Timothy Crump's Ward: A Story of American Life by Jr. Horatio Alger (top 10 novels to read TXT) ๐
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- 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
โThere's no knowing when you will get work, Timothy,โ said Rachel, in her usual cheerful way; โit isn't well to crow before you're out of the woods.โ
โVery true, Rachel. It isn't your failing to look too much at the sunny side of the picture.โ
โI'm ready to look at it when I can see it anywhere,โ said his sister, in the same enlivening way.
โDon't you see it in the unexpected good fortune which came with this child?โ asked Timothy.
โI've no doubt it seems bright enough, now,โ said Rachel, gloomily, โbut a young child's a great deal of trouble.โ
โDo you speak from experience, Aunt Rachel?โ inquired Jack, demurely.
โYes;โ said his aunt, slowly; โif all babies were as cross as you were when you were an infant, three hundred dollars wouldn't begin to pay for the trouble of having one round.โ
Mr. Crump and his wife laughed at this sally at Jack's expense, but the latter had his wits about him sufficiently to answer, โI've always heard, Aunt Rachel, that the crosser a child is the pleasanter he will grow up. What a very pleasant baby you must have been!โ
โJack!โ said his mother, reprovingly; but his father, who looked upon it as a good joke, remarked, good-humoredly, โHe's got you there, Rachel.โ
The latter, however, took it as a serious matter, and observed that, when she was young, children were not allowed to speak so to their elders. โBut, I don't know as I can blame 'em much,โ she continued, wiping her eyes with the corner of her apron, โwhen their own parents encourage 'em in it.โ
Timothy was warned, by experience, that silence was his best (sic) defence. Since anything he might say would only be likely to make matters worse.
Aunt Rachel sank into a fit of deep despondency, and did not say another word till dinner time. She sat down to the table with a profound sigh, as if there was little in life worth living for. Notwithstanding this, it was observed that she had a good appetite. Indeed, Rachel seemed to thrive on her gloomy views of life and human nature. She was, it must be acknowledged, perfectly consistent in all her conduct, as far as this peculiarity was concerned. Whenever she took up a newspaper, she always looked first to the space appropriated to deaths, and next in order to the column of accidents, casualties, etc., and her spirits were visibly exhilarated when she encountered a familiar name in either list.
Mr. Crump continued to look out for work, but it was with a more cheerful spirit. He did not now feel as if the comfort of his family depended absolutely upon his immediate success. Used economically, the money he had by him would last nine months, and during that time it was impossible that he should not find something to do. It was this sense of securityโof possessing something upon which he could fall backโthat enabled him to keep up good heart. It is too generally the case that people are content to live as if they were sure of constantly retaining their health and never losing their employment. When a reverse does come they are at once plunged into discouragement, and feel that something must be done immediately. There is only one way to fend off such an embarrassment, and that is to resolve, whatever may be the amount of the income, to lay aside some part to serve as a reliance in time of trouble. A little economyโthough it involves privationโwill be well repaid by the feeling of security thus engendered.
Mr. Crump was not compelled to remain inactive as long as he feared. Not that his line of business revived,โthat still remained depressed,โbut another path was opened to him for a time.
Returning home late one evening, the cooper saw a man steal out from a doorway, and assault a gentleman whose dress and general appearance indicated probable wealth. Seizing him by the throat, the villain effectually prevented him from calling the police, and was engaged in rifling his pockets when the cooper arrived at the scene. A sudden blow on the side of the head admonished the robber that he had more than one to deal with.
โLeave this man instantly,โ said the cooper, sternly, โor I will deliver you into the hands of the police.โ
The villain hesitated, but fear prevailed, and springing to his feet, he hastily made off under cover of the darkness.
โI hope you have received no injury,โ said Timothy, respectfully, turning towards the stranger he had rescued.
โNo, my worthy friend, thanks to your timely assistance. The rascal nearly succeeded, however.โ
โI hope you have lost nothing, sir.โ
โNothing, fortunately. You can form an idea of the value of your interference, when I say that I have fifteen hundred dollars with me, all of which I should undoubtedly have lost.โ
โI am glad,โ said the cooper, โthat I was able to do you such essential service. It was by the merest chance that I came this way.โ
โWill you add to my indebtedness by accompanying me with that trusty club of yours? I have some little distance yet to go, and the amount of money I have with me makes me feel desirous of taking every possible precaution.โ
โWillingly,โ said the cooper.
โBut I am forgetting,โ said the gentleman, โthat you yourself will be obliged to return alone.โ
โI do not carry enough money to make me fear an attack,โ said Mr. Crump, laughing. โMoney brings care I have always heard, and now I realize it.โ
โYet most people are willing to take their chance of that,โ said the merchant.
โYou are right, sir, nor can I call myself an exception. Still I should be satisfied with the certainty of constant employment.โ
โI hope you have that, at least.โ
โI have had until recently.โ
โThen, at present, you are unemployed?โ
โYes, sir.โ
โWhat is your business?โ
โThat of a cooper.โ
โI must see what I can do for you. Can you call at my office to-morrow, say at twelve o'clock?โ
โI shall be glad to do so, sir.โ
โI believe I have a card with me. Yes, here is one. And this is my house. Thank you for your company, my good friend. I shall see you to-morrow.โ
They stood before a handsome dwelling-house, from whose windows, draped by heavy crimson curtains, a soft light proceeded. The cooper could hear the ringing of childish voices welcoming home their father, whose life, unknown to them, had been in such peril, and he could not but be grateful to Providence that he had been the
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