Jr. Horatio Alger

“ CHAPTER XXXV. THE LAST OF JACK MANGUM.
"What's the matter?" asked one of the two men as Walter came up.
"I got lost in the woods, and passed the night in that man's house," said our hero. "He tried to rob me, but I locked him in the closet, and jumped out of the window and escaped. This morning he got on my track, and would have caught me but for the ditch."
"You locked him in the closet!" repeated the other. "How were you able to do that? You are only a boy, while he is a strong man." ”

“ It seemed to him as if he had passed the previous night far away in some wild frontier cabin, instead of in the centre of a populous and thriving neighborhood, within a few miles of several flourishing villages.
He drew out a dollar-bill, and offered it to Meg.
"This is the money I agreed to pay you," he said. "Thank you, besides."
"You haven't much cause to thank me," she said, abruptly. "I would have robbed you if I had the chance."
"I am sorry for that," said Walter. "Money got in that way never does any good."
"Money is sure to do good, no matter how it comes," said the woman, fiercely. ”

“ Had Jacob Drummond died, Joshua would have borne the loss with the greatest fortitude. Of that there was no doubt. Indeed, he would rather have hailed the event with joy, if, as he expressed it, the "old man did the right thing," and left him the bulk of his property. Though such feelings did not do Joshua much credit, it must be said in extenuation that his father was far from being a man to inspire affection in any one, however nearly related. ”

“ He had been brought face to face with meanness and selfishness, and they inspired him with disgust and indignation. Not that he expected everybody to buy his books, even if they could afford it. Still it was not necessary to insult him by offering half price.
He walked slowly up the street, wondering if he should meet any more such customers. On the opposite side of the street he noticed a small shoemaker's shop.
"I suppose it is of no use to go in there," thought Walter. "If they won't buy at a big house, there isn't much chance here." ”

“ He's as mean as dirt."
"Then where would you get the money to repay me in case I lent it to you?"
"You're just as mean as he is," exclaimed Joshua, angrily, not caring to answer this question. "A mighty fuss you make about lending a fellow a couple of dollars!"
"It makes no particular difference to me whether you think me mean or not," said Walter. "I have got to be richer than I am now before I lend money." ”

“ Walter shook his head.
"It would consume all my money; and as long as I am not going to college, my present education will be sufficient."
"As to consuming all your money," said Mr. Shaw, "let me say one thing. I received many favors from your father, especially when a young man just starting in business. Let me repay them by paying half your expenses for the next year at school."
"You are very kind, Mr. Shaw," said Walter, gratefully, "and I would accept that favor from you sooner than from any one; but I've made up my mind to take care of myself, and paddle my own canoe." ”

“ Drummond, cautiously, for he was afraid the knowledge of his wealth would tempt his family to expect a more lavish expenditure, and this would not by any means suit him.
"You didn't work in a shoe-shop."
"I should have been glad of the chance to do it, for I could have earned more money that way than by being errand-boy in a store. It's just as honorable to work in a shop as to be clerk in a store." ”

“ He did not at first propose to do anything that evening until it occurred to him that he might perhaps dispose of a copy of his book to the landlord in part payment for his board. He went into the public room after supper.
"Are you travelling alone?" asked the landlord, who had his share of curiosity.
"Yes," said Walter.
"Not on business?"
"Yes, on business."
"What might it be now? You are rather young to be in business."
"I am a book-agent."
"Meeting with pretty good success?"
"I'm just beginning," said Walter, smiling. "If you'll be my first customer, I'll stop with you a week." ”

“ At this moment he saw Sam Crawford approaching him. Sam was perhaps a year younger than Joshua. He had formerly lived in the village, but was now in a situation in New York, and was only in Stapleton for a few days.
"How are you, Joshua?" said Sam.
"Well enough," said Joshua. "Where are you going?"
"I'm going round to the ice-cream saloon. Won't you come with me?"
"Yes, if you'll treat. I haven't got any money."
"You ought to have. The old man's got plenty."
"That's so. But he's getting meaner every day. What do you think he allows me for spending money?" ”

“ Drummond's mind was the expense.
"I don't think I shall ever learn to go without milk and sugar," said Walter, quietly, not feeling [Pg 101] disposed to humor his employer in this little meanness.
"There isn't anything fit to eat on the table," grumbled Joshua, looking about him discontentedly.
"You are always complaining," said his father, sharply. "If you earned your breakfast, you wouldn't be so particular."
"Why can't you have beefsteak once in a while, instead of corned beef? I'm sick to death of corned beef." ”

“ How much do you charge for the book?"
"Three dollars and a half."
"Three dollars and a half!" repeated the woman. "You seem to think people are made of money."
"I don't fix the price, madam," said Walter, rather provoked. "The publishers do that."
"I warrant they make two-thirds profit. Don't they now?"
"I don't know," said Walter. "I don't know anything about the cost of publishing books; but this is a large one, and there are a great many pictures in it. They must have cost considerable." ”

“ You know you are not used to business."
"I know what I'm about, mother. I'm not a [Pg 141] baby. All I want is the money. Can you lend me five dollars?"
"I wish I could; but you know your father doesn't allow me much money. I get my dress patterns and most of what I want out of the store, so I don't need it."
"You have to buy things for the house,—groceries, and so on."
"We have a bill at the grocery store. Your father pays it quarterly; so no money passes through my hands for that purpose."
"Then you haven't got the money, mother," said Joshua, disappointed. ”

“ Walter Conrad, the hero, is unexpectedly reduced from affluence to poverty, and compelled to fight his own way in life. Undaunted by misfortune, he makes up his mind to "paddle his own canoe," and, declining the offers of friends, sets to work with a resolute will and persistent energy, which command success in the end. ”

“ That's the reason he told the old woman to get up such a nice supper, he expected to get you to take him for a guardian, and then he'd have the handling of your money. Won't he be mad when he finds out how he's been taken in? Giving you the best room too! Are you sure that none of the property will be left?"
"Probably not much."
That Walter listened with mortification and disgust to what Joshua had told him about his father's selfish designs, is only what might be expected. It is always disagreeable to find out the meanness of those whom you have supposed kind to you for your own sake. ”

“ I have received warning by telegraph that one of the New York swell-mob is on the train, probably intent on mischief, but no description came with it, and I had no clue to the person. I have no doubt that the man you speak of is the party. If so, he is familiarly known as 'Slippery Dick.'"
"Do you think you can get back my money?" asked Walter, anxiously.
"I think there is a chance of it. Come with me and point out your man."
Walter gladly accompanied the conductor to the smoking-car. His old acquaintance was busily engaged as before in a game, and laughing heartily at some favorable turn. ”

“ I never cared so much about inheriting money."
They were passing the village school-house. Through the open windows floated the strain of a song which the children were singing. This was the verse which the boys heard:—
[Pg 96] "It's all very well to depend on a friend,—
That is, if you've proved him true;
But you'll find it better by far in the end
To paddle your own canoe.
To 'borrow' is dearer by far than to 'buy,'—
A maxim, though old, still true;
You never will sigh, if you only will try
To paddle your own canoe!"
"That is going to be my motto," said Walter. ”

“ Conrad's affairs were really in as bad a state as his son represented. Even if a few thousand dollars were left, Mr. Drummond would like the handling of that sum. Then, again, no one knew better than Mr. Drummond that Walter's board would cost him very little; for, of course, he would at once return to his usual frugal fare.
"Very well," he said; "you can go into the store on those terms. As you say, you've got your own living to earn, and the sooner you begin the better." ”

“ I have just reached Willoughby."
"And how did you like Stapleton?"
"Tolerably well."
"And Mr. Drummond,—how were you pleased with him?"
"As to that," said Walter, smiling, "I can't say that I liked him as well as I might."
"I judged that from what I have heard of his character. He has the reputation of being very mean. A cent in his eyes is as large as a dollar [Pg 202] appears to some men. How did he pay you for your services?"
"I worked for board wages."
"And pretty poor board at that, I imagine."
"I had no fear of the gout," said Walter. "The living isn't luxurious." ”

“ For such an employment as this Joshua felt that he was well adapted, and would very much have enjoyed the sense of importance it would give him. But Joshua made a great mistake. Many employers look back upon the years which they passed as clerks as years of comparative leisure and ease, certainly of freedom from anxiety. They find that they have a heavy price to pay for the privilege of being their own masters, and the masters of others. But Joshua was thoroughly lazy, and it was this feeling that dictated the wish which he expressed in his letter to Sam Crawford. ”

“ It will cost me considerable; as much as five dollars or more; but he was my cousin, and it is [Pg 40] my duty to go," said Mr. Drummond, with the air of a man who was making a great sacrifice.
"He was rich, wasn't he?" asked Joshua, becoming interested.
"Probably worth a hundred thousand dollars," said his father, complacently.
"I should think he might have left me something," said Joshua.
"He never saw you, Joshua," said his mother.
"Joshua stands a better chance of getting a legacy from one who doesn't know him, than from one who does," said Mr. Drummond, with grim pleasantry. ”

“ A boy of fifteen that can get the better of Jack Mangum is smart, and no mistake."
"I hope I shall realize your prediction," returned Walter, who naturally felt pleased with the compliment. Like most boys, he liked to be considered smart, although he did not allow himself to be puffed [Pg 339] up by inordinate ideas of his own importance, as is the case with many of his age.
While this conversation was going on, they had been walking towards the farm-house in which Peter Holcomb lived. It was an humble one-story building, with an attic above. ”

“ When a man's got enough to busy himself about, he hasn't time to be in the dumps."
"There's a good deal in that," said Walter.
"Of course there is. Push along, keep moving, that's my motto. Are you in business?"
"No, sir, not at present."
"I'm in the subscription-book business,—got an office in New York. We send out agents [Pg 197] everywhere to canvass for our publication. Lots of money in it."
"Is there?"
"Yes. I used to be an agent myself, and, though I say it, I don't think there are many agents that can get ahead of me. Sometimes I used to make twenty dollars a day. ”

“ Of course it'll all come to me some day."
"I am glad to hear it," said Walter, rather wondering that Joshua should have made such a communication to a comparative stranger.
"To hear the old man talk," pursued Joshua, "you'd think he was awful poor. He's stingy enough about everything in the house. There isn't a family in town that don't live better than we do."
"I thought we had a very good supper," said Walter, who experienced not a little disgust at Joshua's charges against his father. ”

“ I have supported you in laziness long enough. It is time you went to work. Next week you must go to work. I will take you into my store; but as I am not sure of your honesty, if I find you appropriating money to your own use, I will put you into a shoe-shop and make a shoemaker of you."
This was an alarming threat to Joshua, who had a foolish pride, which led him to look upon a trade as less respectable than the mercantile profession. He slunk out of the house, and Mr. Drummond went back to the store, while Walter set out on foot for the railway station, three-quarters of a mile distant. ”

“ That is easy enough. But mining companies are risky things always. I once got taken in to the tune of five thousand dollars, but it taught me a lesson. So I was not particularly impressed with the brilliant prospectus of the Great Metropolitan Mining Company, in spite of its high-sounding name, and its promised dividend of thirty per cent. Depend upon it, James Wall and his confederates will pocket all the dividends that are made."
"Very likely you are right. But it may be that Wall really believed there is a good chance of making money." ”

“ Faulkner's, but that is too far off."
"I'll carry it," said Joshua.
Mrs. Drummond was astonished at this unusual spirit of accommodation, for Joshua was, in general, far from obliging. The truth was, however, that, though Mr. Faulkner lived over a mile and a quarter distant, it was on his way to the post-office.
"Thank you, Joshua," said Mrs. Drummond. "I was afraid you wouldn't be willing to go so far."
"I feel just like taking a long walk to-day, mother."
"Here is the bundle. I will bake a little pie for you while you are gone." ”

“ If he could sell four copies a day, that would give him a profit of five dollars, and five dollars would leave him a handsome profit after paying expenses.
The next morning after breakfast he started out, carrying with him three books. Knowing nothing of the residents of the village, he could only judge by the outward appearance of their houses. Seeing a large and handsome house standing back from the street, he decided to call.
"The people living here must be rich," he thought. "They won't mind paying three dollars and a half for a nice book." ”

“ Most boys appreciate considerable liberality, and naturally expect to be treated better as they grow older. Joshua, now nearly nineteen, found himself treated like a boy of twelve, and he resented it. It set him speculating about his father's death, which would leave him master, as he hoped, of the "old man's" savings. It is unfortunate when such a state of feeling comes to exist between a father and a son. The time came, and that speedily, when Mr. Drummond bitterly repented that he had not made some concessions to Joshua. ”