Jr. Horatio Alger

“ Just in front of the house, Scott met Willie Mead with a loaf of bread which he was bringing home from a neighboring bakery. His eye lighted up with pleasure when he saw Scott.
"Do you live here, Willie?" asked Scott.
"Yes, we live on the fourth floor."
"I have brought a gentleman with me who may be able to help your mother. We will follow you upstairs."
"You may not like to climb so high, sir," said the cash boy, turning to Mr. Lawton.
"I think I can stand it for once," rejoined Seth Lawton. "I am a little more scant of breath than when I was a young man, but I am still good for a climb." ”

“ It was not quite nine o'clock when they entered the farmhouse. There was a fire of logs in the fireplace, and before it, with his legs stretched out, sat Red Ralph. But he was not alone.
A man of dark complexion sat opposite him. He was tall and swarthy, and, though differing in appearance seemed a fitting companion for Red Ralph. Both had pipes in their mouths, and the room was pervaded by the fumes of bad tobacco.
"Well, stranger, you took a long walk," said Red Ralph, turning in his chair.
"We sat down under a tree to rest," responded the earl. "Can we have a candle?" ”

“ Ezra Little looked incensed.
"Mr. Lawton," he said, "it strikes me that your interference is impertinent."
"On the contrary, as Scott has no one else to speak up for him, I consider that, as his near relative, it is my duty to do it."
"If you had attended to your own affairs, instead of meddling with others, you would not be in danger of going to the poorhouse, as you are at present."
"Am I?" asked Seth, looking amused. "You seem to know a good deal about my affairs."
"I don't suppose you have a hundred dollars in the world. If you should be in need you mustn't expect me to help you." ”

“ He is a rich man, isn't he?"
"Yes, but he would be angry if he knew that I had borrowed money. He is very strict about such matters."
"Then you ought not to have borrowed money of me," said Paul.
"Oh, I'll make it all right in a day or two," said Loammi. "Good-evening, I am in a little of a hurry."
Paul Granger walked away, pretty well assured that he would never get back his dollar.
"I suppose that fellow will be annoying me every day," said Loammi to himself. "Heigh-ho! it's awful inconvenient to be so poor. Pa could make it all right if he'd open his heart and give me five or ten dollars." ”

“ It occurred to Scott that the same thing might be said of Seth Lawton himself, but he would not, of course, speak of it. He was beginning to have a sincere respect and regard for Cousin Seth.
What matter if he were poor—at least compared with Ezra Little—he evidently had a kind heart, and was inclined to be generous beyond his means.
"All cannot become rich," said Scott. "I wish you had Mr. Little's money, though." ”

“ An uncle of mine is the present mayor of Chicago. Of course, you have heard of Chicago."
"Yes; it is one of your largest cities, is it not?"
"Yes, it's a smart place, Chicago is."
"Do you live there?"
"Not at present. I have relations in New York also. They are rich; live on Fifth Avenue, or near by."
"You are fortunate in having so many relations," said Scott, with a touch of envy.
"I don't know. One of my uncles tried to cheat me out of part of my inheritance. Relations are not always the best friends." ”

“ Scott was right. The Earl of Windermere could see the sterling gold in Cousin Seth's character, and treated him with a cordiality that pleased the old man.
"I never thought I should like an earl," he said afterward to Scott, "but your friend is a trump. He ought to be an American citizen."
Ezra Little was rather disgusted when he heard that Seth Lawton had been the earl's guest.
"You ought to have prevented it, Scott," he said. "What will the earl think of us when such a homely old fellow is introduced as a cousin?"
"Cousin Seth and the earl are great friends," replied Scott. ”

“ He left me nothing but the children, and it has been a sad and sorrowful time. We have lived, but there have been times when we have been on the verge of starvation. And you, how has it been with you?"
"I have no right to complain. I have lived comfortably. You know Ezra Little?"
"Yes, it was at my request that he took Willie into his store. But the two dollars and a half a week, which he pays him, seems very small."
"I should think so. Didn't he know how poor you were?" asked Seth, indignantly.
"Yes, but he said he could not favor one cash boy more than the rest." ”

“ How long have you been at work on your invention?"
"A year. I had a little money when I began, and it has supported me while I was at work. Now that the invention is perfected, I am without funds. I may as well be plain, and say that I cannot pay my next week's board."
"Couldn't you get some man with money to help you?"
"It is what I have been hoping for. In fact, I called yesterday on a prominent merchant, and laid the matter before him."
"Who was it, Mr. Babcock?"
"Ezra Little."
Scott looked surprised.
"He is a relative of mine," he said. "How did he treat you?" ”

“ At half-past six the door opened, and a slender, dark-haired boy entered the room.
"How do you feel, father?" asked the boy, with a glance of sympathy toward his suffering parent.
"No better, Harold. It is very trying to be tied hand and foot by pain when I ought to be at work."
"If your father would worry less," said Mrs. Kent, a pleasant-looking woman, somewhat younger than her husband, "he would be more likely to get well."
"How can I help worrying, Clara? We are barely able to live when I can work. Now, with only Harold's wages coming in, it is difficult to tell how we shall come out. ”

“ Crawford Lane rose from his chair and with a look of chagrin made haste to leave the hotel. He had already taken dinner there, and intended to remain until the next day, but now he felt unable to do so.
"I am glad to get some of my money back," said Scott, in a tone of satisfaction. "I was reduced to sixty cents. Ten dollars will last me for a good while."
"Take care not to let your worthy relative know you have so much money, or he will want you to give it up to him." ”

“ The clerks say that he pays poorer wages than anyone in the trade."
"That isn't always the sign of a good manager," said Seth Lawton, slowly. "Clerks will always work better for a generous employer. So, on the whole, Ezra may be considered well-to-do?"
"Yes, sir."
"I am always glad to hear that my friends—and relatives are prospering."
"You don't look as if you were very prosperous yourself," thought Scott. ”

“ I have heard him say that he has washed his hands of Scott. If he had behaved himself it would have been different."
"Poor boy! I must see what I can do for him."
"You'd better not, Cousin Seth. You are a poor man, and it will be all you can do to look after yourself."
"Still, Loammi, consider Scott's position."
"He must look out for himself. I advise you not to call round and ask pa to take him back."
"I must think what I can do for him."
"The old man feels pretty bad," thought Loammi. "Well, they are a good match. For my part I don't think much of poor relations." ”

“ The next day Scott received the following note from Mr. Little:
"Dear Scott: Can you induce your friend, the earl, to accept an invitation to dinner at our house any day next week? It would give me great pleasure, as an Englishman born, to pay some attention to so distinguished a representative of my native country. The choice of the day rests entirely with the earl. We shall be only too glad to receive him at any time.
"Sincerely, your cousin, Ezra Little." ”

“ Justin Wood laughed.
"He seems to be a very shrewd man. Still, you will have a good home."
Again Scott looked doubtful, and told his new acquaintance of the small, dark room which had been assigned him.
"Yet you say that Mr. Little has only a small family."
"He has one son of about my age."
"Surely there ought to be a better room for you if he occupies a whole house."
"I should think so."
"He might have put you into the same room with his son."
"I don't think I should like to room with Loammi." ”

“ Ezra Little was taken aback by the boy's resolute tone. On the whole, he decided not to press the demand.
"Be it so," he said; "but understand that I shall, hereafter, give you nothing but your board and lodging. When you require clothing or anything else, you must buy it yourself."
"I understand, sir."
[Pg 133]
"Seth has been talking to that boy," reflected Ezra Little. "It would serve him right for me to discharge him."
But Ezra Little knew that Scott was an excellent salesman, and that he could not supply his place at less than eight dollars a week, so he did not care to dismiss him. ”

“ You look pretty well now, but Ezra Little won't clothe you in purple and fine linen."
"How is it you stay so long if the salaries are so poor?" was Scott's natural question.
"Well, I am well known and have a considerable trade of my own. I was once junior partner in a firm on Sixth Avenue, but we failed. By the way, Scott, how do you like your cousin, Loammi?"
"I am not in love with him," answered Scott, with a smile.
"We all dislike him here. He sometimes comes to the store, and puts on the airs of a boss."
At six o'clock the store closed for the day. ”

“ You won't injure them?"
"I must have their money. I may as well take Conrad with me. Here, Conrad, wake up!" and he shook his companion with no gentle hand.
Conrad opened his eyes, and looked sleepily around him.
"How came I here?" he asked.
"You took too much whisky and got stupid drunk," said Ralph, not mentioning that he, too, had been in the same box. "Is breakfast ready, Sarah?"
"Yes."
"Then we'll sit up and eat. I am famished. Come, Conrad."
"Won't you rouse the strangers first?"
"No. That will do afterward. If I get their money, you may give them some breakfast, too." ”

“ At present I have only accumulated one hundred dollars."
"That is not bad for a young man of your age."
"Say a boy. I am not ashamed of being a boy."
"Remember I am speaking of my partner. I must speak of him with respect."
"Did I tell you I was going to leave the city for a time?"
"No. Why is it? You have not lost your place, I hope."
"No, I am going to travel for the firm. If I am lucky I shall soon earn an excellent income."
"You are sure to do that."
"How can you tell that I will succeed?"
"I was not referring to your regular position. I was thinking of your interest in my invention." ”