He even smiled at Ben, a thing he hadn't done ever since the dreadful
announcement that gave a blow to all his plans for the boy. And at last
it began to be understood that the skies were clear again, and that
things after all were turning out for the best.
"But only to think of it," Grandpapa would go on to himself in the
privacy of his own room, "mountain children can be brought down and set
into schools, and the Van Ruypen money do the old lady some good,--and
there is Pip,--see what she has got there,--and nobody to interfere with
what she'll spend on him. And I--I am balked the very first thing. And I
did so mean to do well by Ben; dear, dear!"
But as the matter was now decided and out of his hands, the next thing
to do was to get Ben a good place where he could begin on his business
career, sure of good training. So the following day old Mr. King dropped
into the office of Cabot and Van Meter, for a little private
conversation.
They welcomed him heartily, as usual, dismissing other applicants for
the time, and shut the door to the private office, drawing up their
chairs to listen attentively.
"No business to-day," was Mr. King's announcement, "that is, in the
regular way. This that I have come to see you about is quite out of the
ordinary. I want a place in your establishment for a young friend of
mine."
The two gentlemen looked up in amazement. It wasn't in the least like
Mr. King to ask such a thing, knowing quite well that to secure such a
place required much waiting for the required vacancy. It was Mr. Cabot
who spoke first.
"I suppose he is experienced," he began slowly.
"Not in the least," replied old Mr. King, shortly.
"Well, er--on what do you recommend him?" ventured Mr. Van Meter.
"I don't recommend him," the old gentleman answered in his crispest
manner. "Bless you, I don't go about recommending people; you know
that." He looked into each face so fiercely that they both exclaimed
together, "No, of course not. We quite understand."
"Well, what do you want your young friend to have with us--what kind of
a position?" asked Mr. Cabot, patting one knee in perplexity.
"Anything," said Mr. King. "Give him anything to do; only get him in
here. I tell you he must come, and you've got to take him." He leaned
forward in his chair and struck his walking-stick smartly on the floor.
"Who is he?" demanded Mr. Van Meter, feeling that the exigency of the
case demanded few words.
"Ben Pepper."
"_Ben Pepper!_" ejaculated Mr. Cabot. "Why, I thought he was in school."
"He was," said old Mr. King, turning on him with considerable venom, as
if he were quite to blame for the whole thing, "but he has made up his
mind to go into business. A very poor thing in my opinion; but since
he's decided it that way, there's no more to be said," and he waved it
off with a nonchalant hand.
"Not so very poor a thing to do after all." Mr. Van Meter got off from
his chair, stalked up and down the office floor, bringing his hands
every now and then smartly together, to emphasize his periods: "I was
but a slip of a lad when I got into the business groove, and I've never
been sorry I drudged it early. Now, Mr. King, it wouldn't be well to
give Ben any better chance than I had. He must begin at the bottom to
amount to anything."
"He wouldn't take the chance if you gave it to him," said Mr. King,
dryly. "Why, there's where Ben says he belongs--at the bottom."
BOOKS BY MARGARET SIDNEY
A LITTLE MAID OF CONCORD TOWN
_Illustrated by Frank T. Merrill_
A LITTLE MAID OF BOSTON TOWN
_Illustrated by Frank T. Merrill_
THE FAMOUS PEPPER BOOKS
IN ORDER OF PUBLICATION
_Twelve Volumes_ _Illustrated_
FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS AND HOW THEY GREW
FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS MIDWAY
FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS GROWN UP
PHRONSIE PEPPER
THE STORIES POLLY PEPPER TOLD
THE ADVENTURES OF JOEL PEPPER
FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS ABROAD
FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS AT SCHOOL
FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS AND THEIR FRIENDS
BEN PEPPER
FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS IN THE LITTLE BROWN HOUSE
OUR DAVIE PEPPER
* * * * *
THE FAMOUS PEPPER BOOKS
Five Little Peppers and How they Grew.
This was an instantaneous success; it has become a genuine child
classic.
Five Little Peppers Midway.
"A perfect Cheeryble of a book."--_Boston Herald._
Five Little Peppers Grown Up.
This shows the Five Little Peppers as "grown up," with all the struggles
and successes of young manhood and womanhood.
Phronsie Pepper.
It is the story of Phronsie, the youngest and dearest of all the
Peppers.
The Stories Polly Pepper Told.
Wherever there exists a child or a "grown-up," there will be a welcome
for these charming and delightful "Stories Polly Pepper told."
The Adventures of Joel Pepper.
As bright and just as certain to be a child's favorite as the others in
the famous series. Harum-scarum "Joey" is lovable.
Five Little Peppers Abroad.
The "Peppers Abroad" adds another most delightful book to this famous
series.
Five Little Peppers at School.
Of all the fascinating adventures and experiences of the "Peppers," none
will surpass those contained in this volume.
Five Little Peppers and Their Friends.
The friends of the Peppers are legion and the number will be further
increased by this book.
Ben Pepper.
This story centres about Ben, "the quiet, steady-as-a-rock boy," while
the rest of the Peppers help to make it as bright and pleasing as its
predecessors.
Five Little Peppers in the Little Brown House.
Here they all are, Ben, Polly, Joel, Phronsie, and David, in the loved
"Little Brown House," with such happenings crowding one upon the other
as all children delightedly follow, and their elders find no less
interesting.
* * * * *
THE JUDGES' CAVE
_A Romance of the New Haven Colony in the Days of the Regicides_
There are few more fascinating phases of colonial history than that
which tells the wanderings and adventures of the two judges who, because
they sat in judgment over that royal criminal, Charles the First of
England, were hunted out of England into hiding in New England, and
there remained, a mystery and fugitives, in their celebrated cave in New
Haven Colony. Marcia, the heroine, is a strong and delightful character,
and the book easily takes high rank among the most effective and
absorbing stories based upon a dramatic phase of American history.
* * * * *
THE LITTLE MAID OF CONCORD TOWN
_A Romance of the American Revolution_
A delightful revolutionary romance of life, love, and adventure in old
Concord. The author knows the interesting town thoroughly.
Debby Parlin, the heroine, lived in a little house on the Lexington
Road, still standing, and was surrounded by all the stir and excitement
of the months of preparation and the days of action at the beginning of
our struggle for freedom.
* * * * *
SALLY, MRS. TUBBS
_An amusing and sympathetic study of a New England woman of humble
station, but noble character._
CHICAGO RECORD-HERALD says:
What can be said is, that those who have read "Mrs. Wiggs" will purchase
"Sally, Mrs. Tubbs." The author of this pleasant story, who is Margaret
Sidney of the "Pepper" books renown, has rightly dedicated this tale for
grown-ups to "all who love simplicity, truth, and cheerfulness." These
virtues characterize Sally Plunkett, whose soul-devouring ambition was
"to have 'Bijah Tubbs fer life."
As a chapter out of human life "Sally, Mrs. Tubbs" is, perhaps, as good
as "Mrs. Wiggs." Regarded artistically, it shows the workmanship of a
more practised hand; it has a plot, and this plot pleasantly
complicated, and thus differs from its next of kin. We judge that Sally
and her 'Bijah, who, though little, is "sizable" enough to meet her
wants, will make the acquaintance of those who like a book that is not
over-intellectualized nor yet lacking in soundness of heart and
penetrating vision into human nature. "Sally, Mrs. Tubbs" will furnish a
hearty laugh and a quickened sensibility.
BOSTON TRANSCRIPT says:
As a brief character-sketch, "Sally, Mrs. Tubbs" deserves no little
praise for its geniality and its humor.
BOSTON HERALD says:
This short story of 180 pages is captivating from start to finish, and
the masculine reader takes off his hat, and the feminine reader
courtesies, to this matron of the tubs, with her homely heroism and true
kindness of heart.
By EDITH DUNHAM
Fifty Flower Friends
_With Familiar Faces_
A FIELD BOOK FOR BOYS AND GIRLS
With twelve full-page colored plates, decorations and fifty text
illustrations from nature by W. I. BEECROFT.
Children cannot too soon begin to know the wild flowers, and here they
are told in a charming way where and when to look for each of fifty
widely distributed common flowering plants; also how they get their
names, and how to know them from the remarkably accurate drawings of Mr.
Beecroft, a skilled botanist and superior artist. Each of the fifty
flowers has a page of accurate botanical description in addition to its
story. Thus the book is suited for varying ages.
"The greatest praise can be bestowed upon and every mother and
father should have one and by it better educate their children
in nature, which will prove not only an enjoyable study, but an
instructive one."--_Providence News._
"Good brief descriptions, good clear pictures, portraits
almost, of each flower friend, a beautiful cover, convenient
arrangement, and fine large print, make a perfect book to own,
or to give to any one, especially a child."--_Universalist
Leader._
"If the children do not learn something new about flowers this
summer it may be because their unkind parents have not bought
them Miss Edith Dunham's 'Fifty Flower Friends.'"--_New York
Times._
"The boy or girl into whose hands this book is placed can
hardly fail to acquire a real and lasting interest in our
everyday wild flowers."--_The Dial._
"It has no rival in books of its kind, either in text or
illustration."--_Boston Budget._