The Cash Boy by Jr. Horatio Alger (good ebook reader .TXT) ๐
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- Author: Jr. Horatio Alger
Read book online ยซThe Cash Boy by Jr. Horatio Alger (good ebook reader .TXT) ๐ยป. Author - Jr. Horatio Alger
โI wonโt forget him,โ said John, carelessly.
In his heart he thought Thomas Bradley a very low, obtrusive fellow, whom he felt by no means inclined to assist, but it was cheap to make promises.
The reader understands now why Mrs. Bradley made a morning call at Gilbert & Mackโs store.
She knew at what part of the counter her nephew was stationed, and made her way thither at once. He did not at first recognize her, until she said:
โGood-morning, Thomas.โ
โGood-morning, aunt. What brings you here this morning? Any good news for me? Has the old gentleman come around and concluded to do something handsome?โ
โMr. Wharton is not in the city. He has gone to Washington. But that isnโt what I came about this morning. You remember that boy who has been reading to Mr. Wharton?โ
โOne of our cash-boys. Yes; there he is, just gone by.โ
โWell, he has stolen Mr. Johnโs pocketbook and some jewelry belonging to him.โ
โWhat have you done about it? What does Mr. Wharton say?โ
โHeโs away from home. He doesnโt know yet. Mr. John gave him a lecture, and ordered him to leave the house.โ
โDoes he admit that he took the things?โ
โNo; he denied it as bold as brass, but it didnโt do him any good. There were the things in his trunk. He couldnโt get over that.โ
Thomas fastened a shrewd glance on his auntโs face, for he suspected the truth.
โSo youโve got rid of him?โ he said. โWhat do you propose to do next?โ
โMr. John thinks your employer ought to know that he is a thief.โ
โAre you going to tell them?โ
โI want you to do it.โ
โYou must tell them yourself, aunt. I shanโt.โ
โThen introduce me to Mr. Gilbert, Thomas, and Iโll do it.โ
โFollow me, aunt.โ
He led his aunt to the rear of the store, where Mr. Gilbert was standing.
โMr. Gilbert,โ he said, โallow me to introduce my aunt, Mrs. Bradley.โ
The housekeeper was courteously received, and invited to be seated. She soon opened her business, and blackened poor Frankโs character as she had intended.
โReally, Mrs. Bradley, I am sorry to hear this,โ said Mr. Gilbert. โYou think there is no doubt of the boyโs guilt?โ
โI am sorry to say that I have no doubt at all,โ said the housekeeper, hypocritically.
โMr. Mack and myself have had a very good opinion of him. He is faithful and prompt.โ
โOf course, sir, you will retain him in your employ if you are willing to take the risk, but I thought it my duty to put you on your guard.โ
โI am obliged to you, Mrs. Bradley; though, as I said, I regret to find that my confidence in the boy has been misplaced.โ
Late in the afternoon, Frank was called to the cashierโs desk.
โI am directed by Mr. Gilbert to say that your services will not be required after to-day,โ he said. โHere are the weekโs wages.โ
โWhy am I discharged? What have I done?โ demanded Frank, while his heart sank within him.
โI donโt know. You must ask Mr. Gilbert,โ answered the cashier.
โI will speak to him, at any rate,โ and Frank walked up to the senior partner, and addressed to him the same question.
โCan you not guess?โ asked Mr. Gilbert, sternly.
โI can guess that a false accusation has been brought against me,โ said Frank.
โA respectable lady has informed me that you are not honest. I regret it, for I have been pleased with your diligence. Of course, I cannot retain you in my employ.โ
โMr. Gilbert,โ said Frank, earnestly, โthe charge is false. Mrs. Bradley is my enemy, and wishes me harm. I donโt understand how the things came into my trunk, but I didnโt put them there.โ
โI hope you are innocent, but I must discharge you. Business is dull now, and I had decided to part with four of my cash-boys. I wonโt pass judgment upon you, but you must go.โ
Frank bowed in silence, for he saw that further entreaty would be vain, and left the store more dispirited than at any moment since he had been in the city.
Ten days Frank spent in fruitless efforts to obtain a place.
All this time his money steadily diminished. He perceived that he would soon be penniless. Evidently, something must be done. He formed two determinations. The first was to write to Mr. Wharton, who, he thought, must now have returned from Washington, asserting his innocence and appealing to him to see Gilbert & Mack, and re-establish him in their confidence. The second was, since he could not obtain a regular place, to frequent the wharves and seek chances to carry bundles. In this way he might earn enough, with great economy, to pay for his board and lodging.
One morning the housekeeper entered the library where John Wade sat reading the daily papers.
โMr. John,โ she said, holding out a letter, โhere is a letter from that boy. I expected he would write to your uncle.โ
John Wade deliberately opened the letter.
โSit down, Mrs. Bradley, and I will read the letter aloud.โ
It will be only necessary to quote the concluding sentences:
โโI hope, Mr. Wharton, you will not be influenced against me by what Mrs. Bradley and your nephew say. I donโt know why it is, but they are my enemies, though I have always treated them with respect. I am afraid they have a desire to injure me in your estimation. If they had not been, they would have been content with driving me from your house, without also slandering me to my employers, and inducing them to discharge me. Since I was discharged, I have tried very hard to get another place, but as I cannot bring a recommendation from Gilbert & Mack, I have everywhere been refused. I ask you, Mr. Wharton to consider my situation. Already my small supply of money is nearly gone, and I do not know how I am to pay my expenses. If it was any fault of mine that had brought me into this situation, I would not complain, but it seems hard to suffer when I am innocent.
โโI do not ask to return to your house, Mr. Wharton, for it would not be
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