IN WHICH HARRY GOES INTO THE DRYGOODS BUSINESS
Mr. Edward Flint's reputation as a gentleman of honor and a man of his
word suffered somewhat in Harry's estimation; for he waited all day,
and all evening, without hearing a word from the firm of Wake & Wade.
He had actually begun to doubt whether the accomplished young man had
as much influence with the firm as he had led him to suppose. But his
ambition would not permit him longer to be satisfied with the humble
sphere of a stable boy; and he determined, if he did not hear from
Edward, to apply for the situation himself.
The next day, having procured two hours' leave of absence from the
stable, he called at the home of Joe Flint to obtain further
particulars concerning Edward and his situation. He found the family
in much better circumstances than at his previous visit. Mrs. Flint
was sitting up, and was rapidly convalescing; Katy was busy and
cheerful; and it seemed a different place from that to which he had
been the messenger of hope and comfort two nights before.
They were very glad to see him, and poured forth their gratitude to
him so eloquently that he was obliged to change the topic. Mrs. Flint
was sure that her husband was an altered man. She had never before
known him to be so earnest and solemn in his resolutions to amend and
lead a new life.
But when Harry alluded to Edward, both Katy and her mother suddenly
grew red. They acknowledged that they had sent for him in their
extremity, but that he did not come till the next morning, when the
bounty of the stable boy had relieved them from the bitterness of
want. The mother dropped a tear as she spoke of the wayward son; and
Harry had not the heart to press the inquiries he had come to make.
After speaking as well as he dared to speak of Edward, he took his
leave, and hastened to the establishment of Wake & Wade, to apply for
the vacant place. He had put on his best clothes, and his appearance
this time was very creditable.
Entering the store, he inquired for Edward Flint; and that gentleman
was summoned to receive him.
"Hallo, Harry West!" said Edward, when he recognized his visitor. "I
declare I forgot all about you."
"I thought likely," replied Harry, willing to be very charitable to
the delinquent.
"The fact is, we have been so busy in the store I haven't had time to
call on you, as I promised."
"Never mind, now. Is the place filled?"
"No."
"I am glad to hear that. Do you think there is any chance for me?"
"Well, I don't know. I will do what I can for you."
"Thank you, Edward."
"Wait here a moment till I speak with one of the partners."
The clerk left him, and was absent but a moment, when Harry was
summoned to the private room of Mr. Wake. The gentleman questioned him
for a few moments, and seemed to be pleased with his address and his
frankness. The result of the interview was that our hero was engaged
at a salary of three dollars a week, though it was objected to him
that he had no parents residing in the city.
"I thought I could fix it," said Edward, complacently, as they left
the counting room.
"I am much obliged to you, Edward," replied Harry, willing to humor
his new friend. "Now I want to get a place to board."
"That is easy enough."
"Where do you board?"
"In Green Street."
"How much do you pay a week?"
"Two dollars and a half."
"I can't pay that."
"Well, I suppose you can't."
"I was thinking of something just now. Suppose we should both board
with your mother."
"Me?"
"Yes."
"What, in a ten-footer!" exclaimed Edward, starting back with
astonishment and indignation at the proposal.
"Why not? If it is good enough for your mother, isn't it good enough
for you?"
"Humph! I'll bet it won't suit me."
"We can fix up a room to suit ourselves, you know. And it will be much
cheaper for both of us."
"That, indeed; but the idea of boarding with the old man is not to be
thought of."
"I should think you would like to be with your mother and your
brothers and sisters."
"Not particular about it."
"Better think of it, Edward."
The clerk promised to think about it, but did not consider it very
probable that he should agree to the proposition.
Harry returned to the stable, and immediately notified Major Phillips
of his intention to leave his service. As may be supposed, the stable
keeper was sorry to lose him; but he did not wish to stand in the way
of his advancement. He paid him his wages, adding a gift of five
dollars, and kindly permitted him to leave at once, as he desired to
procure a place to board, and to acquaint himself with the localities
of the city, so that he could discharge his duty the more acceptably
to his new employers.
The ostlers, too, were sorry to part with him--particularly Joe Flint,
whose admiration of our hero was unbounded. In their rough and honest
hearts they wished him well. They had often made fun of his good
principles; often laughed at him for refusing to pitch cents in the
back yard on Sunday, and for going to church instead; often ridiculed
him under the name of "Little Pious"; still they had a great respect
for him. They who are "persecuted for righteousness' sake"--who are
made fun of because they strive to do right--are always sure of
victory in the end. They may be often tried, but sooner or later they
shall triumph.
After dinner, he paid another visit to Mrs. Flint, in Avery Street. He
opened his proposition to board in her family, to which she raised
several objections, chief of which was that she had no room. The plan
was more favorably received by Katy; and she suggested that they could
hire the little apartment upstairs, which was used as a kind of lumber
room by the family in the other part of the house.
Her mother finally consented to the arrangement, and it became
necessary to decide upon the terms, for Harry was a prudent manager,
and left nothing to be settled afterwards. He then introduced the
project he had mentioned to Edward; and Mrs. Flint thought she could
board them both for three dollars a week, if they could put up with
humble fare. Harry declared that he was not "difficult," though he
could not speak for Edward.
Our hero was delighted with the success of his scheme, and only wished
that Edward had consented to the arrangement; but the next time he saw
him, somewhat to his surprise, the clerk withdrew his objections, and
entered heartily into the scheme.
"You see, Harry, I shall make a dollar a week--fifty-two dollars a
year--by the arrangement," said Edward, after he had consented.
He evidently considered that some apology was due from him for
condescending from the social dignity of his position in the Green
Street boarding house to the humble place beneath his mother's roof.
"Certainly you will; and that is a great deal of money," replied
Harry.
"It will pay my theatre tickets, and for a ride once a month besides."
"For what?" asked Harry, astonished at his companion's theory of
economy.
Edward repeated his statement.
"Why don't you save your money?"
"Save it? What is the use of that? I mean to have a good time while I
can."
"You never will be a rich man."
"I'll bet I will."
"You could give your mother and Katy a great many nice things with
that money."
"Humph! The old man must take care of them. It is all I can do to take
care of myself."
"If I had a mother, and brothers and sisters, I should be glad to
spend all I got in making them happy," sighed Harry.
On the following Monday morning, Harry went to his new place. He was
in a strange position. All was untried and unfamiliar. Even the
language of the clerks and salesmen was strange to him; and he was
painfully conscious of the deficiencies of his education and of his
knowledge of business. He was prompt, active and zealous; yet his
awkwardness could not be concealed. The transition from the stable to
the store was as great as from a hovel to a palace. He made a great
many blunders. Mr. Wake laughed at him; Mr. Wade swore at him; and all
the clerks made him the butt of their mirth or their ill nature, just
as they happened to feel.
What seemed to him worse than all, Edward Flint joined the popular
side, and laughed and swore with the rest. Poor Harry was almost
discouraged before dinner time, and began very seriously to consider
whether he had not entirely mistaken his calling. Dinner, however,
seemed to inspire him with new courage and new energy; and he hastened
back to the store, resolved to try again.
The shop was crowded with customers; and partners and clerks hallooed
"Harry" till he was so confused that he hardly knew whether he stood
on his head or his heels. It was, Come here, Go there, Bring this,
Bring that; but in spite of laugh and curse, of push and kick, he
persevered, suiting nobody, least of all himself.
It was a long day, a very long day; but it came to an end at last. Our
hero had hardly strength enough left to put up the shutters. His legs
ached, his head ached, and, worst of all, his heart ached at the
manifest failure of his best intentions. He thought of going to the
partners, and asking them whether they thought he was fit for the
place; but he finally decided to try again for another day, and
dragged himself home to rest his weary limbs.
He and Edward had taken possession of their room at Joe Flint's house
that morning; and on their arrival they found that Katy had put
everything in excellent order for their reception. Harry was too much
fatigued and disheartened to have a very lively appreciation of the
comforts of his new home; but Edward, notwithstanding the descent he
had made, was in high spirits. He even declared that the room they
were to occupy was better than his late apartments in Green Street.
"Do you think I shall get along with my work, Edward?" asked Harry,
gloomily, after they had gone to bed.
"Why not?"
"Everybody in the store has kicked and cuffed me, swore at and abused
me, till I feel like a jelly."
"Oh, never mind that; they always do so with a green one. They served
me just so when I first went into business."
"Did they?"
"Fact. One must live and learn."
"It seemed to me just as though I never could suit them."
"Pooh! Don't be blue about it."
"I can't help it, I know I did not suit them."
"Yes, you did."
"What made them laugh at me and swear at me, then?"
"That is the fashion; you must talk right up to them. If they swear at
you, swear at them back again--that is, the clerks and salesmen. If
they give you any 'lip,' let 'em have as good as they send."
"I don't want to do that."
"Must do it, Harry. 'Live and learn' is my motto. When you go among
the Romans, do as the Romans do."
Harry did not like this advice; for he who, among the Romans, would do
as the Romans do, among hogs would do as the hogs do.
"If I only suit them, I don't care."
"You do; I heard Wake tell Wade that you were a first-rate boy."
"Did you?" And Harry's heart swelled with joy to think that, in spite
of his trials, he had actually triumphed in the midst of them.
So he dropped the subject, with the resolution to redouble his
exertions to please his employers the next day, and turned his
thoughts to Julia Bryant, to wonder if she were still living, or had
become an angel indeed.