Chapter XII. The New Boarder

by Horatio Alger

　　Harry found himself in a room about twenty-five feet by twenty. Thefloor was covered with scraps of leather. Here stood a deep woodenbox containing a case of shoes ready to send off. There was a stovein the center, in which, however, as it was a warm day, no firewas burning. There were three persons present. One, a man of middleage, was Mr. James Leavitt, the proprietor of the shop. His sonRobert, about seventeen, worked at an adjoining bench. Tom Gavitt,a journeyman, a short, thick-set man of thirty, employed by Mr.Leavitt, was the third.The three looked up as Harry entered the shop."I have a letter for Mr. Leavitt," said our hero."That is my name," said the eldest of the party.Harry advanced, and placed it in his hands."Where did you get this letter?""At the post office.""I can't call you by name. Do you live about here?""No, I came from Granton."No further questions were asked just then, as Mr. Leavitt, suspendingwork, opened the letter."It's from your Uncle Benjamin," he said, addressing Robert. "Letus see what he has to say."He read the letter in silence."What does he say, father?" asked Robert."He says he shall be ready to take you the first of September.That's in six weeks--a little sooner than we calculated. I wish itwere a little later, as work is brisk, and I may find it difficultto fill your place without paying more than I want to.""I guess you can pick up somebody," said Robert, who was anxiousto go to Boston as soon as possible."Won't you hire me?" asked Harry, who felt that the time had comefor him to announce his business.Mr. Leavitt looked at him more attentively."Have you ever worked in a shop?""No, sir.""It will take you some time to learn pegging.""I'll work for my board till I've learned.""But you won't be able to do all I want at first.""Suppose I begin now," said Harry, "and work for my board till yourson goes away. By that time I can do considerable.""I don't know but that's a good idea," said Mr. Leavitt. "What doyou think, Bob?""Better take him, father," said Robert, who felt that it wouldfacilitate his own plans."How much would you want after you have learned?" asked the father."I don't know; what would be a fair price," said Harry."I'll give you three dollars a week and board," said Mr. Leavitt,after a little consideration--"that is, if I am satisfied withyou.""I'll come," said Harry, promptly. He rapidly calculated that therewould be about twenty weeks for which he would receive pay beforethe six months expired, at the end of which the cow must be paidfor. This would give him sixty dollars, of which he thought heshould be able to save forty to send or carry to his father."How did you happen to come to me?" asked Mr. Leavitt, with somecuriosity."I heard at the post office that your son was going to the city towork, and I thought I could get in here.""Is your father living?""Yes, my father and mother both.""What business is he in?""He is a farmer; but his farm is small, and not very profitable.""So you thought you would leave home and try something else?""Yes, sir.""Well, we will try you at shoemaking. Robert, you can teach himwhat you know about pegging.""Come here," said Robert. "What is your name?""Harry Walton.""How old are you?""Fifteen.""Did you ever work much?""Yes, on a farm.""Do you think you'll like shoemaking better?""I don't know yet, but I think I shall. I like almost anythingbetter than farming.""And I like almost anything better than pegging. I began when Iwas only twelve years old, and I'm sick of it.""What kind of store is it you are going into?""Dry goods. My uncle, Benjamin Streeter, mother's brother, keepsa dry goods store on Washington street. It'll be jolly living inthe city.""I don't know," said Harry thoughtfully. "I think I like a villagejust as well.""What sort of a place is Granton, where you come from?""It's a farming town. There isn't any village at all.""There isn't much going on here.""There'll be more than in Granton. There's nothing to do there butto work on a farm.""I shouldn't like that myself; but the city's the best of all""Can you make more money in a store than working in a shoe shop?""Not so much at first, but after you've got learned there's betterchances. There's a clerk, that went from here ten years ago, thatgets fifty dollars a week.""Does he?" asked Harry, to whose rustic inexperience this seemedlike an immense salary. "I didn't think any clerk ever got so much.""They get it often if they are smart," said Robert.Here he was wrong, however. Such cases are exceptional, and a cityfry goods clerk, considering his higher rate of expense, is nobetter off than many country mechanics. But country boys are aptto form wrong ideas on this subject, and are in too great hasteto forsake good country homes for long hours of toil behind a citycounter, and a poor home in a dingy, third-class city boardinghouse. It is only in the wholesale houses, for the most part, thathigh salaries are paid, and then, of course, only to those whohave shown superior energy and capacity. Of course some do achievesuccess and become rich; but of the tens of thousand who come fromthe country to seek clerkships, but a very small proportion riseabove a small income."I shall have a start," Robert proceeded, "for I go into my uncle'sstore. I am to board at his house, and get three dollars a week.""That's what your father offers me," said Harry."Yes; you'll earn more after a while, and I can now; but I'drather live in the city. There's lots to see in the city--theaters,circuses, and all kinds of amusements.""You won't have much money to spend on theaters," said Harry,prudently."Not at first, but I'll get raised soon.""I think I should try to save as much as I could.""Out of three dollars a week?""Yes.""What can you save out of that?""I expect to save half of it, perhaps more.""I couldn't do that. I want a little fun.""You see my father's poor. I want to help him all I can.""That's good advice for you, Bob," said Mr. Leavitt."Save up money, and help me."Robert laughed."You'll have to wait till I get bigger pay, he said."Your father's better off than mine," said Harry."Of course, if he don't need it, that makes a difference."Here the sound of a bell was heard, proceeding from the house."Robert," said his father "go in and tell your mother to put anextra seat at the table. She doesn't know that we've got a newboarder."He took off his apron, and washed his hands. Tom Gavitt followedhis example, but didn't go into the house of his employer. Helived in a house of his own about five minutes' walk distant, butleft the shop at the same time. In a country village the generaldinner hour is twelve o'clock--a very unfashionably early hour--butI presume any of my readers who had been at work from seven o'clockwould have no difficulty in getting up a good appetite at noon.Robert went in and informed his mother of the new boarder. It madeno difference, for the table was always well supplied."This is Harry Walton, mother," said Mr. Leavitt, "our new apprentice.He will take Bob's place when he goes.""I am glad to see you," said Mrs. Leavitt, hospitably."You may sit here, next to Robert.""What have you got for us to-day, mother?" asked her husband."A picked-up dinner. There's some cold beef left over from yesterday,and I've made an apple pudding.""That's good. We don't want anything better."So Harry thought. Accustomed to the painful frugality of the tableat home, he regarded this as a splendid dinner, and did full justiceto it.In the afternoon he resumed work in the shop under Robert's guidance.He was in excellent spirits. He felt that he was very fortunateto have gained a place so soon, and determined to write home thatsame evening.