CHAPTER XV. THE CASH BOY'S PROMOTION.

Cousin Seth arranged everything as he had planned, and Mrs. Mead¹'s landlord, when he called, learned to his surprise that his poor tenant² was intending to move.

"Have you found cheaper rooms?" he asked.

"No, but I am going to take a whole house."

The landlord looked astonished.

"Where?" he asked.

"On West Sixteenth Street."

"Yet you have always been pleading poverty, and only last month I had to wait two days for the last dollar of the rent."

"That is true; but an old friend has found me out, and will give me a helping³ hand."

Of course, no more was to be said.

The removal was soon made, for Mrs. Mead had little to move, and with Seth Lawton's efficient help, the widow found herself in possession of her[Pg 126] new establishment, with everything running smoothly⁴.

"Now," said Mr. Lawton, "I must see if I can't do something for Willie. How much does Ezra Little pay him?"

"Two dollars and a half a week."

"That is too little."

"I don't think Mr. Little will pay more."

"Let him ask."

"I am afraid in that case he will lose his place. The last time Willie asked for a raise he was angry."

"Very well, if he loses his place I will find him another. Or, stay, I will ask Ezra myself."

"That will be better."

So Seth called the next evening on his rich relative. He was not received with open arms, for Mr. Little was under the impression that he wanted to borrow money.

"I can't give you much time to-night, Seth," said the merchant. "I have a business engagement. Have you found anything to do?"

"I think I can see my way clear to a place as confidential⁵ clerk and bookkeeper in a small office downtown."

"How much salary?"

[Pg 127]

"Possibly fifteen dollars a week."

"You had better accept. You are extremely lucky at your age to get such an office."

"You wouldn't be satisfied with it, Ezra," returned Seth, with a smile.

"I? You are dreaming. What, a well-known and long-established merchant to think of such a salary! You must be insane."

"Yet you are within five years as old as I am, Ezra."

"What does that matter? I take it there is considerable difference between your position and mine."

"Yes, I suppose so."

"To tell the truth, I didn't think you would be able to get any position at all. I hope this won't slip through your fingers."

"Then you advise me to accept it?"

"Of course. You would be crazy not to do so. Remember, you will have to depend upon yourself. The fact that you are a relation will not justify⁶ you in asking help from me."

"I have a favor to ask, however, Ezra."

"I cannot lend you money, if that's what you mean," said Ezra, brusquely.

"It isn't. I find that one of your cash boys is[Pg 128] the son of an old friend of ours—Mary Mead, formerly⁷ Mary Grant."

"Yes; I gave the boy a place in order to help her."

"You pay him two dollars and a half a week. There are only two boys, and this is very small."

"It is all I pay any of the boys."

"But Willie is a well-grown boy of fourteen. Surely, out of old friendship, and to help his mother, you can pay him more."

"Have you been talking to Mrs. Mead, and encouraged her to think that I will increase her boy's wages?"

"Yes."

"Then you have done a foolish thing. I decline. I am half inclined to discharge the boy."

"It won't be necessary. He will leave the store at the end of the week."

"What does this mean?"

"That I will undertake to find him a better place."

Ezra looked annoyed and angry.

"You can't do it," he said. "You have no acquaintances in the city. You are not even sure of employment yourself."

[Pg 129]

"So it seems you have sized me up, Ezra," said Seth Lawton, mildly.

"That is easy enough. You were born to be an unsuccessful man. You are fifty-six years old, and I suppose you haven't saved enough money to keep you going for three months."

"I don't owe a cent, Ezra."

"That is something. But I can't remain here talking. Don't forget what I said about making sure of the place you spoke⁸ of."

"Just as I expected," thought Seth. "Ezra seems to be a thoroughly⁹ selfish man. It is lucky for me that——" but he did not finish the sentence.

Mr. Little did not think of the matter again till the superintendent¹⁰ told him on Saturday night: "One of the cash boys has resigned his place."

"Who is it?"

"William Mead."

"It is all the bad advice of Seth Lawton," he reflected. "He is a perfect meddler¹¹. Probably his mother will be here in a day or two to beg me to take him back."

But no such application came. Willie had obtained a place on Grand Street at four dollars a week.

[Pg 130]

Scott continued to enjoy the companionship of Seth Lawton, but sometimes Cousin Seth was out of the city for days at a time, in which event Scott was thrown back on the company of Loammi, but this gave him very little satisfaction.

One evening Loammi happened upon his cousin coming out of a store on Sixth Avenue.

"Have you been buying anything?" he asked.

"Yes."

"What?"

"A couple of neckties."

"Where did you get the money?"

Scott said, quietly: "That is my business, Loammi."

"I thought you gave pa all the money you had."

"I gave him forty dollars."

"How much have you got left?"

"I don't care to tell."

This was enough for Loammi, who saw a chance to do his cousin an ill turn. Accordingly he said to his father that evening: "Pa, did you know that Scott had money?"

"What do you mean?"

Then Loammi told the story.

"I asked him how much he had, and he wouldn't[Pg 131] tell me. It seems to me he ought to have handed it to you."

In this Mr. Little agreed with his son.

"Call Scott," said he.

Scott was in his small chamber¹², and there Loammi found him.

"Pa wants to see you, Scott."

Scott went downstairs and into Mr. Little's presence.

"Do you wish to see me, sir?"

"Yes. Loammi tells me you have some money."

"Yes; I have a little money."

"I thought you gave up all you had when you came here."

"So I did, all but sixty cents, but I have regretted it since."

"Why?"

"Because I understood it was to be used for my clothing, and it was not."

"I told you in what light I considered it. But I won't dwell upon that now. You deceived me in letting me think you had given up all your money."

"No, I did not, sir."

"Then how do you explain your having money at present. Was it given you by Mr. Lawton?"

"No, sir."

[Pg 132]

"Where, then, did you get it?"

"It was money that I was swindled out of by a fellow passenger. I induced him to return a part of it."

"How much have you now?"

"About five dollars."

"You may give it to me."

"I prefer not to do so, Mr. Little; I need it myself."

Scott spoke respectfully, but firmly.

"Do you refuse?" demanded Ezra, angrily.

"Yes, sir."

"Do you think this is a suitable return for all I have done for you?"

"You have given me a home, but it is in return for services in your store. As for this money, it was given me by my father and I prefer to keep it."

Ezra Little was taken aback by the boy's resolute¹³ tone. On the whole, he decided¹⁴ not to press the demand.

"Be it so," he said; "but understand that I shall, hereafter, give you nothing but your board and lodging¹⁵. When you require clothing or anything else, you must buy it yourself."

"I understand, sir."

[Pg 133]

"Seth has been talking to that boy," reflected Ezra Little. "It would serve him right for me to discharge him."

But Ezra Little knew that Scott was an excellent salesman, and that he could not supply his place at less than eight dollars a week, so he did not care to dismiss him.

"I'll bring him to terms yet," he said to himself.

1 mead   

n.蜂蜜酒

参考例句：

• He gave me a cup of mead.他给我倒了杯蜂蜜酒。
• He drank some mead at supper.晚饭时他喝了一些蜂蜜酒。

2 tenant   

n.承租人；房客；佃户；v.租借，租用

参考例句：

• The tenant was dispossessed for not paying his rent.那名房客因未付房租而被赶走。
• The tenant is responsible for all repairs to the building.租户负责对房屋的所有修理。

3 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

4 smoothly   

adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地

参考例句：

• The workmen are very cooperative,so the work goes on smoothly.工人们十分合作，所以工作进展顺利。
• Just change one or two words and the sentence will read smoothly.这句话只要动一两个字就顺了。

5 confidential   

adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的

参考例句：

• He refused to allow his secretary to handle confidential letters.他不让秘书处理机密文件。
• We have a confidential exchange of views.我们推心置腹地交换意见。

6 justify   

vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护

参考例句：

• He tried to justify his absence with lame excuses.他想用站不住脚的借口为自己的缺席辩解。
• Can you justify your rude behavior to me?你能向我证明你的粗野行为是有道理的吗？

7 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。

8 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

9 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

10 superintendent   

n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长

参考例句：

• He was soon promoted to the post of superintendent of Foreign Trade.他很快就被擢升为对外贸易总监。
• He decided to call the superintendent of the building.他决定给楼房管理员打电话。

11 meddler   

n.爱管闲事的人，干涉者

参考例句：

• "I know you, you scoundrel! I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." “我知道你，这个恶棍。我以前听过你。你是福尔摩斯，爱管闲事的人。” 来自互联网

12 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

13 resolute   

adj.坚决的，果敢的

参考例句：

• He was resolute in carrying out his plan.他坚决地实行他的计划。
• The Egyptians offered resolute resistance to the aggressors.埃及人对侵略者作出坚决的反抗。

14 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

15 lodging   

n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍

参考例句：

• The bill is inclusive of the food and lodging. 账单包括吃、住费用。
• Where can you find lodging for the night? 你今晚在哪里借宿?