Horatio Alger - Do and Dare — a Brave Boy's Fight for Fortune

Herbert smiled.

“I would like that better than being in the post office,” he said. “It would seem like being paid for having a good time.”

“How much would you consider your services worth?” asked Mr. Melville.

“I am content to leave that to you,” said Herbert.

“Suppose we say six dollars a week, then?”

“Six dollars a week!” exclaimed Herbert, amazed.

“Isn’t that enough?” asked Melville, smiling.

“It is more than I can earn. Mr. Graham thought he was over-paying me with three dollars a week.”

“You will find me a different man from Mr. Graham, Herbert. I am aware that six dollars is larger pay than is generally given to boys of your age. But I can afford to pay it, and I have no doubt you will find the money useful.”

“It will quite set us on our feet again, Mr. Melville,” said Herbert, earnestly. “You are very generous.”

“Oh, you don’t know what a hard taskmaster you may find me,” said the young man, playfully. “By the way, I consider that you have already entered upon your duties. To-day is the first day. Now come to the hotel with me, and see what you can get for the fish. I happen to know that two of the guests, a lady and her daughter, are anxious for a good fish dinner and, as there is no market here, I think the landlord will be glad to buy from you.”

Mr. Melville was right. Mr. Barton, the landlord, purchased the fish that Herbert had to sell, for sixty cents, which he promptly paid.

“Don’t that pay you for your morning’s work?” asked Melville.

“I don’t know but the money ought to go to you, Mr. Melville,” said Herbert, “as I am now in your employ. Besides, you caught a part of them.”

“I waive all claim to compensation,” said the young man, “though it would be a novel sensation to receive money for services rendered. What will you say, Herbert, when I tell you that I never earned a dollar in my life?”

Herbert looked incredulous.

“It is really true,” said George Melville, “my life has been passed at school and college, and I have never had occasion to work for money.”

“You are in luck, then.”

“I don’t know that; I think those who work for the money they receive are happy. Tell me, now, don’t you feel more satisfaction in the sixty cents you have just been paid because you have earned it?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I thought so. The happiest men are those who are usefully employed. Don’t forget that, and never sigh for the opportunity to lead an idle life. But I suppose your dinner is ready. You may go home, and come back at three o’clock.”

“Very well, sir.”

Herbert made good time going home. He was eager to tell his mother the good news of his engagement.

“Well, mother,” said Herbert, as he entered the house, “I have brought you enough fish for dinner.”

“I waited to see what luck you would have, Herbert, and therefore have not got dinner ready. You will have to wait a little while.”

“I shall be all the hungrier, mother,” said Herbert.

Mrs. Carr could not help noticing the beaming look on her som’s face.

“You look as if you had received a legacy, Herbert,” she said.

Herbert laughed.

“There it is,” he said, displaying the sixty cents he had received from the landlord.

“There are ten cents more than I should have received for a whole day’s work at the store,” he said.

“Where did you get it, Herbert?”

“I sold a mess of fish to Mr. Barton, of the hotel.”

“You must have had good luck in fishing,” said his mother, looking pleased.

“I had help, mother. Mr. Melville, the young man from the city, who boards at the hotel, helped me fish.”

“Well, Herbert, you have made a good beginning. I couldn’t help feeling a little depressed when you left me this morning, reflecting that we had but my pension to depend upon. It seemed so unlucky that Eben Graham should have come home just at this time to deprive you of your place in the store.”

“It was a piece of good luck for me, mother.”

“I don’t see how,” said Mrs. Carr, naturally puzzled.

“Because I have a better situation already.”

Then Herbert, who had been saving the best news for the last, told his mother of his engagement as Mr. Melville’s companion, and the handsome compensation he was to receive.

“Six dollars a week!” repeated his mother. “That is indeed generous. Herbert, we did well to trust in Providence.”

“Yes, mother; and we have not trusted in vain.”

After dinner Herbert did some chores for his mother, and then went to the hotel to meet his new employer. He found him occupying a large and pleasant room on the second floor. The table near the window was covered with books, and there were some thirty or forty volumes arranged on shelves.

“I always bring books with me, Herbert,” said the young man. “I am very fond of reading, and hitherto I have occupied too much time, perhaps, in that way—too much, because it has interfered with necessary exercise. Hereafter I shall devote my forenoon to some kind of outdoor exercise in your company, and in the afternoon you can read to me, or we can converse.”

“Shall I read to you now, Mr. Melville?” asked Herbert.

“Yes; here is a recent magazine. I will select an article for you to read. It will rest my eyes, and besides it is pleasanter to have a companion than to read one’s self.”

The article was one that interested Herbert as well as Mr. Melville, and he was surprised when he had finished to find that it was nearly five o’clock.

“Didn’t the reading tire you, Herbert?” asked Melville.

“No, sir; not at all.”

“It is evident that your lungs are stronger than mine.”

At five o’clock Melville dismissed his young companion.

“Do you wish me to come this evening?” asked Herbert.

“Oh, no. I wouldn’t think of taking up your evenings.”

“At the post office I had to stay till eight o’clock.”

“Probably it was necessary there; I won’t task you so much.”

“When shall I come to-morrow?”

“At nine o’clock.”

“That isn’t very early,” said Herbert, smiling.

“No, I don’t get up very early. My health won’t allow me to cultivate early rising. I shall not be through breakfast much before nine.”

“I see you don’t mean to overwork me, Mr. Melville.”

“No, for it would involve overworking myself.”

“I shall certainly have an easy time,” thought Herbert, as he walked homeward.

He reflected with satisfaction that he was being paid at the rate of a dollar a day, which was quite beyond anything he had ever before earned. Indeed, to-day he had earned sixty cents besides. The sum received for the fish.

After supper Herbert went to the store to purchase some articles for his mother. He was waited on by Mr. Graham in person. As the articles called for would amount to nearly one dollar, the storekeeper said, cautiously: “Of course, you are prepared to pay cash?”

“Certainly, sir,” returned Herbert.

“I mentioned it because I knew your income was small,” said Ebenezer, apologetically.

“It is more than it was last week,” said Herbert, rather enjoying the prospect of surprising the storekeeper.

“Why, you ain’t found anything to do, have you?” asked Mr. Graham, his face indicating curiosity.

“Yes, sir; I am engaged as companion by Mr. Melville, who is staying at the hotel.”

“I don’t know what he wants of a companion,” said the storekeeper, with that disposition to criticise the affairs of his neighbors often found in country places.