Helping Himself; Or, Grant Thornton's Ambition by Jr. Horatio Alger (no david read aloud .txt) π
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- Author: Jr. Horatio Alger
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βWhen did you come to the city?β he stammered.
βOnly this morning.β
βI suppose you are surprised to see me in this business,β said Tom, awkwardly.
βThere is nothing to be ashamed of,β said Grant. βIt is an honest business.β
βIt's an awful come down for me,β said Tom, uncomfortably. βThe fact is, I've had hard luck.β
βI am sorry to hear that,β said Grant.
βI expected a place in Wall Street, but I came just too late, and things are awful dull anyway. Then I was robbed of my money.β
βHow much?β asked Grant, curiously, for he didn't believe a word of it.
βEight dollars and thirty-three cents,β replied Tom, glibly.
βI thought you were too smart to be robbed,β said Grant, slyly. βIf it had been a green boy from the country like me, now, it wouldn't have been surprising.β
βI was asleep when I was robbed,β explained Tom, hurriedly. βA fellow got into my room in the night, and picked my pocket. I couldn't help that, now, could I?β
βI suppose not.β
βSo I had to get something to do, or go back to Colebrook. I say, Grantβ-β
βWell?β
βDon't you tell any of the fellers at home what business I'm in, that's a good fellow.β
βI won't if you don't want me to,β said Grant.
βYou see, it's only a few days till I can get something else to do.β
βIt's a great deal better blacking boots than being idle, in my opinion,β said Grant.
βThat's the way I look at it. But you didn't tell me what you came to the city for?β
βI'm coming here for good,β announced Grant.
βYou haven't got a place, have you?β ejaculated Tom, in surprise.
βYes, I am to enter the office of Mr. Reynolds, a stock broker. There is his sign.β
βYou don't say so I. Why, that's just the sort of place I wanted. How did you get the chance?β
βI got acquainted with Mr. Reynolds on board the cars that day we came to New York together.β
βAnd you asked him for the place?β
βI asked him this morning.β
βYou might have given me the chance,β grumbled Tom, enviously. βYou knew it was the sort of place I was after.β
βI don't think I was called upon to do that,β said Grant, smiling. βBesides, he wouldn't have accepted you.β
βWhy not? Ain't I as smart as you, I'd like to know?β retorted Tom Calder, angrily.
βHe heard us talking in the cars, and didn't like what you said.β
βWhat did I say?β
βHe doesn't approve of boys smoking cigarettes and going to bucket shops. You spoke of both.β
βHow did he hear?β
βHe was sitting just behind us.β
βWas it that old chap that was sittin' with you when I came back from the smoking car?β
βYes.β
βJust my luck,β said Tom, ruefully.
βWhen are you goin' to work?β asked Tom, after a pause.
βNext Monday.β
βWhere are you going to board? We might take a room together, you know. It would be kind of social, as we both come from the same place.β
It did not occur to Grant that the arrangement would suit him at all, but he did not think it necessary to say so. He only said: βI am going to Mr. Reynolds' house, just at first.β
βYou don't say so! Why, he's taken a regular fancy to you.β
βIf he has, I hope he won't get over it.β
βI suppose he lives in a handsome brownstone house uptown.β
βVery likely; I've never seen the house.β
βWell, some folks has luck, but I ain't one of 'em,β grumbled Tom.
βYour luck is coming, I hope, Tom.β
βI wish it would come pretty soon, then; I say, suppose your folks won't let you take the place?β he asked, suddenly, brightening up.
βThey won't oppose it.β βI thought they wanted you to go to college.β
βI can't afford it. It would take too long before I could earn anything, and I ought to be helping the family.β
βI'm goin' to look out for number one,β said Tom, shrugging his shoulders. βThat's all I can do.β
Tom's mother was a hard-working woman, and had taken in washing for years. But for her the family would often have lacked for food. His father was a lazy, intemperate man, who had no pride of manhood, and cared only for himself. In this respect Tom was like him, though the son had not as yet become intemperate.
βI don't think there is any chance of my giving up the place,β answered Grant. βIf I do, I will mention your name.β
βThat's a good fellow.β
Grant did not volunteer to recommend Tom, for he could not have done so with a clear conscience. This omission, however, Tom did not notice.
βWell, Tom, I must be going. Good-by, and good luck.β
Grant went home with a cheerful face, and announced his good luck to his mother.
βI am glad you are going to your employer's house,β she said. βI wish you could remain there permanently.β
βSo do I, mother; but I hope at any rate to get a comfortable boarding place. Tom Calder wants to room with me.β
βI hope you won't think of it,β said Mrs. Thornton, alarmed.
βNot for a moment. I wish Tom well, but I shouldn't like to be too intimate with him. And now, mother, I think I ought to write to Uncle Godfrey, and tell him what I have decided upon.β
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