Paul Prescott's Charge Part 39

"The adopted son of old Cameron, the s.e.xton."

"Indeed," said Mrs. Dawkins. "I really wonder at Mr. Danforth's bad taste. There are many boys of genteel family, who would have been glad of the chance. This boy is a low fellow of course."

"Certainly," said her son, though he was quite aware that this was not true.

"What could have brought the boy to Danforth's notice?" asked Dawkins, senior.

"I don't know, I'm sure. The boy has managed to get round him in some way. He is very artful."

"I really think, husband, that you ought to remonstrate with Mr.

Danforth about taking such a low fellow into his counting-room with our George."

"Pooh!" said Mr. Dawkins, who was a shade more sensible than his wife, "he'd think me a meddler."

"At any rate, George," pursued his mother, "there's one thing that is due to your family and bringing up,--not to a.s.sociate with this low fellow any more than business requires."

"I certainly shall not," said George, promptly.

He was the worthy son of such a mother.

XXVI.

A VULGAR RELATION.

At the end of the first week, Paul received five dollars, the sum which the merchant had agreed to pay him for his services. With this he felt very rich. He hurried home, and displayed to the s.e.xton the crisp bank note which had been given him.

"You will soon be a rich man, Paul," said Mr. Cameron, with a benevolent smile, returning the bill.

"But I want you to keep it, Uncle Hugh."

"Shall I put it in the Savings Bank, for you, Paul?"

"I didn't mean that. You have been supporting me--giving me board and clothes--for three years. It is only right that you should have what I earn."

"The offer is an honorable one on your part, Paul," said the s.e.xton; "but I don't need it. If it will please you, I will take two dollars a week for your board, now, and out of the balance you may clothe yourself, and save what you can."

This arrangement seemed to be a fair one. Mr. Cameron deposited the five dollar note in his pocket-book, and pa.s.sed one of three dollars to Paul.

This sum our hero deposited the next Monday morning, in a savings bank.

He estimated that he could clothe himself comfortably for fifty dollars a year. This would leave him one hundred towards the payment of the debt due to Squire Conant.

"By-and-by my salary will be raised," thought Paul. "Then I can save more."

He looked forward with eager antic.i.p.ation to the time when he should be able to redeem his father's name, and no one would be ent.i.tled to cast reproach upon his memory.

He endeavored to perform his duties faithfully in the office, and to learn as rapidly as he could the business upon which he had entered.

He soon found that he must depend mainly upon himself. George Dawkins seemed disposed to afford him no a.s.sistance, but repelled scornfully the advances which Paul made towards cordiality. He was by no means as faithful as Paul, but whenever Mr. Danforth was absent from the office, spent his time in lounging at the window, or reading a cheap novel, with one of which he was usually provided.

When Paul became satisfied that Dawkins was not inclined to accept his overtures, he ceased to court his acquaintance, and confined himself to his own desk.

One day as he was returning from dinner, he was startled by an unceremonious slap upon the shoulder.

Looking up in some surprise, he found that this greeting had come from a man just behind him, whose good-humored face and small, twinkling eyes, he at once recognized.

"How do you do, Mr. Stubbs?" inquired Paul, his face lighting up with pleasure.

"I'm so's to be round. How be you?" returned the worthy pedler, seizing our hero's hand and shaking it heartily.

Mr. Stubbs was attired in all the glory of a blue coat with bra.s.s b.u.t.tons and swallow tails.

"When did you come to New York?" asked Paul.

"Just arrived; that is, I got in this mornin'. But I say, how you've grown. I shouldn't hardly have known you."

"Shouldn't you, though?" said Paul, gratified as most boys are, on being told that he had grown. "Have you come to the city on business?"

"Well, kinder on business, and kinder not. I thought I'd like to have a vacation. Besides, the old lady wanted a silk dress, and she was sot on havin' it bought in York. So I come to the city."

"Where are you stopping, Mr. Stubbs?"

"Over to the Astor House. Pretty big hotel, ain't it?"

"Yes, I see you are traveling in style."

"Yes, I suppose they charge considerable, but I guess I can stand it. I hain't been drivin' a tin-cart for nothin' the last ten years.

"How have you been enjoying yourself since you arrived?"

"Oh, pretty well. I've been round seeing the lions, and came pretty near seeing the elephant at one of them Peter Funk places."

"You did! Tell me about it."

"You see I was walkin' along when a fellow came out of one of them places, and asked me if I wouldn't go in. I didn't want to refuse such a polite invitation, and besides I had a curiosity to see what there was to be seen, so I went in. They put up a silver watch, I could see that it was a good one, and so I bid on it. It ran up to eight dollars and a quarter. I thought it was a pity it should go off so cheap, so I bid eight and a half."

"'Eight and a half and sold,' said the man; 'shall I put it up for you?"

"'No, I thank you,' said I, 'I'll take it as it is.'

"'But I'll put it up in a nice box for you,' said he.

"I told him I didn't care for the box. He seemed very unwilling to let it go, but I took it out of his hand and he couldn't help himself. Well, when they made out the bill, what do you suppose they charged?"

"I don't know."

"Why, eighteen and a half."