MR. SYLVESTER'S BIRTHDAY.
The next day Rupert received a letter at the Somerset Hotel. It was
signed by Frank Sylvester, and ran thus:
"DEAR RUPERT: To-morrow is my birthday. Come and spend the evening
with me. I will wait dinner till you come.
"Your Friend,
"FRANK SYLVESTER."
Rupert decided at once to accept the invitation. He had learned to like
Sylvester, as indeed he had reason to do.
He was in doubt as to whether there would be much company, but he was
not provided with a nice suit, so that he need not be ashamed of his
appearance. Arrived at his friend's residence, he found to his surprise
that there was but one other guest besides himself, a Mr. Maxwell, a
stout, pleasant-looking man of forty-five.
"Rupert," said Sylvester, "this is my cousin, John Maxwell. He is not
an idler like myself, but is a partner in a large dry-goods house down
on Grand Street. John, this is a special friend of mine. When we first
met he was able to do me a service which I shall long remember. I am
rather young to adopt him, having only reached the age of twenty-five."
"Quarter of a century," laughed Maxwell.
"That sounds older, to be sure. At any rate I look upon him as a younger
brother, and so have invited him here to my birthday dinner, as a
relative."
"You don't seem to have many relatives, Mr. Sylvester," said Rupert. "I
thought there might be quite a party."
"Most of my relatives live in the West. However, I am satisfied to have
you here and my Cousin John."
"If you are Frank's brother, I suppose I am your cousin also, Rupert,"
said Mr. Maxwell.
"I shall feel proud to have you regard me so, Mr. Maxwell."
"May I ask if you are in the same business as Frank?"
"Doing nothing at all," laughed Sylvester.
"I am a bell-boy at the Somerset Hotel," answered Rupert.
He watched Maxwell to see if the revelation of his position would affect
that gentleman's opinion of him.
"I hope you are well paid."
"Yes; I receive five dollars a week and my board."
"That is better than you would do with us."
"Mr. Maxwell," said Rupert, with a sudden thought, "I wish I knew you
better."
"Why?"
"Because then I might ask you a favor."
"To enter our employment? I will take you if you wish, but I advise you
to stay where you are."
"It is not for myself that I ask, but for an experienced salesman who is
in very hard luck. He is working for Stephen Lorimer, of Third Avenue,
at five dollars a week."
"Five dollars!" exclaimed Maxwell, in surprise. "And you say he is an
experienced salesman?"
"Yes, sir."
"But why should he work for such low wages then?"
"Mr. Lorimer knew that he was poor, had a family, and was therefore in
his power. He told him to choose between five dollars a week and
dismissal."
"That is like Lorimer. He has the reputation of being the meanest man in
the business. How did you become acquainted with the man you recommend?"
Rupert told the story, and both Sylvester and Maxwell were interested.
"I suppose you don't know Mr. Lorimer?" said Maxwell.
"I know him only too well," answered Rupert. "He was my father's partner
in Buffalo, and was the cause of his ruin and death."
"Was the firm name 'Rollins & Lorimer?'" asked Maxwell.
"Yes, sir."
"Then I have met your father. I was for several years a traveling
salesman, and sold goods to the firm in Buffalo. I always preferred
dealing with your father. I didn't like Lorimer."
"I am very glad to meet any one who knew my father," said Rupert,
brightening up.
"I can hardly refuse your request now, Rupert. Tell your friend--what's
his name?"
"Henry Benton."
"Tell Mr. Benton to call at our store early next Monday morning and
inquire for me. Give him a letter, so that I may know he is the right
party. We are not taking on any salesmen, but one in the dress
department is about to leave us and enter the employment of a firm in
Chicago. I will put your friend in his place at a salary of twelve
dollars a week."
"I can't tell you how much I thank you," said Rupert, gratefully. "You
will bring happiness to a deserving family, and I don't think you will
have occasion to regret it."
The dinner was an excellent one, and was enjoyed by the small company
who partook of it.
"I must tell you, Rupert," said Sylvester, "that I have peculiar reasons
for enjoying my twenty-fifth birthday, even if I have, as Cousin John
expresses it, lived a quarter of a century. An old uncle left me fifty
thousand dollars some years ago, directing that it should pass into my
possession at the age of twenty-five."
"I congratulate you, Mr. Sylvester. I am sure you will make good use of
it."
"I am not so sure of that, but I hope so. I have begun to make use of it
already. You shake your head, Cousin John, but I don't think you will
disapprove my expenditure. I have invested seventy-five dollars in a
gold watch for Rupert, and thirty-five more in a gold chain."
He drew from his pocket a watch and chain which he handed to the
astonished bell-boy.
"I don't know what to say, Mr. Sylvester," said Rupert, gratefully.
"Your face speaks for you. I want no other thanks."
"I don't know what they will say at the hotel. They will think I am
putting on style for a bell-boy."
"I want some one to share my good fortune. I believe it is the best way
to show my gratitude to Providence. As Cousin John has done something
for your new friend, Mr. Benton, I will follow his example. Here are
twenty-five dollars, which you may give him with my best wishes."
"This gives me even more pleasure than the watch," said Rupert, with
radiant face. "I wish you could see how much happiness your gift will
carry to a worthy family."
"I will call with you and make their acquaintance some day."
The evening passed pleasantly, and it was with a happy heart that Rupert
returned to his humble home. That is, it seemed humble compared with the
fine house in which he had spent the evening.
It was not until the next night that he was able to call on his friends
in Bleecker Street.
He toiled up to the fifth floor, and knocked at the door.
There was a low "Come in," and he lifted the latch and entered.
He was startled to see that Mrs. Benton had been shedding tears, and her
husband was leaning back in his chair, with a look of sadness and
despondency.
"What is the matter?" he asked quickly.
"I thought we could not be any worse off," said Mrs. Benton, tearfully,
"but I was mistaken. To-day Mr. Lorimer discharged my husband."
"What! in the middle of the week?"
"No; he is to leave on Saturday."
"But why is this?"
"I will tell you," said Mr. Benton. "Do you know Mr. Benton's son,
Julian?"
"Yes; he is a very disagreeable boy."
"I got into trouble with him to-day. He interfered with me in my work,
and I reproved him. The consequence is that he spoke to his father
against me, and got me discharged."
"You can imagine what this means to us," said Mrs. Benton. "It was hard
enough to live on five dollars a week, even with the help of the few
pennies that Harry brings in, but now we must live on nothing. I don't
know what will become of us."
"But Mr. Benton may secure another position."
"There is very little chance of it. No one is taking on new salesmen."
"Nevertheless Mr. Benton can go to work next Monday in a store on Grand
Street at a salary more than double what he is now getting."
"Surely you are not in earnest?"
"Quite so. I will give him a letter to Gilbert & Maxwell, and he will be
set to work at once."
"But this seems incredible."
"I will explain it to you."
"You are our good angel," said Mrs. Benton, when Rupert had concluded
his account. "You come to us in our sorrow with the best news we have
had for many a day."
"Now, Mr. Benton, I have a proposal to make. I want you to hire a nice
flat in a better neighborhood and take me as a lodger. I am willing to
pay you eight dollars a month. For twenty I think you can hire a
desirable tenement, which will only leave you twelve dollars to pay."
"We shall be very much pleased to do so. If only we had a little ready
money----"
"I came near forgetting something important. I am the bearer of a gift
to you from a good friend of mine, Mr. Sylvester, of Harlem. Yesterday
was his birthday. He has given me a gold watch and chain, and to you he
sends twenty-five dollars."
Mrs. Benton's joy can be imagined.
"You have indeed proved a friend," she said.
"It is a satisfaction to me to feel that the malice of Julian Lorimer
will be disappointed. If I see him to-morrow I shall not hesitate to
give him a piece of my mind."