Jr. Horatio Alger

“ Looking up, he recognized James Watson.
"Is that you, Ben?" asked James, in some astonishment.
"It is supposed to be. Don't I look natural?" asked Ben, smiling.
"What are you doing?"
"Don't you see? I am sawing wood."
"You don't mean you go around from house to house sawing wood?"
"Why not?"
"I should think you would be too proud to do it."
"I am not too proud to do any honest work that will put money in my pocket. Isn't it as respectable as working in the factory?"
"Certainly not. I am willing to work in the factory, but I wouldn't go round sawing wood." ”

“ Then you are a business man?"
"I represent the firm of Jones & Porter, publishers."
"Humph! Can't they get any one but a boy to represent them?"
"That, sir, is their business," he answered emphatically. "I have not chosen to inquire whether my uncle could not have found a better lawyer to act as executor."
"You are impudent, young man!" exclaimed Solomon Brief, his face being as red for the moment as his hair.
"We have neither of us been overcivil," said Ben. "Suppose we come back to business." ”

“ Her tone was still kind—it had never varied—but Emma was thoroughly frightened.
"Let me go!" she began to cry. "I want to go to Ben."
The lady looked at her in mingled grief and wonder.
"Can a child turn from her own mother to a stranger?" she said musingly. "She forgets that she is my little Mary. She no longer loves me."
"My name is Emma," said the little girl. "Why did you take me away from Ben?" ”

“ Bradford put her handkerchief to her eyes.
"What's the matter?" asked Tony.
"My poor child," said his mother, "we are going to the poorhouse."
"Is that so, Ben?" asked Tony soberly.
Ben shouted with laughter. He could not hold back the truth.
"Aunt Jane," he said, "you always will anticipate the worst. Why don't you wait and hope?"
"What is the use, Benjamin?"
"Because it makes us happier, and often brings good fortune. Aunt Jane, you see before you a rich man."
"You're only a boy," said Tony. "You ain't a man at all."
"My income is a thousand dollars a year!" ”

“ When the principal sat down to Mr. Archer's dinner table, he partook of a dinner richer and more varied than his modest salary enabled him to indulge in at home. Nevertheless, he had more than once been as well entertained by others, and rather annoyed Mr. Archer by not appearing to appreciate the superiority of the dinner.
"Confound the man! He takes it as coolly as if he were accustomed to dine as sumptuously every day," thought Archer. ”

“ At two hundred yards, Frank and Ben had partially closed the gap between themselves and John Miles. Intent though he was on his own progress, Ben had leisure to observe that Miles was beginning to lose ground. It seemed clear that he was inferior to Ben in sustained power.
"There is hope for me yet," thought Ben. "I am not in the least tired. Toward the end I will put on a spurt, and see if I can't snatch the victory from him."
"Go in and win!" exclaimed Frank Jones. "You're got more wind than I. Don't let a stranger carry off the prize." ”

“ Bradford opened her pocketbook with a sigh, and produced two one-dollar bills and thirty-seven cents in change.
"There's only that between us and starvation," she said mournfully.
"Well, that's something," said Ben cheerfully. "Isn't it, Tony?"
"It's a lot of money," said the inexperienced Tony. "I never had so much in all my life."
"There, somebody thinks you are rich, Aunt Jane," laughed Ben.
"What should the poor child know of household expenses?" said Mrs. Bradford. ”

“ Tremlett," said Ben; "but we can't always have our wishes granted."
"Leave the matter in my hands," said the lawyer. "I will do what is best."
"By the way, Brief," said John Tremlett, "I mustn't forget my errand. I want some money."
"Some money? I gave you two hundred dollars last week."
"Well, it's gone, and I want some more."
"Mr. Tremlett," said the lawyer gravely, "are you aware how much money you have spent during the last four weeks?"
"No, I have kept no account."
"Well I have. You have drawn eight hundred dollars."
"It costs something to see life." ”

“ Ben felt encouraged.
"My father is getting old. He forgets that money won't buy as much as it did in his younger days. He means to be just."
"Then I don't think he succeeds very well," thought Ben.
"I understand such things better," proceeded Miss Nancy, "and I try to make up for father's mistakes, as far as I can. Now tell me what are you meaning to do with the money you received for this job?"
"I shall give it all to Aunt Jane," answered Ben.
"You are a good boy," said Nancy approvingly. "And she will buy groceries with it, I suppose?" ”

“ Five dollars a week went a good way with us. Besides, my aunt made about two dollars a week sewing.
"Is she making that now?"
"No, sir. Even that kind of business is getting dull. Last week she made a dollar and a quarter."
"That isn't much."
"No, sir. But every little helps."
"You are right there. We must not despise small earnings—such as you made in the deacon's employ."
"I got paid better than you think, sir," said Ben. "Miss Nancy made it up to me."
"Did she? I am glad to hear it. She is a good woman. She understands better than her father the proper price of work." ”

“ Now, Ben, I will tell you what I will do. Father keeps me pretty close myself, as far as money goes, but we have plenty in the house of groceries and such things as your aunt will need to have. Now, will it do just as well if I give you the balance that you have earned in that form?"
"It will do just as well, Miss Nancy, and I am very much obliged to you for your kindness."
"I am not kind, only just," said Nancy. "I don't think it honest to pay too little for work, nor father, either, for that matter, only he doesn't always set the right value on it. ”

“ Haven't you better pay yourself, as you go out?"
"I am in a great hurry, to meet an engagement," said Smithson.
"Suppose I shouldn't meet you. Suppose I should keep the money."
"No fear. You look honest. Well, meet me in an hour;" and he hurried out of the restaurant, saying, with a nod to the cashier: "The boy will pay."
Here was another compliment, Ben thought. A perfect stranger had trusted him with three dollars and sixty-five cents, which he might readily make off with.
"I am glad I look honest," thought Ben. "I seem to be treated very well." ”

“ How much do they charge for toast?"
"Dry toast—ten cents."
"That's awful high, too. Why, you can git ten slices off a five-cent loaf, and they only bring you two or three. It costs a sight to travel."
"Cream toast—twenty cents," said Ben mischievously.
"What is the world comin' to?" exclaimed the old lady. "Twenty cents for cream toast! Like as not, it's skim-milk. Well, I guess you may put down dry toast." ”

“ Ben wears coarse clothes. I don't believe he has a new suit a year."
"And you have too many. I believe your bill for clothes exceeds mine."
"Oh, father, you want your son to dress well. People know you are a rich man and they expect it."
"Humph! it may be carried too far," said Mr. Archer, who had just paid a large tailor's bill for Sam.
"And you say the principal favors him?"
"Yes, everybody can see it."
"It is rather strange he should favor a penniless boy," said Mr. Archer, himself a worshiper of wealth. "The man don't know on which side his bread is buttered." ”

“ Manning. "I will tell you. By the death of an intimate friend I have become guardian to a little girl, about five years old. She is at present in the city, but I think she will be better off in the country. Now, do you think your aunt would take charge of such a child—for a fair price, of course? It might pay her better than sewing."
"I think she would," said Ben; "but would you be satisfied with our humble way of living?"
"I don't wish the child to live on rich food. Good bread and butter and plenty of milk are better, in my opinion, than rich meats." ”

“ Mr. Brockton was not in, but, in an armchair at a window, Ben recognized Mr. Manning, the same gentleman whom he had seen two hours before at Deacon Sawyer's.
The recognition was mutual. Mr. Manning removed his cigar from his lips and said, with a smile:
"Your name is Benjamin, isn't it?"
"Yes sir."
"Have you come to spend some of the money you received from my friend, the deacon?"
"No, sir. It is all the money I have in the world, and I must take good care of it."
"Wages don't seem to be very high in Milltown," remarked Mr. Manning pleasantly, and he smiled again. ”

“ You are too young to go away from home. I won't blame you too much, for I feel that you are weak rather than wicked. But I shall not feel comfortable till you are at home again. Don't hesitate to give up your place. I am assured that they will take you on again at the mill, and it will be much better for you to be at home with us, till you are older, and better able to resist temptation.
"Your anxious aunt, "Jane Bradford"
Ben read this letter in amazed indignation.
"Sam is at the bottom of this," he concluded. "It is he that has reported that I look dissipated. ”

“ You will sail on a big boat, and then ride on the cars. Shall you like that?"
"Ever so much," said Emma, clapping her hands. "You will take care of me, won't you?" appealing to Ben.
"Oh, yes, I'll take care of you," said Ben manfully.
"I think you had better go to Boston on the Fall River line," said Mr. Manning. "That will give you nearly all night on the boat, and you can have a comfortable night's rest. Indeed, I think you may as well remain on board till the half-past-six train starts. That will get you into Boston about nine o'clock, in time for a late breakfast. ”

“ He hasn't done anything wrong, has he?" asked Aunt Jane startled.
"No, poor child!" sighed the old lady. "That's the wust on't. It ain't what he has done; it's because he won't have anything to do."
"For mercy's sakes, tell me what you mean, Mrs. Perkins."
"Hasn't Benjamin told you that he's lost his place at the factory?"
"Is this true, Mrs. Perkins?" asked Mrs. Bradford, turning pale.
"Yes, business is dull and fifty men and boys have been turned off. James Watson and your Benjamin are among them."
"Ben never told me anything about it," faltered Mrs. Bradford. ”

“ All eyes were turned upon Ben, who bore the ordeal very well.
"This lad has an excellent head. All the organs are well balanced, none being in great excess. His temperament is nervous-sanguine. Hope predominates with him. He will not be easily discouraged, but when he has an object in view he will pursue it perseveringly to the end. He is not quarrelsome, but will not allow himself to be trodden upon. He has plenty of courage. He is not bashful, but respectful to his elders and superiors. He is conscientious, and more likely to do right than wrong. ”

“ Isn't it better to 'Wait and Hope' than to give up and get discouraged?"
"Yes, Ben, I begin to think you are right."
"We are better off than when I was at work in the factory."
"Yes, Ben; we can get along very comfortably."
"I have been thinking, aunt, that while business continues dull I will go to school. This money I will put in a savings-bank, and we shall have it to fall back upon if we need it."
This plan met with Mrs. Bradford's approval, and was carried out by Ben. When he returned from the savings-bank, with his book in his hand, he felt like a capitalist. ”

“ My motto is, 'Wait and Hope.'"
"I think it will all come out right," said the old man. "Did you see John Tremlett?"
"Yes, sir."
"Tell me about him," said the old man eagerly. "Ho does he look?"
"He looks like a fast young man," answered Ben. "I did not like him at all."
"Do you think he is spending money fast?"
"I know he is. How much money do you think he has drawn in a month?"
"Two hundred dollars?" suggested Mr. Benton. ”

“ I wanted to see some real running."
"I should like to run the race over again," said John.
"Of course, you can't for the prize has been won."
"I don't care about the prize. I've got money enough."
"I haven't," said Ben; "I care more for the money than the victory."
"Look here!" said John. "I'll put up five dollars myself, if you'll run with me again."
"You will?" exclaimed Ben, his eyes sparkling. ”

“ You write a line to your aunt, so that she need not feel anxious."
"Thank you, sir. Where is the little girl?"
"She is temporarily staying at the house of a married sister of mine. My sister is rather an invalid, or she might keep her permanently. I shall not have time to go round and introduce you to-day, for my business will occupy me closely."
"Where shall I go, sir?" asked Ben.
"Wherever you like. You can wander round the city, and see whatever pleases you. Only be back a little before six o'clock, for that is our dinner hour." ”

“ Dobson persuasively, "I really think you'd better make the effort to pay now, and so avoid the heavy interest."
"Perhaps," said Ben, "you'll tell us how to pay without money?"
"You might borrow it."
"All right! I am willing. Mr. Dobson will you be kind enough to lend us twelve dollars to meet this bill?"
Mr. Dobson's face changed. It always did when any one proposed to borrow money of him, for he was what people called a "close" man.
"I really couldn't do it," he answered. "Money's very scarce with me—particularly scarce. It's all I can do to pay my own taxes." ”