Herbert left the house of Squire Walsingham in a sober frame of mind. Hesaw clearly that his mother would not long remain in office, and withouther official income they would find it hard to get along. To be sure,she received a pension of eight dollars a month, in consideration ofher husband's services in the war, but eight dollars would not go fartowards supporting their family, small as it was. There were other meansof earning a living, to be sure, but Wayneboro was an agricultural townmainly, and unless he hired out on a farm there seemed no way open tohim, while the little sewing his mother might be able to procure wouldprobably pay her less than a dollar a week.
The blow fell sooner than he expected. In the course of the next weekMrs. Carr was notified that Ebenezer Graham had been appointed hersuccessor, and she was directed to turn over the papers and property ofthe office to him.
She received the official notification by the afternoon mail, and in theevening she was favored by a call from her successor.
Ebenezer Graham was a small man, with insignificant, mean-lookingfeatures, including a pair of weazel-like eyes and a turn-up nose. Itdid not require a skillful physiognomist to read his character in hisface. Meanness was stamped upon it in unmistakable characters.
"Good-evening, Mr. Graham," said the widow, gravely.
"Good-evening, ma'am," said the storekeeper. "I've called to see you,Mrs. Carr, about the post office, I presume you have heard--"
"I have heard that you are to be my successor."
"Just so. As long as your husband was alive, I didn't want to step intohis shoes."
"But you are willing to step into mine," said Mrs. Carr, smilingfaintly.
"Just so--that is, the gov'ment appear to think a man ought to be incharge of so responsible a position."
"I shall be glad if you manage the office better than I have done."
"You see, ma'am, it stands to reason that a man is better fitted forbusiness than a woman," said Ebenezer Graham, in a smooth tone for hewanted to get over this rather awkward business as easily as possible."Women, you know, was made to adorn the domestic circles, et cetery."
"Adorning the domestic circle won't give me a living," said Mrs. Carr,with some bitterness, for she knew that but for the grasping spirit ofthe man before her she would have been allowed to retain her office.
"I was comin' to that," said the new postmaster. "Of course, Iappreciate your position as a widder, without much means, and I'm goingto make you an offer; that is, your boy, Herbert."
Herbert looked up from a book he was reading, and listened with interestto hear the benevolent intentions of the new postmaster.
"I am ready to give him a place in my store," proceeded Ebenezer. "Ialways keep a boy, and thinks I to myself, the wages I give willhelp along the widder Carr. You see, I like to combine business withconsideration for my feller creeters."
Mrs. Carr smiled faintly, for in spite of her serious strait she couldnot help being amused at the notion of Ebenezer Graham's philanthropy.
"What's going to become of Tom Tripp?" asked Herbert, abruptly.
"Thomas Tripp isn't exactly the kind of boy I want in my store," saidMr. Graham. "He's a harum-scarum sort of boy, and likes to shirk hiswork. Then I suspect he stops to play on the way when I send him onerrands. Yesterday he was five minutes longer than he need to have beenin goin' to Sam Dunning's to carry some groceries. Thomas doesn't seemto appreciate his privileges in bein' connected with a business likemine."
Tom Tripp was hardly to blame for not recognizing his good luck inoccupying a position where he received a dollar and a half a week forfourteen hours daily work, with half a dozen scoldings thrown in.
"How do you know I will suit you any better than Tom?" asked Herbert,who did not think it necessary to thank Mr. Graham for the profferedengagement until he learned just what was expected of him, and what hispay was to be.
"You're a different sort of a boy," said Ebenezer, with an attempt at apleasant smile. "You've been brought up different. I've heard you're asmart, capable boy, that isn't afraid of work."
"No, sir, I am not, if I am fairly paid for my work."
The new postmaster's jaw fell, and he looked uneasy, for he alwaysgrudged the money he paid out, even the paltry dollar and a half whichwent to poor Tom.
"I always calkerlate to pay fair wages," he said; "but I ain't rich, andI can't afford to fling away money."
"How much do you pay Tom Tripp?" asked Herbert.
He knew, but he wanted to draw Mr. Graham out.
"I pay Thomas a dollar and fifty cents a week," answered thestorekeeper, in a tone which indicated that he regarded this, on thewhole, as rather a munificent sum.
"And he works from seven in the morning till nine o'clock at night,"proceeded Herbert.
"Them are the hours," said Ebenezer, who knew better how to make moneythan to speak grammatically.
"It makes a pretty long day," observed Mrs. Carr.
"So it does, ma'am, but it's no longer than I work myself."
"You get paid rather better, I presume."
"Of course, ma'am, as I am the proprietor."
"I couldn't think of working for any such sum," said Herbert, decidedly.
Mr. Graham looked disturbed, for he had reasons for desiring to secureHerbert, who was familiar with the routine of post-office work.
"Well," he said, "I might be able to offer you a leetle more, as youknow how to tend the post office. That's worth somethin'! I'llgive you--lemme see--twenty-five cents more; that is, a dollar andseventy-five cents a week."
Herbert and his mother exchanged glances. They hardly knew whether tofeel more amused or disgusted at their visitor's meanness.
"Mr. Graham," said Herbert, "if you wish to secure my services, you willhave to pay me three dollars a week."
The storekeeper held up both hands in dismay.
"Three dollars a week for a boy!" he exclaimed.
"Yes, sir; I will come for a short time for that sum, till you get usedto the management of the post office, but I shall feel justified inleaving you when I can do better."
"You must think I am made of money," said Ebenezer hastily.
"I think you can afford to pay me that salary."
For twenty minutes the new postmaster tried to beat down his prospectiveclerk, but Herbert was obstinate, and Ebenezer rather ruefully promisedto give him his price, chiefly because it was absolutely necessary thathe should engage some one who was more familiar with the post-officework than he was. Herbert agreed to go to work the next morning.
CHAPTER III. A PRODIGAL SON.
Do and Dare — a Brave Boy's Fight for Fortune Page 2
