TOM STARTS ON HIS JOURNEY.
Tom called at the office of Samuel Perkins, in Pearl Street, as
requested by that gentleman.
“Well, my young friend, are you ready to go to California?” asked the
merchant.
“Yes, sir.”
“You would rather go than enter my employment?”
“Just at present, sir, I have a particular reason for wishing to go to
California. Whenever I return I will call on you, and if you should
then have a vacancy I should like to fill it.”
“Good! Have you a watch?”
“No, sir.”
“I thought not.”
Mr. Perkins opened the drawer of his desk, and took out a neat gold
watch, of Waltham manufacture, and handed it to Tom.
“You will find that useful, I fancy,” he said.
“Is this for me?” asked Tom, amazed.
“It was purchased expressly for you,” said the merchant.
Now there was no possession that Tom so much coveted as that of a
watch, and he thanked Mr. Perkins heartily.
“No thanks are required, my young friend,” said the merchant. “I am
still much in your debt for the return of my papers.”
“If I hadn’t returned them after you had given me the overcoat I should
have been a rascal,” said Tom, warmly.
“Still it was a temptation. At any rate, you are heartily welcome to
the watch. I have prepared a letter to a friend of mine--a business
man--in San Francisco, which I will get you to deliver whenever you
reach there.”
“Is it important?” asked Tom. “It may be months before I get there.”
“It can wait till you reach the city. And now, my young friend, as I
am writing letters to go to Europe by to-morrow’s steamer, I must ask
you to excuse me. Give me your hand. I wish you all sorts of good luck.
Good-by! Don’t forget to report to me whenever you come back to New
York.”
The very first thing Tom did when he reached the street was to look
at his new watch. He regarded it with pride and satisfaction, and I
will not venture to say how many times he took it out during the first
twenty-four hours. Attached to it was a plain gold chain. Opening it
Tom saw that his name was engraved inside. This made it all the more
desirable.
“I wish mother and Tillie could see my new watch,” he thought. “I’ve a
great mind to go up to Wilton this afternoon and show it to them.”
But on second thoughts he decided not to do this. It would only render
necessary a second leave-taking, and this would be painful. He decided
that it was better to get started as soon as possible on his trip to
the Pacific coast.
There were two ways to go to California--across the continent, or by
steamer _via_ Panama. Tom was somewhat in doubt upon which to decide.
The shortest route would be by steamship, for at that period the Union
Pacific Railroad had not been built, or even commenced. If Tom had been
in haste he would have decided in favor of the steamer, but he was in
no especial hurry; besides, he thought there would be a possibility
of finding some employment or agency which would pay a part of his
expenses, if he went by land. He was also influenced in part by a
desire to see the broad plains and prairies of the far West, and he
had no objection to a few adventures on the way. It was not quite so
easy or safe to go to California in those days. On the way were hostile
Indians, desperate adventurers, highwaymen, and a chance of being
snowed up in the winter season.
After some inquiry, therefore, Tom decided to buy a ticket to St.
Louis, and when he arrived there take a short time to study the route
and arrange his subsequent plans. Possibly he might secure some
business commission or agency there, which would enable him to pay a
part or the whole of his traveling expenses.