Paul Prescott's Charge : a story for boys

by Horatio Alger, Jr.

  "I don't think it will," said Paul, frankly, "there have been some complaints made about that."

  "Then I shall not want it. Let me see what else you have got."

  The customer finally departed, having found nothing to suit her.

  No sooner had she left the store than Mr. Smith called Paul.

  "Well, did you sell that lady anything?"

  "No, sir."

  "And why not?" demanded Smith, harshly.

  "Because she did not like any of the pieces."

  "Wouldn't she have ordered a dress pattern if you had not told her the calico would not wash?"

  "Yes, sir, I suppose so," said Paul, preparing for a storm.

  "Then why did you tell her?" demanded his employer, angrily.

  "Because she asked me."

  "Couldn't you have told her that it would wash?"

  "That would not have been the truth," said Paul, sturdily.

  "You're a mighty conscientious young man," sneered Smith, "You're altogether too pious to succeed in business. I discharge you from my employment."

  "Very well, sir," said Paul, his heart sinking, but keeping up a brave exterior, "then I have only to bid you good-morning."

  "Good-morning, sir," said his employer with mock deference, "I advise you to study for the ministry, and no longer waste your talents in selling calico."

  Paul made no reply, but putting on his cap walked out of the store. It was the middle of the week, and Mr. Smith was, of course, owing him a small sum for his services; but Paul was too proud to ask for his money, which that gentleman did not see fit to volunteer.

  "I am sure I have done right," thought Paul. "I had no right to misrepresent the goods to that lady. I wonder what Uncle Hugh will say."

  "You did perfectly right," said the sexton, after Paul had related the circumstances of his dismissal. "I wouldn't have had you act differently for twenty situations. I have no doubt you will get a better position elsewhere."

  "I hope so," said Paul. "Now that I have lost the situation, Uncle Hugh, I don't mind saying that I never liked it."

  Now commenced a search for another place. Day after day Paul went out, and day after day he returned with the same want of success.

  "Never mind, Paul," said the sexton encouragingly. "When you do succeed, perhaps you'll get something worth waiting for."

  One morning Paul went out feeling that something was going to happen,--he didn't exactly know what,--but he felt somehow that there was to be a change in his luck. He went out, therefore, with more hopefulness than usual; yet, when four o'clock came, and nothing had occurred except failure and disappointment, which unhappily were not at all out of the ordinary course, Paul began to think that he was very foolish to have expected anything.

  He was walking listlessly along a narrow street, when, on a sudden, he heard an exclamation of terror, of which, on turning round, he easily discovered the cause.

  Two spirited horses, attached to an elegant carriage, had been terrified in some way, and were now running at the top of their speed.

  There was no coachman on the box; he had dismounted in order to ring at some door, when the horses started. He was now doing his best to overtake the horses, but in a race between man and horse, it is easy to predict which will have the advantage.

  There seemed to be but one person in the carriage. It was a lady,--whose face, pale with terror, could be seen from the carriage window. Her loud cries of alarm no doubt terrified the horses still more, and, by accelerating their speed, tended to make matters worse.

  Paul was roused from a train of despondent reflections by seeing the horses coming up the street. He instantly comprehended the whole danger of the lady's situation.

  Most boys would have thought of nothing but getting out of the way, and leaving the carriage and its inmate to their fate. What, indeed, could a boy do against a pair of powerful horses, almost beside themselves with fright?"

  But our hero, as we have already had occasion to see, was brave and self-possessed, and felt an instant desire to rescue the lady, whose glance of helpless terror, as she leaned her head from the window, he could see. Naturally quickwitted, it flashed upon him that the only way to relieve a horse from one terror, was to bring another to bear upon him.

  With scarcely a moment's premeditation, he rushed out into the middle of the street, full in the path of the furious horses, and with his cheeks pale, for he knew his danger, but with determined air, he waved his arms aloft, and cried "Whoa!" at the top of his voice.

  The horses saw the sudden movement. They saw the boy standing directly in front of them. They heard the word of command to which they had been used, and by a sudden impulse, relieved from the blind terror which had urged them on, they stopped suddenly, and stood still in the middle of the street, still showing in their quivering limbs the agitation through which they had passed.

  Just then the coachman, panting with his hurried running, came up and seized them by the head.

  "Youngster," said he, "you're a brave fellow. You've done us a good service to-day. You're a pretty cool hand, you are. I don't know what these foolish horses would have done with the carriage if it had not been for you."

  "Let me get out," exclaimed the lady, not yet recovered from her fright.

  "I will open the door," said Paul, observing that the coachman was fully occupied in soothing the horses.

  He sprang forward, and opening the door of the carriage assisted the lady to descend.

  She breathed quickly.

  "I have been very much frightened," she said; "and I believe I have been in very great danger. Are you the brave boy who stopped the horses?"

  Paul modestly answered in the affirmative.

  "And how did you do it? I was so terrified that I was hardly conscious of what was passing, till the horses stopped.

  Paul modestly related his agency in the matter.

  The lady gazed at his flushed face admiringly.

  "How could you have so much courage?" she asked. "You might have been trampled to death under the hoofs of the horses."

  "I didn't think of that. I only thought of stopping the horses."

  "You are a brave boy. I shudder when I think of your danger and mine. I shall not dare to get into the carriage again this afternoon."

  "Allow me to accompany you home?" said Paul, politely.

  "Thank you; I will trouble you to go with me as far as Broadway, and then I can get into an omnibus."

  She turned and addressed some words to the coachman, directing him to drive home as soon as the horses were quieted, adding that she would trust herself to the escort of the young hero, who had rescued her from the late peril.

  "You're a lucky boy," thought John, the coachman. "My mistress is one that never does anything by halves. It won't be for nothing that you have rescued her this afternoon."

  As they walked along, the lady, by delicate questioning, succeeded in drawing from our hero his hopes and wishes for the future. Paul, who was of a frank and open nature, found it very natural to tell her all he felt and wished.

  "He seems a remarkably fine boy," thought the lady to herself. "I should like to do something for him."

  They emerged into Broadway.

  "I will detain you a little longer," said the lady; "and perhaps trouble you with a parcel."

  "I shall be very glad to take it," said Paul, politely.

  Appleton's bookstore was close at hand. Into this the lady went, followed by her young companion.

  A clerk advanced, and inquired her wishes.

  "Will you show me some writing-desks?"

  "I am going to purchase a writing-desk for a young friend of mine," she explained to Paul; "as he is a boy, like yourself, perhaps you can guide me in the selection."

  "Certainly," said Paul, unsuspiciously.

  Several desks were shown. Paul expressed himself admiringly of one made of rosewood inlaid with pearl.

  "I think I will take it," said the lady.

  The price was pa
id, and the desk was wrapped up.

  "Now," said Mrs. Danforth, for this proved to be her name, "I will trouble you, Paul, to take the desk for me, and acompany me in the omnibus, that is, if you have no other occupation for your time."

  "I am quite at leisure," said Paul. "I shall be most happy to do so."

  Paul left the lady at the door of her residence in Fifth Avenue, and promised to call on his new friend the next day.

  He went home feeling that, though he had met with no success in obtaining a place, he had been very fortunate in rendering so important a service to a lady whose friendship might be of essential service to him.

  XXIV.

  PAUL CALLS ON MRS. DANFORTH.

  "MRS. EDWARD DANFORTH," repeated the sexton, on hearing the story of Paul's exploit.

  "Why, she attends our church."

  "Do you know Mr. Danforth?" asked Paul, with interest.

  "Only by sight. I know him by reputation, however."

  "I suppose he is very rich."

  "Yes, I should judge so. At any rate, he is doing an extensive business."

  "What is his business?"

  "He is a merchant."

  "A merchant," thought Paul; "that is just what I should like to be, but I don't see much prospect of it."

  "How do you like Mrs. Danforth?" inquired the sexton.

  "Very much," said Paul, warmly. "She was very kind, and made me feel quite at home in her company."

  "I hope she may be disposed to assist you. She can easily do so, in her position."

  The next day Paul did not as usual go out in search of a situation. His mind was occupied with thoughts of his coming interview with Mrs. Danforth, and he thought he would defer his business plans till the succeeding day.

  At an early hour in the evening, he paused before an imposing residence on Fifth Avenue, which he had seen but not entered the day previous.

  He mounted the steps and pulled the bell.

  A smart-looking man-servant answered his ring.

  "Is Mrs. Danforth at home?" asked Paul.

  "Yes, I believe so."

  "I have called to see her."

  "Does she expect you?" asked the servant, looking surprised.

  "Yes; I come at her appointment," said Paul.

  "Then I suppose it's all right," said the man. "Will you come in?" he asked, a little doubtfully.

  Paul followed him into the house, and was shown into the drawing-room, the magnificence of which somewhat dazzled his eyes; accustomed only to the plain sitting-room of Mr. Cameron.

  The servant reappeared after a brief absence, and with rather more politeness than he had before shown, invited Paul to follow him to a private sitting-room upstairs, where he would see Mrs. Danforth.

  Looking at Paul's plain, though neat clothes, the servant was a little puzzled to understand what had obtained for Paul the honor of being on visiting terms with Mrs. Danforth.

  "Good evening, Paul," said Mrs. Danforth, rising from her seat and welcoming our hero with extended hand. "So you did not forget your appointment."

  "There was no fear of that," said Paul, with his usual frankness. "I have been looking forward to coming all day."

  "Have you, indeed?" said the lady with a pleasant smile.

  "Then I must endeavor to make your visit agreeable to you. Do you recognize this desk?"

  Upon a table close by, was the desk which had been purchased the day previous, at Appleton's.

  "Yes," said Paul, "it is the one you bought yesterday. I think it is very handsome."

  "I am glad you think so. I think I told you that I intended it for a present. I have had the new owner's name engraved upon it."

  Paul read the name upon the plate provided for the purpose. His face flushed with surprise and pleasure. That name was his own.

  "Do you really mean it for me" he asked.

  "If you will accept it," said Mrs. Danforth, smiling.

  "I shall value it very much," said Paul, gratefully. "And I feel very much indebted to your kindness."

  "We won't talk of indebtedness, for you remember mine is much the greater. If you will open the desk you will find that it is furnished with what will, I hope, prove of use to you."

  The desk being opened, proved to contain a liberal supply of stationery, sealing wax, postage stamps, and pens.

  Paul was delighted with his new present, and Mrs. Danforth seemed to enjoy the evident gratification with which it inspired him.

  "Now," said she, "tell me a little about yourself. Have you always lived in New York?"

  "Only about three years," said Paul.

  "And where did you live before?"

  "At Wrenville, in Connecticut."

  "I have heard of the place. A small country town, is it not?"

  Paul answered in the affirmative.

  "How did you happen to leave Wrenville, and come to New York?"

  Paul blushed, and hesitated a moment.

  "I ran away," he said at length, determined to keep nothing back.

  "Ran away! Not from home, I hope."

  "I had no home," said Paul, soberly. "I should never have left there, if my father had not died. Then I was thrown upon the world. I was sent to the Poorhouse. I did not want to go, for I thought I could support myself."

  "That is a very honorable feeling. I suppose you did not fare very well at the Poorhouse."

  In reply, Paul detailed some of the grievances to which he had been subjected. Mrs. Danforth listened with sympathizing attention.

  "You were entirely justified in running away," she said, as he concluded. "I can hardly imagine so great a lack of humanity as these people showed. You are now, I hope, pleasantly situated?"

  "Yes," said Paul, "Mr. and Mrs. Cameron treat me with as great kindness as if I were their own child."

  "Cameron! Is not that the name of the sexton of our church?" said Mrs. Danforth, meditatively.

  "It is with him that I have a pleasant home."

  "Indeed, I am glad to hear it. You have been attending school, I suppose."

  "Yes, it is not more than two months since I left off school."

  "And now I suppose you are thinking of entering upon some business."

  "Yes; I have been trying to obtain a place in some merchant's counting-room."

  "You think, then, that you would like the career of a merchant?"

  "There is nothing that would suit me better."

  "You have not succeeded in obtaining a place yet, I suppose?"

  "No. They are very difficult to get, and I have no influential friends to assist me."

  "I have heard Mr. Danforth say that he experienced equal difficulty when he came to New York, a poor boy."

  Paul looked surprised.

  "I see that you are surprised," said Mrs. Danforth, smiling. "You think, perhaps, judging from what you see, that my husband was always rich. But he was the son of a poor farmer, and was obliged to make his own way in the world. By the blessing of God, he has been prospered in business and become rich. But he often speaks of his early discouragements and small beginnings. I am sorry he is not here this evening. By the way, he left word for you to call at his counting-room to- morrow, at eleven o'clock. I will give you his address."

  She handed Paul a card containing the specified number, and soon after he withdrew, bearing with him his handsome gift, and a cordial invitation to repeat his call.

  He looked back at the elegant mansion which he had just left, and could not help feeling surprised that the owner of such a palace, should have started in life with no greater advantages than himself.

  XXV.

  AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE.

  PAUL slept late the next morning. He did not hear the breakfast-bell, and when the sexton came up to awaken him he rubbed his eyes with such an expression of bewilderment that Mr. Cameron could not forbear laughing.

  "You must have had queer dreams, Paul," said he.

  "Yes, Uncle Hugh," said Paul, laughing, "I believe I have."

  "When you have co
llected your wits, which at present seem absent on a wool-gathering expedition, perhaps you will tell what you have been dreaming about."

  "So I will," said Paul, "and perhaps you can interpret it for me. I dreamed that I was back again at Mr. Mudge's, and that he sent me out into the field to dig potatoes. I worked away at the first hill, but found no potatoes. In place of them were several gold pieces. I picked them up in great surprise, and instead of putting them into the basket, concluded to put them in my pocket. But as all the hills turned out in the same way I got my pockets full, and had to put the rest in the basket. I was just wondering what they would do for potatoes, when all at once a great dog came up and seized me by the arm----"

  "And you opened your eyes and saw me," said the sexton, finishing out his narrative.

  "Upon my word, that's very complimentary to me. However, some of our potatoes have escaped transformation into gold pieces, but I am afraid you will find them rather cold if you don't get down to breakfast pretty quick."

  "All right, Uncle Hugh. I'll be down in a jiffy."

  About half-past ten Paul started on his way to Mr. Danforth's counting-room. It was located on Wall Street, as he learned from the card which had been given him by Mrs. Danforth. He felt a little awkward in making this call. It seemed as if he were going to receive thanks for the service which he had rendered, and he felt that he had already been abundantly repaid. However, he was bound in courtesy to call, since he did so at the request of Mrs. Danforth.

  It was a large stone building, divided up into offices, to which Paul had been directed. Mr. Danforth's office he found after a little search, upon the second floor.

  He opened the door with a little embarrassment, and looked about him.

  In one corner was a small room, used as a more private office, the door of which was closed. In the larger room the only one whom he saw, was a boy, apparently about his own age, who was standing at a desk and writing.

  This boy looked around as Paul entered, and he at once recognized in him an old acquaintance.

  "George Dawkins!" he exclaimed in surprise.

  The latter answered in a careless indifferent tone, not exhibiting any very decided pleasure at meeting his old schoolmate.