Timothy Crump's Ward: A Story of American Life by Jr. Horatio Alger (top 10 novels to read TXT) ๐
Read free book ยซTimothy Crump's Ward: A Story of American Life by Jr. Horatio Alger (top 10 novels to read TXT) ๐ยป - read online or download for free at americanlibrarybooks.com
- Author: Jr. Horatio Alger
Read book online ยซTimothy Crump's Ward: A Story of American Life by Jr. Horatio Alger (top 10 novels to read TXT) ๐ยป. Author - Jr. Horatio Alger
This letter was read in silent amazement.
The certificate of deposits, which had fallen to the floor, was handed to Timothy by his wife.
Amazement was followed by a feeling of gratitude and relief.
โWhat could be more fortunate?โ exclaimed Mrs. Crump. โSurely, Timothy, our faith has been rewarded.โ
โGod has listened to our cry,โ said the cooper, devoutly; โand, in the hour of our need, He has remembered us.โ
โIsn't it prime?โ said Jack, gleefully; โthree hundred dollars! Ain't we rich, Aunt Rachel?โ
โLike as not,โ observed Rachel, โthe certificate isn't genuine. It doesn't look natural it should be. I've heard of counterfeits before. I shouldn't be surprised at all if Timothy got taken up for presenting it.โ
โI'll risk that,โ said Mr. Crump, who did not look very much depressed by this suggestion.
โNow you'll be able to pay the rent, Timothy,โ said Mrs. Crump, cheerfully.
โYes; and it's the last quarter I shall pay to Mr. Colman, if I can help it.โ
โWhy, where are you going?โ inquired Jack.
โTo the corner house belonging to Mr. Harrison, that is, if it is not already engaged. I think I will go and see about it at once. If Mr. Colman should come in while I am gone, tell him I will be back directly; I don't wish you to tell him of the change in our circumstances.โ
The cooper found Mr. Harrison at home.
โI called to inquire,โ commenced the cooper, โwhether you had let that house of yours on the corner of the street.โ
โNot as yet,โ was the reply.
โWhat rent do you ask?โ
โTwenty dollars a quarter,โ said Mr. Harrison; โthat I consider reasonable.โ
โIt is satisfactory to me,โ was the cooper's reply, โand, if you have no objections to me as a tenant, I will engage it at once.โ
โFar from having any objections, Mr. Crump,โ was the courteous reply, โI shall be glad to secure so good a tenant. Will you go over and look at the house?โ
โNot now, sir; I am somewhat in haste. When can we move in?โ
โTo-day, if you like.โ
His errand satisfactorily accomplished, the cooper returned home. Meanwhile the landlord had called.
He was a little surprised to find that Mrs. Crump, instead of looking depressed, looked cheerful, rather than otherwise.
โI was not aware you had a child so young,โ he remarked, looking at the baby.
โIt isn't mine,โ said Mrs. Crump, briefly.
โThe child of a neighbor, I suppose,โ thought Colman.
Meanwhile he scrutinized closely, without appearing to do so, the furniture in the room.
At this point Mr. Crump opened the outer door.
โGood-morning,โ said Colman, affably. โA fine morning.โ
โQuite so,โ answered his tenant, shortly.
โI have called, Mr. Crump, to know if you are ready with your quarter's rent.โ
โI think I told you, last night, how I was situated. Of course I am sorryโโโ
โSo am I,โ said the landlord, โfor I may be obliged to have recourse to unpleasant measures.โ
โYou mean that we must leave the house!โ
โOf course, you cannot expect to remain in it if you are unable to pay the rent. Of course,โ added Colman, making an inventory with his eyes, of the furniture, โyou will leave behind a sufficient amount of furniture to cover your billโโโ
โSurely, you would not deprive us of our furniture!โ
โIs there any hardship in requiring payment of honest debts?โ
โThere are cases of that description. However, I will not put you to that trouble. I am ready to pay you your dues.โ
โYou have the money?โ said Colman, hastily.
โI have, and something over; as you will see by this document. Can you give me the two hundred and eighty dollars over?โ
It would be difficult to picture the amazement of Colman. โSurely, you told me a different story last night,โ he said.
โLast night and this morning are different times. Then I could not pay you; now, luckily, I am able. If you cannot change this amount, and will accompany me to the bank, I will place the money in your hands.โ
โMy dear sir, I am not at all in haste,โ said the landlord, with a return of his former affability. โAny time within a week will do. I hope, by the way, you will continue to occupy this house.โ
โAs I have already engaged Mr. Harrison's house, at the corner of the street, I shall be unable to remain. Besides, I do not want to interfere with the family who are so desirous of moving in.โ
Mr. Colman was silenced. He regretted, too late, the hasty course which had lost him a good tenant. The family referred to had no existence; and, it may be remarked, the house remained vacant for several months, when he was glad to rent it at the old price.
CHAPTER V. A LUCKY RESCUE.
THE opportune arrival of the child inaugurated a season of comparative prosperity in the home of Timothy Crump. To persons accustomed to live in their frugal way, three hundred dollars seemed a fortune. Nor, as might have happened in some cases, did this unexpected windfall tempt the cooper or his wife to extravagances.
โLet us save something against a rainy day,โ said Mrs. Crump.
โWe can, if I get work soon,โ answered her husband. โThis little one will
Comments (0)