”
“That's very encouraging,” said Herbert, laughing. “How about yourself?” ”

“ Carter,” he said. “As the mother of my professor, the desire was only natural.”
“Herbert tells me he has learned a good deal since he has been reading to you. He has often spoken of his good fortune in meeting you.”
“I feel equally fortunate in meeting him. Not every boy of his age would adapt himself as readily and intelligently as he has.”
“I am very glad if you find Herbert of service to you,” said Mrs. Carter. “In all ways the engagement has been of advantage to him.”
“Squire Leech was kind enough to offer me the services of his son, James,” said Cameron, smiling. ”

“ But Herbert was quick to learn. The second day, though he still had some papers left, he cleared twenty-five cents. The third day he netted seventy-five. He felt now that he had passed the period of experiment, and that he would at any rate, be able to pay his board. Of course, he hoped for something better, and indeed felt confident of it.
Three weeks later, about eleven o'clock in the forenoon, as he stood in front of the Astor House, with his last paper in his hand, he heard his name called:
“Hello, Carter; are you here?” ”

“ My wife often wishes we had our own vegetables, instead of having to buy, but you see, after working in the shop, or outside, all day, I'm too tired to work on land.”
“How much land have you?”
“About an acre that I could cultivate, I suppose.”
“Engage me to take care of it. I'll do all the work, and your wife can have her own vegetables.”
“Really, I never thought of that,” said the carpenter. “I don't know but it might be a good idea. How much pay would you want?”
“I'll tell you,” said Herbert, who had a business turn, and who had already matured the plan in his own mind. ”

“ Carter, it certainly wouldn't be a bad speculation for the squire, since the place, as already stated, was worth fully fifteen hundred dollars. How a rich man can deliberately plot to defraud a poor woman of a portion of her small property, you and I, my young reader, may find it hard to understand. Unfortunately there are too many cases in real life where just such things happen, so that there really seems to be a good deal of truth in the old adage that prosperity hardens the heart. ”