Helping Himself; Or, Grant Thornton's Ambition by Jr. Horatio Alger (no david read aloud .txt) π
Read free book Β«Helping Himself; Or, Grant Thornton's Ambition by Jr. Horatio Alger (no david read aloud .txt) πΒ» - read online or download for free at americanlibrarybooks.com
- Author: Jr. Horatio Alger
Read book online Β«Helping Himself; Or, Grant Thornton's Ambition by Jr. Horatio Alger (no david read aloud .txt) πΒ». Author - Jr. Horatio Alger
βNow, dear papa, if you will send me money enough to pay for railroad tickets, Abner and I will start just as soon as we get it. I don't know as he ought to run away from home, but he says his father and mother don't care for him, and I don't believe they do. His father doesn't care for anything but whisky, and his mother is scolding him all the time. I don't think she would do that if she cared much for him, do you?
βI have filled the paper, and must stop. Be sure to send the money to your loving son,
βHERBERT REYNOLDS.β
βHow easy you write!β said Abner, in wonder, as he saw Herbert's letter growing long before his eyes. βIt would take me a week to write as long a letter as that, and then I couldn't do it.β
βI can't write so easy generally,β said the little boy, βbut, you see, I have a good deal to write about.β
βThen there's another thing,β said Abner. βI shouldn't know how to spell so many words. You must be an awful good scholar.β
βI always liked to study,β said Herbert. βDon't you like to read and study?β
βNo; I'd rather play ball or go fishin', wouldn't you?β
βI like to play part of the time, but I wouldn't like to grow up ignorant.β
βI expect I'll always be a know-nothin', but I reckon I know as much as dad. The old man's awful ignorant. He don't care for nothin' but whisky.β
βAnd I hope you won't be like him in that, Abner.β
βNo, I won't. I wouldn't like to have the boys flingin' stones at me, as they did at dad once when he was tight. I licked a couple of 'em.β
Mrs. Estabrook read Herbert's letter with intense interest. She saw that the little boy's testimony would seriously incriminate Willis Ford, if he were recovered, as he would be if this letter came into his father's hands.
βThere's only one thing to do,β the housekeeper reflected, closing her thin lips tightly.
She lit the gas jet in her chamber, and, without a trace of compunction, held the letter in the flame until it was thoroughly consumed.
CHAPTER XXXII β HOPE DEFERRED
Day after day Herbert and Abner went to the post office and inquired for letters, but alas! none came. Poor Herbert was in despair. He thought his father would have instantly sent the money, or come out himself to take him home. Was it possible his father had forgotten him, or was indifferent to his absence? He could not believe it, but what was he to think?
βI reckon your father didn't get the letter,β suggested Abner.
Herbert hailed this suggestion with relief.
βOr, maybe, marm has told the postmaster to give her any letters that come.β
This suggestion, too, seemed not improbable.
βWhat can we do?β asked Herbert, helplessly. βI reckon we'd better run away.β
βWithout money?β
βWe'll hire out to somebody for a week or two and write from where we are.β
βI'm afraid I couldn't do much work,β said the little boy.
βThen I'll work for both,β said Abner, stoutly. βI've got tired of stayin' at home, anyway.β
βI'll do whatever you say,β said Herbert, feeling that any change would be for the better.
βI'll tell you when I'm ready,β said Abner. βWe'll start some time when marm's gone to the village.β
There was another reason for Herbert's being dissatisfied with his new home. A month had passedβthe full time for which Willis Ford had paid the boy's boardβand there were no indications that any more was to be paid. During the the first week the fare had been tolerable, though Mrs. Barton was not a skillful cook; but now there was no money left, and the family fell back upon what their limited resources could supply. Mush and milk now constituted their principal diet. It is well enough occasionally, but, when furnished at every meal, both Herbert and Abner became tired of it.
βHaven't you got anything else for dinner, marm?β asked Abner, discontentedly.
βNo, I haven't,β answered the mother, snappishly.
βYou used to have sassiges and bacon.β
βThat was when I had money to buy 'em.β
βWhere's all that money gone the man left with him?β indicating Herbert.
βIt's spent, and I wish Willis Ford would send along some more mighty quick. He needn't expect me to take a free boarder.β
She looked severely at Herbert, as if he were in fault. Certainly the poor boy had no desire to live on the liberality of Mrs. Barton.
βMaybe he's sent you some money in a letter,β suggested Abner.
βWell, I never thought of that. It's a bright idee, ef it did come from you, Abner Barton. Jest go up to the postoffice after dinner, and ask if there's any letter for me. Ef there is, mind you, don't open it.β
βAll right, marm.β
βCome along, bub,β said Abner.
This was the name he gave to Herbert, whom he liked in his own rough way.
βI don't think,β said Herbert, as they walked along, βthat your mother can have got any letter written by my father. If she had, she would not be out of money.β
βI reckon you're right. Do you think that Ford feller will send money for your board?β
βI think he will, if he can, for he wants to keep me here; but I don't think he has much money with him.β
βAll the worse for marm.β
Comments (0)