Chapter XXIX. In the Printing Office

by Horatio Alger

　　"Harry," said the professor, after breakfast the next morning, "Ifind we must get some more bills printed. You may go round to theoffice of the Centreville Gazette, and ask them how soon they canprint me a hundred large bills and a thousand small ones.""All right, sir. Suppose they can't have them done by the ready tostart?""They can send them to me by express."Harry had never been in a printing office; but he had a greatcuriosity to see one ever since he had read the "Life of BenjaminFranklin." If there was anyone in whose steps he thought he shouldlike to follow, it was Franklin, and Franklin was a printer.He had no difficulty in finding the office. It was in the secondstory of a building, just at the junction of two roads near the centerof the town, the post office being just underneath. He ascended astaircase, and saw on the door, at the head of the stairs:"CENTREVILLE GAZETTE"He opened the door and entered. He saw a large room, containinga press at the end, while two young men, with paper caps on theirheads, were standing in their shirt sleeves at upright cases settingtype. On one side there was a very small office partitioned off.Within, a man was seen seated at a desk, with a pile of exchangepapers on the floor, writing busily. This was Mr. Jotham Andersonpublisher and editor of the Gazette."I want to get some printing done," said Harry, looking toward thejourneymen."Go to Mr. Anderson," said one, pointing to the office.Harry went in. The editor looked up as he entered."What can I do for you?" he asked."I want to get some printing done.""For yourself?""No; for Professor Henderson.""I've done jobs for him before. What does he want?"Our hero explained."Very well, we will do it.""Can you have it done before two o'clock?""Impossible. I am just bringing out my paper.""When can you have the job finished?""To-morrow noon.""I suppose that will do. We perform to-morrow at Berlin and theycan be sent over to the hotel there.""You say 'we,'" answered Harry, amused. "I take tickets, and assisthim generally.""How do you like the business?""Very well; but I should like your business better.""What makes you think so?""I have been reading the 'Life of Benjamin Franklin.' He was aprinter.""That's true; but I'm sorry to say Franklins are scarce in ourprinting offices. I never met one yet.""I shouldn't expect to turn out a Franklins; but I think one couldn'thelp being improved by the business.""True again, though, of course, it depends on the wish to improve.How long have you been working for Professor Henderson?""Not long. Only two or three weeks.""What did you do before?""I was pegger in a shoe shop.""Didn't you like it?""Well enough, for I needed to earn money and it paid me; but I don'tthink I should like to be a shoemaker all my life. It doesn't giveany chance to learn.""Then you like learning?""Yes. 'Live and learn'--that is my motto.""It is a good one. Do you mean to be a printer?""If I get a chance.""You may come into my office on the first of April, if you like.One of my men will leave me by the first of May. If you are asmart boy, and really wish to learn the business, you can break inso as to be useful in four weeks.""I should like it," said Harry; but," he added, with hesitation,"I am poor, and could not afford to work for nothing while I waslearning.""I'll tell you what I'll do, then," said the editor. "I'll giveyou your board for the first month, on condition that you'll workfor six months afterwards for two dollars a week and board. That'sa fair offer. I wouldn't make it if I didn't feel assured that youwere smart, and would in time be valuable to me.""I'll come if my father does not object.""Quite tight. I should not like to have you act contrary to hiswishes. I suppose, for the present, you will remain with ProfessorHenderson.""Yes, sir.""Very well. Let me hear from you when you have communicated withyour father."Harry left the office plunged in thought. It came upon him withsurprise, that he had engaged himself to learn a new business,and that the one which he had longed to follow ever since he hadbecome acquainted with Franklin's early life. He realized that hewas probably making immediate sacrifice. He could, undoubtedly,make more money in the shoe shop than in the printing office, forthe present at least. By the first of April the shoe business obtainemployment. But then he was sure he should like printing better,and if he was ever going to change, why, the sooner he made thechange the better.When he returned to the hotel, he told the professor what he haddone."I am glad you are not going at once," said his employer, "forI should be sorry to lose you. I generally give up traveling forthe season about the first of April, so that I shall be ready torelease you. I commend your choice of a trade. Many of our besteditors have been practical printers in their youth.""I should like to be an editor, but I don't know enough.""Not at present; but you can qualify yourself to become one--thatis, if you devote you spare time to reading and studying.""I mean to do that.""Then you will fair chance of becoming what you desire. To a certainextent, a boy, or young man, holds the future in his own hands."Harry wrote to father, at once, in regard to the plan which hehad in view. The answer did not reach him for nearly a week; butwe will so far anticipate matters as to insert that part whichrelated to it."If you desire to be a printer, Harry, I shall not object. It isa good trade, and you can make yourself, through it, useful to thecommunity. I do not suppose it will ever make you rich. Still, Ishould think it might, in time, give you a comfortable living--better,I hope, than I have been able to earn as a farmer. If you determineto win success, you probably will. If you should leave your presentplace before the first of April, we shall be very glad to have youcome home, if only for a day or two. We all miss you very much--yourmother, particularly. Tom doesn't say much about it; but I know hewill be as glad to see you as the rest of us."Harry read this letter with great pleasure, partly becauseit brought him permission to do as he desired, and partly becauseit was gratifying to him to feel that he was missed at home. Hedetermined, if it was a possible thing, to leave the professor aweek before his new engagement, and spend that time in Granton.