Bound to Rise 9

Bound to Rise 9

"Then I will write home at once to have it sent to me. I also have a

suit which I have outgrown; if you wouldn't be too proud to take it."

 

"I am not so foolish. It will be a great favor."

 

"I thought you would take it right," said Maurice, well pleased. "I

will also send for the suit. I will get my mother to forward them by

express."

 

"They will be as good as money to me," said Harry; "and that is not very

plenty with me."

 

"Will you tell me something of your circumstances? Perhaps I may have it

in my power to help you."

 

Harry, assured of his friendly interest, did not hesitate to give him

a full account of his plans in life, and especially of his desire

to relieve his father of the burden of poverty. His straightforward

narrative made a very favorable impression upon Maurice, who could not

help reflecting: "How far superior this boy is to Luke Harrison and his

tribe!"

 

"Thank you for telling me all this," he said. "It was not from mere

curiosity that I asked."

 

"I am sure of that," said Harry. "Thanks to your generosity, I shall

present a much more respectable appearance, besides being made more

comfortable."

 

Three days later a large bundle was brought by the village expressman to

Mr. Leavitt's door.

 

"A bundle for you, Walton," said the expressman, seeing Harry in the

yard.

 

"What is there to pay?" he asked.

 

"Nothing. It was prepaid in the city?"

 

Harry took it up to his room and opened it eagerly. First came the

promised overcoat. It was of very handsome French cloth, with a velvet

collar, and rich silk facings, far higher in cost than any Mr. Merrill

would have made for him. It fitted as if it had been made for him. Next

came, not one, but two complete suits embracing coat, vest and pants.

One of pepper-and-salt cloth, the other a dark blue. These, also,

so similar was he in figure to Maurice, fitted him equally well. The

clothes which he brought with from form Granton were not only of coarse

material but were far from stylish in cut, whereas these garments had

been made by a fashionable Boston tailor and set off his figure to much

greater advantage.

 

"I wonder what Luke Harrison will say?" said our hero to himself,

smiling, as he thought of the surprise of Luke at witnessing his

transformation.

 

"I've a great mind to keep these on to-night," he said.

 

"Perhaps I shall meet Luke. He won't have anything more to say about my

going without an overcoat."

 

After supper Harry, arrayed in his best suit and wearing the overcoat,

walked down tot he center of the village.

 

Luke was standing on the piazza of the tavern.

 

"Luke, see how Walton is dressed up!" exclaimed Frank Heath, who was the

first to see our hero.

 

"Dressed up!" repeated Luke, who was rather shortsighted. "That would be

a good joke."

 

"He's got a splendid overcoat," continued Frank.

 

"Where'd he get it? Merrill hasn't been making him one."

 

"It's none of Merrill's work. It's too stylish for him."

 

By this time Harry had come within Luke's range of vision. The

latter surveyed him with astonishment and it must be confessed, with

disappointment; for he had been fond of sneering at Harry's clothes, and

now the latter was far better dressed than himself.

 

"Where did you get that coat, Walton?" asked Luke, the instant Harry

came up.

 

"Honestly," said Harry, shortly.

 

"Have you got anything else new?"

 

Harry opened his coat and displayed the suit.

 

"Well, you are coming out, Walton, that's a fact," said Frank Heath.

"That's a splendid suit."

 

"I thought you couldn't afford to buy a coat," said Luke.

 

"You see I've got one," answered Harry.

 

"How much did it cost?"

 

"That's a secret."

 

Here he left Luke and Frank.

 

"Well, Luke, what do you say to that?" said Frank Heath.

 

Luke said nothing. He was astonished and unhappy. He had a fondness for

dress and spent a good share of his earnings upon it, paying where he

must, and getting credit besides where he could. But he had never had so

stylish a suit as this and it depressed him.

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER XVI. ASKING A FAVOR

 

 

There was one other tailor in the village, James Hayden, and to him Luke

Harrison determined to transfer his custom, hoping to be allowed to

run up a bill with him. He did not like his style of cut as well as

Merrill's, but from the latter he was cut off unless he would pay the

old bill, and this would be inconvenient.

 

He strolled into James Hayden's shop and asked to look at some cloth for

pants.

 

Hayden was a shrewd man and, knowing that Luke was a customer of his

neighbor, suspected the reason of his transfer. However, he showed the

cloth, and, a selection having been made, measured him.

 

"When will you have them done?" asked Luke.

 

"In three days."

 

"I want them by that time sure."

 

"Of course you pay cash."

 

"Why," said Luke, hesitating, "I suppose you won't mind giving me a

month's credit."

 

Mr. Hayden shook his head.

 

"I couldn't do it. My goods are already paid for and I have to pay for

the work. I must have cash."

 

"Merrill always trusted me," pleaded Luke.

 

"Then why did you leave him?"

 

"Why," said Luke, a little taken aback, "he didn't cut the last clothes

exactly to suit me."

 

"Didn't suit you? I thought you young people preferred his cut to mine.

I am old-fashioned. Hadn't you better go back to Merrill?"

 

"I've got tired of him," said Luke. "I'll get a pair of pants of you,

and see how I like them."

 

"I'll make them but I can't trust."

 

"All right. I'll bring the money," said Luke, who yet thought that he

might get off by paying part down when he took the pants.

 

"The old fellow's deuced disobliging," said he o Frank Heath, when they

got into the street.

 

"I don't know as I blame him," said Frank.

 

"I wish Merrill wasn't so stiff about it. He's terribly afraid of losing

his bill."

 

"That's where he's right," said Frank, laughing. "I'd be the same if I

were in his place."

 

"Do you always pay your bills right off?" said Luke.

 

"Yes, I do. I don't pretend to be a model boy. I'm afraid I keep bad

company," he continued, "but I don't owe a cent to anybody except for

board and that I pay up at the end of every week."

 

Luke dropped the subject, not finding it to his taste.

 

On Saturday night he went round to the tailor's.

 

"Have you got my pants done, Mr. Hayden?"

 

"Yes--here they are."

 

"Let me see," he said, "how much are they?"

 

"Nine dollars."

 

"I'll pay you three dollars to-night and the rest at the end of next

week," he said.

 

"Very well; then you may have them at the end of next week."

 

"Why not now? They are done, ain't they?"

 

"Yes," said Mr. Hayden; "but not paid for."

 

"Didn't I tell you I'd pay three dollars now?"

 

"Our terms are cash down."

 

"You ain't afraid of me, are you?" blustered Luke.

 

"You understood when you ordered the pants that they were to be paid for

when they were taken."

 

"I hate to see people so afraid of losing their money."

 

"Do you? Was that why you left Merrill?"

 

Luke colored. He suspected that the fact of his unpaid bill at the other

tailor's was known to Mr. Hayden.

 

"I've a great mind to leave them on your hands."

 

"I prefer to keep them on my hands, rather than to let them go out of

the shop without being paid for."

 

"Frank," said Luke, turning to his companion, "lend me five dollars,

can't you?"

 

"I'm the wrong fellow to ask," said he; "I've got to pay my board and

another bill to-night."

 

"Oh, let your bills wait."

 

"And lend you the money? Thank you, I ain't so green. When should I get

the money again?"

 

"Next week."

 

"In a horn. No; I want to wear the pants to-morrow. I'm going out to

ride."

 

"I don't see, unless you fork over the spondulies."

 

"I can't. I haven't got enough money."

 

"See Harry Walton."

 

"I don't believe he has got any. He bought a lot of clothes last week.

They must have cost a pile."

 

"Can't help it. I saw him open his pocketbook last night and in it was a

roll of bills."

 

Turning to the tailor, Luke said: "Just lay aside the pants and I'll

come back for them pretty soon."

 

Mr. Hayden smiled to himself.

 

"There's nothing like fetching up these fellows with a round turn,"

he said. "'No money, no clothes'--that's my motto. Merrill told me all

about that little bill that sent Luke Harrison over here. He don't run

up any bill with me, if I know myself."

 

Luke went round to the village store. Harry Walton usually spent a part

of every evening in instructive reading and study; but after a hard

day's work he felt it necessary to pass an hour or so in the open air,

so he came down to the center of center of the village.

 

"Hello, Walton!" said Luke, accosting him with unusual cordiality. "You

are just the fellow I want to see."

 

"Am I?" inquired Harry in surprise, for there was no particular

friendship or intimacy between them.

 

"Yes; I'm going to ask a little favor of you--a mere trifle. Lend me

five or ten dollars for a week. Five will do it, you can't spare more."

 

Harry shook his head.

 

"I can't do that, Luke."

 

"Why not? Haven't you got as much?"

 

"Yes, I've got it."

 

"Then why won't you lend it to me?"

 

"I have little money and I can't run any risk."

 

"Do you think I won't pay you back?"

 

"Why do you need to borrow of me? You get much higher wages than I do."

 

"I want to pay a bill to-night. I didn't think you'd be so

unaccommodating."

 

"I shouldn't be willing to lend to anyone," said Harry.

 

"The money isn't mine. I am going to send it home."

 

"A great sight you are!" sneered Luke. "I wanted to see just how mean

you were. You've got the money in your pocket but you won't lend it."

 

This taunt did not particularly disturb Harry. There is a large class

like Luke, who offended at being refused a loan, though quite aware that

they are never likely to repay it. My young readers will be sure to meet

specimens of this class, against whom the only protection is a very firm

and decided "No."

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER XVII. THE NIGHT SCHOLARS

 

 

Immediately after Thanksgiving Day, the winter schools commenced. That

in the center district was kept by a student of Dartmouth college, who

had leave of absence from the college authorities for twelve weeks, in

order by teaching to earn something to help defray his college expenses.

Leonard Morgan, now a junior, was a tall, strongly made young man of

twenty-two, whose stalwart frame had not been reduced by his diligent

study. There were several shoe shops in the village, each employing from

one to three boys, varying in age from fifteen to nineteen. Why could

he not form a private class, to meet in the evening, to be instructed in

advanced arithmetic, or, if desired, in Latin and Greek? He broached the

idea to Stephen Bates, the prudential committeeman.

 

"I don't know," said Mr. Bates, "what our boys will think of it. I've

got a boy that I'll send, but whether you'll get enough to make it pay I

don't know."

 

"I suppose I can have the schoolhouse, Mr. Bates?"

 

"Yes, there won't be no objection. Won't it be too much for you after

teachin' in the daytime?"

 

"It would take a good deal to break me down."

 

"Then you'd better draw up a notice and put it up in the store and

tavern," suggested the committeeman.

 

In accordance with this advice, the young teacher posted up in the two

places the following notice:

 

 

"EVENING SCHOOL

 

"I propose to start an evening school for those who are occupied during

the day, and unable to attend the district school. Instruction will be

given in such English branches as may be desired, and also in Latin and

Greek, if any are desirous of pursuing a classical course. The school

will commence next Monday evening at the schoolhouse, beginning at seven

o'clock. Terms: Seventy cents a week, or five dollars for the term of

ten weeks.

 

"LEONARD MORGAN."

 

 

"Are you going to join the class, Walton?" asked Frank Heath.

 

"Yes," said Harry, promptly.

 

"Where'll you get the money?" asked Luke Harrison, in a jeering tone.

 

"I shan't have to go far for it."

 

"I don't see how you can spend so much money."

 

"I am willing to spend money when I can get my money's worth," said our

hero. "Are you going?"

 

"To school? No, I guess not. I've got through my schooling."

 

"You don't know enough to hurt you, do you, Luke?" inquired Frank Heath,

slyly.

 

"Nor I don't want to. I know enough to get along."

 

"I don't and never expect to," said Harry.

 

"Do you mean to go to school when you're a gray-headed old veteran?"

asked Frank, jocosely.

 

"I may not go to school then but I shan't give up learning then," said

Harry, smiling. "One can learn without going to school. But while I'm

young, I mean to go to school as much as I can."

 

"I guess you're right," said Frank; "I'd go myself, only I'm too lazy.

It's hard on a feller to worry his brain with study after he's been at

work all day. I don't believe I was cut out for a great scholar."

 

"I don't believe you were, Frank," said Joe Bates.

 

"You always used to stand pretty well down toward the foot of the class

when you went to school."

 

"A feller can't be smart as well as handsome. As long as I'm

good-looking, I won't complain because I wasn't born with the genius of a Bates."