American library books ยป Fiction ยป The Errand Boy; Or, How Phil Brent Won Success by Jr. Horatio Alger (bearly read books .txt) ๐Ÿ“•

Read book online ยซThe Errand Boy; Or, How Phil Brent Won Success by Jr. Horatio Alger (bearly read books .txt) ๐Ÿ“•ยป.   Author   -   Jr. Horatio Alger



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As Phil didn't know that this form of expression, slightly varied, had become a popular phrase of the day, he did not laugh.

โ€œDo you belong to the church?โ€ asked the youth, stopping short in his own mirth.

โ€œWhat makes you ask?โ€

โ€œBecause you don't laugh.โ€

โ€œI would if I saw anything to laugh at.โ€

โ€œCome, that's hard on me. Honor bright, have you come to do any business with us?โ€

It is rather amusing to see how soon the cheapest clerk talks of โ€œus,โ€ quietly identifying himself with the firm that employs him. Not that I object to it. Often it implies a personal interest in the success and prosperity of the firm, which makes a clerk more valuable. This was not, however, the case with G. Washington Wilbur, the young man who was now conversing with Phil, as will presently appear.

โ€œI am going to work here,โ€ answered Phil simply.

โ€œGoing to work here!โ€ repeated Mr. Wilbur in surprise. โ€œHas old Pitkin engaged you?โ€

โ€œMr. Pitkin engaged me yesterday,โ€ Phil replied.

โ€œI didn't know he wanted a boy. What are you to do?โ€

โ€œGo to the post-office, bank, and so on.โ€

โ€œYou're to be errand boy, then?โ€

โ€œYes.โ€

โ€œThat's the way I started,โ€ said Mr. Wilbur patronizingly.

โ€œWhat are you now?โ€

โ€œA salesman. I wouldn't like to be back in my old position. What wages are you going to get?โ€

โ€œFive dollars.โ€

โ€œFive dollars a week!โ€ ejaculated Mr. G. Washington Wilbur, in amazement. โ€œCome, you're chaffing.โ€

โ€œWhy should I do that? Is that anything remarkable?โ€

โ€œI should say it was,โ€ answered Mr. Wilbur slowly.

โ€œDidn't you get as much when you were errand boy?โ€

โ€œI only got two dollars and a half. Did Pitkin tell you he would pay you five dollars a week.โ€

โ€œNo; Mr Carter told me so.โ€

โ€œThe old gentlemanโ€”Mr. Pitkin's uncle?โ€

โ€œYes. It was at his request that Mr. Pitkin took me on.โ€

Mr. Wilbur looked grave.

โ€œIt's a shame!โ€ he commenced.

โ€œWhat is a shame; that I should get five dollars a week?โ€

โ€œNo, but that I should only get a dollar a week more than an errand boy. I'm worth every cent of ten dollars a week, but the old man only gives me six. It hardly keeps me in gloves and cigars.โ€

โ€œWon't he give you any more?โ€

โ€œNo; only last month I asked him for a raise, and he told me if I wasn't satisfied I might go elsewhere.โ€

โ€œYou didn't?โ€

โ€œNo, but I mean to soon. I will show old Pitkin that he can't keep a man of my experience for such a paltry salary. I dare say that Denning or Claflin would be glad to have me, and pay me what I am worth.โ€

Phil did not want to laugh, but when Mr. Wilbur, who looked scarcely older than himself, and was in appearance but a callow youth, referred to himself as a man of experience he found it hard to resist.

โ€œHadn't we better be going up stairs?โ€ asked Phil.

โ€œAll right. Follow me,โ€ said Mr. Wilbur, โ€œand I'll take you to the superintendent of the room.โ€

โ€œI am to report to Mr. Pitkin himself, I believe.โ€

โ€œHe won't be here yet awhile,โ€ said Wilbur.

But just then up came Mr. Wilbur himself, fully half an hour earlier than usual.

Phil touched his hat politely, and said:

โ€œGood-morning.โ€

โ€œGood-morning!โ€ returned his employer, regarding him sharply. โ€œAre you the boy I hired yesterday?โ€

โ€œYes, sir.โ€

โ€œCome up-stairs, then.โ€

Phil followed Mr. Pitkin up-stairs, and they walked together through the sales-room.

โ€œI hope you understand,โ€ said Mr. Pitkin brusquely, โ€œthat I have engaged you at the request of Mr. Carter and to oblige him.โ€

โ€œI feel grateful to Mr. Carter,โ€ said Phil, not quite knowing what was coming next.

โ€œI shouldn't myself have engaged a boy of whom I knew nothing, and who could give me no city references.โ€

โ€œI hope you won't be disappointed in me,โ€ said Phil.

โ€œI hope not,โ€ answered Mr. Pitkin, in a tone which seemed to imply that he rather expected to be.

Phil began to feel uncomfortable. It seemed evident that whatever he did would be closely scrutinized, and that in an unfavorable spirit.

Mr. Pitkin paused before a desk at which was standing a stout man with grayish hair.

โ€œMr. Sanderson,โ€ he said, โ€œthis is the new errand boy. His name isโ€”what is it, boy?โ€

โ€œPhilip Brent.โ€

โ€œYou will give him something to do. Has the mail come in?โ€

โ€œNo; we haven't sent to the post-office yet.โ€

โ€œYou may send this boy at once.โ€

Mr. Sanderson took from the desk a key and handed it to Philip.

โ€œThat is the key to our box,โ€ he said. โ€œNotice the numberโ€”534. Open it and bring the mail. Don't loiter on the way.โ€

โ€œYes, sir.โ€

Philip took the key and left the warehouse. When he reached the street he said to himself:

โ€œI wonder where the post-office is?โ€

He did not like to confess to Mr. Sanderson that he did not know, for it would probably have been considered a disqualification for the post which he was filling.

โ€œI had better walk to Broadway,โ€ he said to himself. โ€œI suppose the post-office must be on the principal street.โ€

In this Phil was mistaken. At that time the post-office was on Nassau Street, in an old church which had been utilized for a purpose very different from the one to which it had originally been devoted.

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