JOSHUA'S DISAPPOINTMENT.
In due time, to Joshua's great delight, the lottery ticket reached him.
It was several days in coming, and he had almost given it up, but the
sight of it raised his spirits to the highest pitch. It seemed to him
the first step to a fortune. He began at once to indulge in dazzling
visions of what he would do when the prize came to hand; how the "old
man" would be astonished and treat him with increased respect; how he
would go to the city and have a good time seeing the lions, and from
henceforth throw off the galling yoke of dependence which his father's
parsimony had made it so hard to bear.
Whenever he was by himself, he used to pull out the ticket and gaze at
it with the greatest satisfaction, as the key that was to unlock the
portals of Fortune, Independence, and Happiness.
He had been afraid that his appropriation of five dollars would be
detected, and every time his father entered the house he looked into his
face with some apprehension; but days rolled by, and nothing was heard.
He congratulated himself that he had been able to sell the shawl for
precisely the sum he needed, otherwise the money might have been missed
that very night. As it was, neither the shawl nor the bill had been
missed.
About this time he received a letter from Sam Crawford, describing the
gayeties of the city. It closed thus:--
"By the way, Josh, when are you coming up to the city, to take a look at
the lions? It's a shame that a young man of your age should be cooped up
in an insignificant little village like Stapleton. I wouldn't exchange
the knowledge of the world I have obtained here for five hundred
dollars! What a green rustic I was when I first came here! But it didn't
take me long to find the way round, and now I know the ropes as well as
the next man. I generally play billiards in the evening, and, if I do
say it myself, I am rather hard to beat. When you come up, I'll give you
a few lessons. I can't help pitying you for leading such a slow,
humdrum life in the country. I should be moped to death if I were in
your place. Can't you induce the old man to fork over the stamps, and
come up here, if only for a week?"
This letter had the effect of making Joshua very much disgusted with
Stapleton. Brilliant visions of city life and city enjoyments flitted
before his eyes, and he felt that nothing was needed to make a man of
him except the knowledge of life which a city residence would be sure to
give.
"It's all true what Sam says," he soliloquized. "A man can't learn
anything of life here. No wonder he looks upon me as a green rustic. How
can I be anything else in this miserable little village? But as for the
old man's paying my expenses on a visit, he's too mean for that. But
then there is the lottery ticket. Just as soon as I get hold of my
prize, I'll go on my own hook."
I append a passage from Joshua's reply to Sam's letter:--
"There isn't any chance of the old man's forking over stamps enough
to pay for my visit to New York. He's too thundering mean for
that. All he cares for is to make money. _But I'm coming, for all
that._ I've bought a lottery ticket, as you advised, and just as
soon as I get hold of the prize, I shall come and make you a visit.
I should like very much to learn billiards. I wish there was a
billiard table in Stapleton, though it wouldn't do me much good if
there were, the old man keeps me so close. I shall be glad when I
am twenty-one. I don't see why he can't let me have a few thousand
dollars then, and set me up in business in the city. Perhaps we
could go in together as partners. However, there is no use in
talking about him, for he won't do it. _But I may get hold of the
money some other way._ Would five thousand dollars be enough to set
a fellow up in business in New York?
"You will hear from me again soon. I hope I shall be able to write
you that I am coming to see you.
"Your friend,
"JOSHUA DRUMMOND."
It will be seen that Joshua was willing to go into business for himself,
though he did not care to take a situation. He had the idea, which I
think is entertained by a large number of boys and young men, that an
employer has nothing to do but to sit at his desk, count over his money,
and order his clerks around. For such an employment as this Joshua felt
that he was well adapted, and would very much have enjoyed the sense of
importance it would give him. But Joshua made a great mistake. Many
employers look back upon the years which they passed as clerks as years
of comparative leisure and ease, certainly of freedom from anxiety. They
find that they have a heavy price to pay for the privilege of being
their own masters, and the masters of others. But Joshua was thoroughly
lazy, and it was this feeling that dictated the wish which he expressed
in his letter to Sam Crawford.
The days passed very slowly, it must be acknowledged. Joshua was in a
restless and excited state. Though he expected to draw a prize, he knew
that there was a remote chance of failing to draw anything, and he
wanted the matter decided.
But at length the long-expected letter arrived. Joshua did not like to
open it in the post-office, lest it should attract the attention of the
postmaster. He therefore withdrew to a place where he was not likely to
be disturbed, and with trembling fingers opened the letter.
Something dropped out.
"I wonder if it is a check?" thought Joshua, stooping over and picking
it up.
But no, it was an announcement of the drawing.
Joshua's numbers,--for each lottery ticket contains three numbers,--were
9, 15, 50. But of the thirteen lucky numbers drawn out of sixty-five,
neither of them was one.
Slowly it dawned upon Joshua that he had drawn nothing, that his five
dollars had been absolutely thrown away. But there was a letter. Perhaps
this would explain it.
Joshua read as follows:--
"DEAR SIR:--We regret to say that we are unable to send you a prize
this time. We hope, however, you will not be discouraged. Some of
our patrons who have been most fortunate have commenced by being
unlucky. Indeed, singularly enough, this is a general rule. Let us
cite an instance. Mr. B----, of your State, bought his first ticket
of us last spring. It turned out a blank. We wrote him not to be
discouraged, but we did not hear from him for some weeks. Finally
he sent us a remittance for a ticket, adding that he sent it with a
very faint hope of success. He was convinced that he was born to
ill-luck. But what was the result? In less than a fortnight we had
the pleasure and gratification of sending him five thousand
dollars, minus our usual commission. Suppose he had been
discouraged by a first failure, you can see how much he would have
lost.
"Hoping to hear from you again, and to send you in return better
news, we subscribe ourselves,
"Very respectfully,
"GRABB & CO."
The effect of Joshua's ill success was to make him very despondent.
"It's all very well to say 'Try again,'" he said to himself, "but where
can I get the money? That five dollars is thrown away, and I've got
nothing to show for it."
He thought of all he had intended to do, and now his castles had
crumbled, and all in consequence of this letter. He had been so sanguine
of success. Now he must write to Sam that his visit to New York was
indefinitely postponed, that is, unless he could induce his father to
provide him with money enough to go. The prospect was not very
encouraging, but he felt desperate, and he determined to make the
attempt.
Accordingly, just after supper, he detained his father, just as he was
returning to the store, and said:--
"Father, I wish you'd let me go to New York on a visit."
"What for?" asked Mr. Drummond, elevating his brows.
"Because I'm eighteen years old, and I've never been there yet."
"Then, if you've gone eighteen years without seeing the city, I think
you can go a while longer," said his father, under the impression that
he had made a witty remark. But Joshua did not appreciate the humor of
it.
"I've lived in Stapleton ever since I was born," grumbled Joshua, "and
have got tired of it. I want to see something of life."
"Do you? Well, I'm sure I've no objection."
"May I go then?"
"Yes."
"When?" asked Joshua, joyfully.
"To-morrow, if you like; but of course you will pay your own expenses."
"How can I?" exclaimed Joshua, in angry disappointment. "I have no
money."
"Then you can save up your allowance till you have enough."
"Save up on twenty-five cents a week! I couldn't go till I was an old
man!"
"I know of no other way," said Mr. Drummond, with provoking
indifference, "unless you earn the money in some way."
"You treat me like a little boy!" said Joshua, angrily.
"You are better off than I am. I have to work for all I get. You get
your board, clothes, and pocket-money for nothing."
"Other boys go to New York when they are much younger."
"I have told you you can go when you like, but you mustn't expect me to
supply the money."
Mr. Drummond put on his hat and crossed the street to the store, leaving
Joshua in a very unfilial frame of mind.