Sam Praises Ben
The same mail that carried the bookkeeper's letter to Mrs. Bradford
also carried a letter from Ben to Sam Archer. It ran thus:
"Sam Archer: You might be in better business than telling lies about
me to my aunt. If you think I look dissipated your eyes deceive you,
and I advise you to wear glasses the next time you come to Boston.
If you choose to come to the store, it is none of my business; but
you need not take the trouble in order to see me.
I quite understand your anxiety to get me back into the mill. There
was a time when I should have been glad of a place there; but now
I have a place that suits me better, and don't care to change.
"Benjamin Bradford"
When Sam received this letter, he looked and felt provoked.
Somehow or other Ben was always getting the better of him. He
wanted to injure him, but there seemed no way. Suddenly it
occurred to Sam that he might prejudice Jones & Porter against
our hero.
He sat down at once and wrote them an anonymous letter, of which
this is a copy:
"Messrs. Jones & Porter: I hear that you have taken into your
employment a boy named Benjamin Bradford from this town. You
probably are not aware that he has a very bad reputation here. He
was employed in the mill for a time, but was discharged because he
was idle and lazy. He keeps bad company, and none of the
respectable boys here cared to associate with him. I don't like to see
an honorable firm imposed upon, and that is why I warn you of the
character of your new clerk, though I have no personal interest in the
matter.
"A Friend"
The next day Ben was summoned to the countingroom.
"Ben," said Mr. Porter, "have you any enemy in Milltown?"
"Yes, sir."
"We have just received a letter warning us against you, as unworthy
of our confidence."
Mr. Porter smiled, or Ben might have felt uncomfortable.
"May I see the letter?" he asked.
The letter was placed in his hands.
"It is Sam Archer's handwriting," he said, looking up. "I hope, sir,
you won't let it prejudice you against me."
"I would not allow myself to be influenced by an anonymous letter.
It is a stab in the dark."
"I want to show you how inconsistent Sam is," said Ben. "He was
here a few days ago, and urged me to give up my place here, and
take one in the mill."
"That is rather strange, if he is your enemy."
"No, sir; he don't like it because I have a good place here. If I
should go into the mill I should probably be discharged in a week
or two, and cast adrift."
"Are any boys as malicious as that?"
"Not many, sir, I hope; but Sam is an exception."
"I sympathize with you in your persecution, Ben; but I can assure
you that no anonymous letters will change my opinion of you. If
this enemy sends another letter, I shall feel tempted to increase
your wages."
"Then I hope he'll write again," said Ben, laughing.
"If we continue satisfied with you, we shall probably advance you on
the first of January."
"Thank you, sir," said Ben warmly. "May I answer this letter, sir?"
"You may say that we have shown it to you, and that we despise such
malicious attempts to injure."
The next day Sam received a letter from Ben, which concluded:
"If you write another similar letter to my employers, you will be
doing me quite a service. It will probably cause them to raise my
salary. As I owe my place to you, you now have it in your
power to increase the obligation. How bad you must feel, Sam,
at your inability to do me harm! I can't say I exactly sympathize
with you, but I certainly pity you for harboring such malice in your
heart. I don't know how to express my gratitude for all of your
kindness. If ever you want a situation in Boston let me know.
There is a peanut woman on the Common who wants a smart,
active salesman.
"Ben Bradford"
Sam was stung by the cool indifference and contempt which
appeared in this letter. Ben did not take the trouble to be angry.
He evidently despised his enmity, and defied him. Sam felt that
he hated Ben worse.
"What's that letter you are scowling over, Sam?" asked James
Watson.
"It's a letter from a miserable puppy," hissed Sam.
"Is it? Do you correspond with miserable puppies?"
"I can't help their writing to me. If you want to know who it is, it's
your friend, Ben Bradford."
"How long have you corresponded?" asked James.
"I wouldn't lower myself by writing to him," said Sam wrathfully.
"I'll show you what I think of his letter."
As he spoke, he tore the letter to pieces.
"You're a strange boy, Sam," said James.
"Why am I?"
"Haven't you been working hard to get Ben back to Milltown?"
"I wish he'd come back."
"And yet you can't bear the sight of him."
"I hate him worse than any fellow I know."
"Come, now, Sam, just listen to a little advice. If you had always
treated Ben right you would like him as well as I do. Why should
you cherish malice against him? He has good qualities, and so
have you, if you'd only give 'em a chance to show themselves."
"That's all gammon," said Sam impatiently.
"What, about your having good qualities?"
"About my ever liking Ben Bradford. Before I'd make a friend of
him, I would go without friends."
"You may think differently some time."
On the first of January Ben wrote to his aunt:
"My Dear Aunt: Congratulate me on my good luck. Mr. Porter, this
morning, called me into the countingroom, and informed me that
henceforth my wages would be eight dollars a week--two dollars
more that I have been receiving. I owe this partly to my good luck.
I am a favorite of the bookkeeper, who is Mr. Porter's nephew;
otherwise, if I had been advanced at all, it would have been only one
dollar a week. Don't you think it would have been rather foolish if I
had come back and gone into the mill, as you wished me to?"
"After all, I think Ben did right to stay," said Aunt Jane, when she
read the letter.
"I wish he'd come home," said Tony. "Then he could play with me."