American library books ยป Fiction ยป Try and Trust; Or, Abner Holden's Bound Boy by Jr. Horatio Alger (best e books to read .TXT) ๐Ÿ“•

Read book online ยซTry and Trust; Or, Abner Holden's Bound Boy by Jr. Horatio Alger (best e books to read .TXT) ๐Ÿ“•ยป.   Author   -   Jr. Horatio Alger



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was broad enough at any point for carriages to pass each other.โ€

โ€œI didn't dream,โ€ said Mr. Holden, not noticing this remark, โ€œthat the young man I had engaged was my young acquaintance of the morning.โ€

Herbert looked at him, puzzled by his entire change of mannerโ€”a change so sudden that he suspected its genuineness.

The more he thought of it, the more unwilling he felt to live with Mr. Holden. But could it be avoided? He resolved to try. He accordingly told the doctor and Captain Ross of the promise that Mr. Keyes had made him.

โ€œIt would be a good place,โ€ said the captain; โ€œbut it ain't certain. Now, here's Mr. Holden, ready to take you at once.โ€

โ€œIf I was in the mill village I could come over and see my friends here now and then. Besides, I think I should like being in a store.โ€

โ€œOh, I've got a store, too,โ€ said Mr. Holden, โ€œand I should expect you to tend there part of the time. I don't think I can let you off, my young friend,โ€ he added, with a disagreeable smile. โ€œI think we shall get along very well together.โ€

Herbert did not feel at all sure of this, but he saw that it would do no good to remonstrate farther, and kept silence. Soon after, Mr. Holden and Captain Ross rose to go.

โ€œI'll call round for my young friend about nine to-morrow morning,โ€ said Abner Holden, with an ingratiating smile.

โ€œWe will endeavor to have him ready,โ€ said the doctor.

After they went away Herbert wandered about in not the best of spirits. He was convinced that he should not be happy with Mr. Holden, against whom he had conceived an aversion, founded partly upon the occurrences of the morning, and partly on the disagreeable impression made upon him by Abner Holden's personal appearance.





CHAPTER V THE ENVELOPE

Herbert woke up early the next morning, and a feeling of sadness came over him as he reflected that it was his last morning in Waverley. He was going out into the world, and, as he could not help thinking, under very unfavorable auspices. New scenes and new experiences usually have a charm for a boy, but Mr. Holden's disagreeable face and unpleasant smile rose before him, and the prospect seemed far from tempting.

When he came downstairs, he found Mrs. Kent in the kitchen.

โ€œYou are up early, Mrs. Kent,โ€ said Herbert.

โ€œYes, Herbert; I want you to have a good breakfast before you go.โ€

It certainly was a nice breakfast. Tender beefsteak, warm biscuit, golden butter, potatoes fried crisp and brown, and excellent coffee, might have tempted any appetite. Herbert, in spite of his sadness, did full justice to the bountiful meal.

The family had hardly risen from breakfast when the sound of wheels was heard outside, and directly there was a knock at the door.

โ€œIt's Mr. Holden,โ€ said the doctor, looking from the front window.

โ€œMust we part from you so soon, Herbert?โ€ said Mrs. Kent, affectionately.

โ€œWhere oo goin', Herbert?โ€ asked little Mary, clinging to his knee,

โ€œHerbert's going away, Mary,โ€ said he, stooping and kissing his little friend.

โ€œHerbert mustn't go 'way,โ€ said the little girl, in discontent.

โ€œHerbert come back soon, and bring candy for Mary,โ€ he said, wishing that his words might come true.

By that time Mr. Holden had entered, and was surveying the scene with his disagreeable smile.

โ€œLittle Mary is quite attached to Herbert,โ€ said the doctor.

โ€œI am sorry,โ€ said Mr. Holden, โ€œthat I have no little girls, as Herbert seems fond of them.โ€

Herbert doubted if he could become attached to anyone related to Mr. Holden.

โ€œI'm a bachelor,โ€ said Mr. Holden, โ€œthough perhaps I ought to be ashamed to say so. If I had had the good fortune early in life to encounter a lady like your good wife here, it might have been different.โ€

โ€œIt isn't too late yet, Mr. Holden,โ€ said the doctor.

โ€œWell, perhaps not. If Mrs. Kent is ever a widow, I may try my luck.โ€

โ€œWhat a disagreeable man,โ€ thought the doctor's wife, not propitiated by the compliment. โ€œHerbert,โ€ she said, โ€œhere are a couple of handkerchiefs I bought in the village yesterday. I hope you will find them useful.โ€

โ€œYes; no doubt he will,โ€ said Mr. Holden, laughing. โ€œHe will think of you whenever he has a bad cold.โ€

Nobody even smiled at this witty sally, and, Mr. Holden, a little disappointed, remarked: โ€œWell, time's getting on. I guess we must be going, as we have a long journey before us.โ€

The whole family accompanied Herbert to the road. After kissing Mary and Mrs. Kent, and shaking the doctor cordially by the hand, Herbert jumped into the wagon. Just before the horse started the doctor handed our hero a sealed envelope, saying, โ€œYou can open it after a while.โ€

Though, like most boys of his age, Herbert had a great horror of making a baby of himself, he could hardly help crying as he rode up the street, and felt that he had parted from his best friends. His eyes filled with tears, which he quietly wiped away with the corner of his handkerchief.

โ€œCome, come, don't blubber, boy,โ€ said Mr. Holden, coarsely.

Herbert was not weak enough to melt into tears at an unkind word. It roused his indignation, and he answered, shortly, โ€œWhen you see me blubbering, it'll be time enough to speak, Mr. Holden.โ€

โ€œIt looked a good deal like it, at any rate,โ€ said Abner. โ€œHowever, I'm glad if I'm mistaken. There's nothing to cry about that I can see.โ€

โ€œNo, perhaps not,โ€ said Herbert; โ€œbut there's something to be sorry for.โ€

โ€œSomething to be sorry for, is there?โ€ said Abner Holden.

โ€œYes.โ€

โ€œWell, what is it?โ€

โ€œI've left my best friends, and I don't know when I shall see them again.โ€

โ€œNor I,โ€ said Mr. Holden. โ€œBut I think it's high time you left them.โ€

โ€œWhy?โ€ asked Herbert, indignantly.

โ€œBecause they were petting you and making too much of you. You won't get such treatment as that from me.โ€

โ€œI don't expect it,โ€ said our hero.

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