Transcriber's note: Unusual and inconsistent spelling
is as printed.
THE LESLIE STORIES.
UP THE LADDER;
OR,
STRIVING AND THRIVING.
BY
MRS. MADELINE LESLIE.
AUTHOR OF "TWO HOMES," "ROBIN'S NEST STORIES,"
"TIM THE SCISSORS GRINDER," ETC. ETC.
"The hand of the diligent maketh rich."
"The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse
to labor."
BOSTON:
YOUNG & BARTLETT.
26 SCHOOL STREET.
Entered, according to Act of Congress, In the year 1863,
By A. R. BAKER,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of
Massachusetts.
ELECTROTYPED BY
W. F. DRAPER, ANDOVER, MASS.
To
MY SON WILLIAM,
WHO IS JUST ENTERING ON THE DUTIES OF ACTIVE LIFE,
THIS LITTLE VOLUME
IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED BY HIS
Loving Mother,
IN THE HOPE THAT THE EXAMPLE OF ITS HERO MAY INSPIRE IN HIM
THE VIRTUES WHICH WILL ENSURE SUCCESS.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
HARRISON AND ELLA
"Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work."
CHAPTER II.
OYSTER-SALOON
"If any will not work, neither shall he eat."
CHAPTER III.
THE NEW BONNET
"He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man."
CHAPTER IV.
HARRISON IN TROUBLE
"The drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty."
CHAPTER V.
HARRISON IN AFFLICTION
"Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep."
CHAPTER VI.
HARRISON'S NEW HOME
"But if any provide not for his own, especially for those of his
own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel."
CHAPTER VII.
HONEST COWLES
"Work with your hands, that ye may walk honestly toward them that
are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing."
CHAPTER VIII.
HARRISON LEAVING SCHOOL
"The Lord blesseth the habitation of the just."
CHAPTER IX.
HARRISON BECOMING A MERCHANT
"In all thy ways acknowledge him; and he will direct thy paths."
CHAPTER X.
THE SECRET PARTNER
"It is joy to the just to do judgment; but destruction shall be
to the workers of iniquity."
CHAPTER XI.
HARRISON'S STORY
"Be sure your sin will find you out."
CHAPTER XII.
HARRISON'S REWARD
"The hand of the diligent maketh rich."
CHAPTER XIII.
ALFRED A SAILOR
"The expectation of the wicked shall perish."
CHAPTER XIV.
THE PARTED SHIP
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
CHAPTER XV.
FRANK'S RETURN HOME
"For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost and
is found."
CHAPTER XVI.
CONCLUSION
"Seest thou a man diligent in business; he shall stand before kings;
he shall not stand before mean men."
UP THE LADDER;
OR,
STRIVING AND THRIVING.
CHAPTER I.
HARRISON AND ELLA.
"Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work."
ON the steps leading into the back court of one of the largest hotels
in the city of — might be seen, early on a June morning, a lad
apparently about ten years of age. He was a rosy, good-humored boy,
and was at this moment whistling a lively tune in a subdued tone,
while his hands were busily employed in shelling peas.
Before him, on the stone pavement, stood a bushel-basket of peas
in the pod. From this basket he transferred them to a pan in his lap,
and from thence, when shelled, to a larger one which stood within
the door. He had just commenced his task, but seemed not at all
discouraged by it. He went on merrily, whistling "Dan Tucker,"
occasionally glancing up toward a platform which was used for drying
clothes. This had a light railing around it; and presently he was
rewarded by the glimpse of a bright face, surrounded with golden
curls, peeping shyly at him. His smile was followed by a silvery
laugh from behind the railing; and soon the little face beamed on him
again.
"Good morning, little boy!"
He smiled and nodded. The whistling had ceased. He thought her voice,
sweeter than music. His eyes feasted upon her happy countenance;
but his hands plied faithfully their task.
"Ar'n't you sorry you has got so many peas to shell?"
"No, I'm glad," was the low response.
"Don't you like to have me talk to you?"
"Oh yes!"
There was a heartiness in the tone which gave great emphasis to the
words. The child, after shaking her curls and laughing gaily, asked,
"Why don't you talk to me, then?"
Harrison, for that was the boy's name, paused. He did not know
exactly how to put his thoughts into words; but presently he said,
"I am a poor boy, and perhaps your mother wouldn't like it."
"I'll ask her, then;" and away tripped the miss, through the
long hall, up stairs to her mother's room. "O mamma! there's a boy
down stairs; I know him very well, because I've seen him every day.
He always looks so pleasant, and whistles such pretty tunes, and I
want to talk to him; but he is afraid you wouldn't like it."
"Did he say so?" inquired the lady, laughing at the idea.
"Yes, mamma."
"What is he doing?"
"Shelling peas. His face is very clean, mamma; and I do want to talk
to him so much," urged the pleading voice.
"That is really a great recommendation; and as he is so modest,
I don't think there can be any harm in your talking with him."
"Mamma is willing!" exclaimed the child, returning to the railing.
"So now will you please tell me why you like to shell so many peas?"
"Because I can earn money by doing it. I like to do any kind
of work."
A thoughtful expression passed over her bright face; she seemed
disappointed at the answers. At length she asked, "What makes you
like money so well? I don't."
"I don't like money," replied the boy; "but if I did not earn any
I should not have bread for my breakfast and supper. I am poor,
you know; but mother says I am a great deal happier for working.
The Bible says, 'He that will not work, neither shall he eat.'"
"I never work," answered the child, in a sad tone.
"Oh! it don't mean such little girls as you! But I dare say you
do work some. Don't you help your mother make the beds and dust the
chairs? I had a little sister once, and she could do that."
"No," said Ella, shaking her head in a sorrowful manner. "Bridget is
the chamber-girl. I wish I could work; but I only play with my dolls
all day, except when I go to ride with mamma."
The boy looked somewhat surprised at this entire exemption from care;
but he said, soothingly, "I dare say you will work when you are
older. Mother says the command in the Bible is for all: 'Six days
shalt thou labor and do all thy work.'"
Ella stood looking gravely upon the lad as he sat steadily at his
employment, and then said, "Will you please tell me about your
sister? What was her name?"
"Isabella. Oh, she was a dear little girl! She had eyes just like the
blue sky, and such a pretty mouth, always full of, smiles. Now she's
gone home to God."
"Oh dear!" exclaimed Ella, "that's too bad. How could you let her
go away?"
For a moment the boy ceased his employment, raised his tear-dimmed
eyes to the clear sky, then brushed away the glistening drops, and
resumed his work. Presently, in a subdued voice, he replied,
"God gave her to us, and he had a right to take her again, you know.
Mother cried dreadfully; but she said, 'God knows what is best.'
I miss her every night," said the boy, choking back his tears,
"I loved her so dearly."
"Shall you go away when you've finished the peas?" asked Ella,
anxious to turn from so painful a subject.
"Oh no! I shall do the beans next. See, I'm almost done."
"Why! won't you be tired?"
"No indeed. I have a great mind to tell you my secret."
The child filled the air with her musical laugh. "I do like to hear
secrets," she said.
"Well, I'm trying to work real hard, because I want to buy mother
a straw bonnet, and some pretty ribbon to put on it. It will be
so nice to wear to church, you know." At this moment a voice in the
hall called, "Ella! Ella!" and the child tripped away.
It seemed to Harrison as if the sun had gone behind a cloud when her
laughing face disappeared from the railing; but he entered with
renewed zeal into his work, saying to himself, "I wish mother could
see her; she's a dear little thing!"