Jr. Horatio Alger

“ James did not fail to make a report to his father of the outrage which he had received at the hands of Harry Raymond. Over the trick which Tom and he had played upon our hero he passed rather lightly.
“It seems there were two of you,” said the squire. “Why didn’t you give him such a lesson as he would have remembered?”
“I would if Tom had stood by me.”
“Why didn’t he?”
“Oh, he pretended to be very much hurt!” said James.
“Couldn’t you manage young Raymond alone?”
“No; he’s as strong as a bull. He’s had to work for a living, and that has given him muscle.” ”

“ You speak as if you felt it,” he said.
Harry Raymond looked gratified at this double commendation. The applause of his school-mates pleased him, for he was by no means indifferent to their good opinion, which he tried on all occasions to deserve. He was no less pleased with Mr. Tower’s praise, for he had a high respect for his ability, and that praise was never lightly bestowed.
I have spoken of Harry’s good appearance. I am obliged to confess that his dress had nothing to do with this. In fact, his jacket and pants were of very coarse texture, and by no means elegant in fit. ”

“ It’s ever so much better fun than being in London. Besides, if I were in London, instead of having you to walk about with me, I should have a stiff old governess calling out every moment, ‘You should be more particular about your deportment, Miss Maud.’ Now I know you won’t say anything about my deportment.”
[293]
“No, I think not,” said Harry. “I don’t know what a young lady’s deportment ought to be.” ”

“ He glanced sharply at our hero, and said something in a low tone to Mr. Fairchild which Harry did not understand. He little dreamed that the new-comer was to be intimately connected with his fortunes. Still less did he dream that he was an agent of Squire Turner, and that all the profitable business transactions of Mr. Lemuel Fairchild were merely fictitious, and got up solely to deceive him. Harry was a smart boy, but even smart boys are likely to be taken in, in matters of which they have no previous experience. But Harry’s eyes were to be opened very soon. ”

“ Why, John Gaylord, Mr. Porter’s chief salesman, though already twenty-five years of age, and with several years’ experience as clerk, received just that, and no more. That Harry should be offered the same salary at fifteen was indeed a compliment.
“I expect board is higher in the city,” said Mrs. Raymond.
“Yes, I suppose it is; but next year I shall probably have my pay raised. Who knows but I may get into the firm some day,” said Harry, glowing with enthusiasm, “and make money hand over hand? Then I can take a nice house in the city, and you and Katy can come up and live with me. ”

“ The next day, as if by accident, Squire Turner entered the store, and, advancing to the counter behind which Harry was standing, said with unusual graciousness:—
“Well, my young friend, how are you getting on?”
“Very well, thank you, sir,” said Harry.
[135]
“I think Mr. Porter may find it for his interest to engage you permanently.”
“I have accepted another situation,” said our hero, with a little excusable importance.
“Indeed!” said the squire, in assumed surprise. “In Vernon?”
“No, sir, in New York.”
“I am surprised to hear it. It is not easy to obtain a situation in the city. ”

“ Jack fell on deck heavily, and so bewildered was he that he lay there motionless, and did not at first attempt to rise.
This quite turned the tide in favor of our hero. Sailors admire pluck, especially when it is shown by a little fellow contending against odds. There was a chorus of approving exclamations, expressed in the characteristic sailor dialect, and Harry, standing in the centre of the ring, his face flushed with the excitement of the contest, was transformed in the eyes of all into a hero. ”

“ The scene has changed for Harry. He is no longer living in a first-class city hotel on the fat of the land, but is “roughing it” at the Victoria mines, seventy miles north-west of Melbourne.
These diggings were of limited extent, occupying not above a square mile; but this square mile was a scene of extraordinary animation and activity. Scattered over it were hundreds of miners, rough-bearded, and clothed with little regard to taste or elegance. They represented many countries, differing widely except in being all occupied by one engrossing passion, the love of gold. ”

“ He didn’t deserve to be helped. Can I be expected to stop my ship every time a careless boy takes a notion to fall overboard?”
“When a human life is in jeopardy, Captain Brandon, our duty is to save it if we can. I don’t envy the man who at such a time can stop to inquire whether the danger is the result of carelessness or not.”
The supercargo spoke sternly, and the captain felt arraigned for his action, and this irritated him.
“I have to think of my ship,” he said.
“In what way would it have injured the ship, if you had lowered the boat for Harry?” ”

“ The squire flushed at this unexpected accusation. How in the world, he thought, could Mrs. Raymond have heard of his agency in the abduction of Harry?
“I don’t know what you mean,” he said; but his face belied his words. ”

“ I think I shall like him.”
“Keep on, and some time you may be as rich as he,” said the captain, closing the remark with a laugh, for which our hero could see no good reason.
“I should like to be rich, for my mother’s sake,” said Harry, seriously.
“For your mother’s sake, of course. Let me see,—what’s the name of the town you come from?”
“Vernon.”
“Ah, yes, I think I’ve heard of it. A small place, isn’t it?”
“Yes, sir, it’s only a village.”
“Any rich people there?”
“There’s one,—Squire Turner.”
“Squire Turner?” repeated Brandon. “What sort of a man is he?” ”

“ However, as you can’t pay, I’ve about made up my mind to give you your passage free.”
“You are very kind, Captain Scott,” said Harry.
“Quite welcome, my lad. Here’s a gentleman who will do more for you than I can.”
“I suppose you have felt some anxiety about how you will get along when you arrive at Melbourne?” said Mr. Lindsay.
Harry admitted his anxiety.
“You may lay aside all apprehensions, then. I will take care that you suffer for nothing, and will see what I can do to put you in a way of earning your living.”
“You are kinder to me than I deserve,” said our hero, surprised and grateful. ”

“ Fairchild himself. He certainly did not look by any means like a prosperous city merchant, doing an extensive business.
“Have you just reached New York, Raymond?” asked the merchant, picking his teeth with the small blade of his pocket-knife.
“Yes, sir,” said Harry. “I came right here.”
“All right. I was expecting you. So you want me to make a business man of you, eh?”
“Yes, sir,” said Harry, wondering if he should dress as shabbily when he became a commission merchant. ”

“ He went up to Tom Patch, towards whom the sailor’s evident grief for our hero’s fate had warmed his heart, and wrung his hand heartily.
“He was a noble boy, and his life has been shamefully [260] sacrificed, Tom,” he said; “but if I live, the man who has done this deed shall be punished.”
“Ay, ay, sir,” said Tom, whose voice was gruff with emotion; “I hope you’ll stick to that. He was a brave lad, and the captain deserves to be pitched after him.”
Mr. Weldon paced the deck till far into the night. Captain Brandon shut himself up in his cabin, and did not show himself till morning. ”

“ His amazement may be imagined when he found that the midnight incendiary was no other than Squire Turner himself!
“What can it mean?” he thought, bewildered.
Fifteen minutes later the house, which was a mere tinder-box, was in flames, and the startled villagers, aroused from their slumbers, saw a bright flame reflected against the dark midnight sky. ”

“ Raymond, and her face wore a proud look, as she glanced at the bright and animated face of her son.
[27]
“Who were the three boys that didn’t vote for you?” asked Katy.
“I was one of them,” said Harry, smiling.
“Who did you vote for?”
“For Walter Sheffield.”
“Is he a good speaker?”
“Yes.”
“But he isn’t as good as you are.”
“That isn’t for me to say.”
“Who got the other two votes?”
“James Turner.”
“He’s an awful disagreeable boy,” said Katy. “He puts on all sorts of airs just because his father is rich. I wish father was as rich as Squire Turner.” ”

“ But it is for Katy’s sake I am going to do it. Squire Turner has promised to give her every advantage, and she will begin to take music-lessons as soon as we are married. I have had very hard work getting along, Harry, and it was a relief to feel that I need have no more anxiety about making a living.”
“Then you don’t love him, mother?”
“I shall never love any one again, Harry. My love was buried in your father’s grave.” ”

“ When it was over she called her father aside.
“Papa,” she said, “I have a favor to ask.”
“Well, puss?”
“I want you to be kind to this boy,—Harry Raymond.”
“How do you want me to be kind to him?”
“I want you to pay his passage to Melbourne, and help him after he gets there.”
“Whew, Maud! You seem to have taken a sudden interest in the young man. I suppose you will be wanting to marry him when we get to Melbourne.”
“Nonsense, papa!” said Maud, blushing.
“Tell me, then, why I should spend so much money on a stranger.” ”

“ On going back to the store, Harry showed the senior salesman the letter his mother had received.
Now John Gaylord was in the main a good-natured young man, but he was not without the failings incident to humanity. It happened that he had himself been secretly desirous of going to the city, and obtaining some position which promised better than that of chief salesman in a country store. But he had no friends to help him in New York, and he was wise enough to feel that it would not be expedient to throw up a fair place in the country for the uncertain prospect of one in the city. ”