Kitabı oku: «The Telegraph Boy», sayfa 10
CHAPTER XXIX.
CONCLUSION
After he had accompanied his cousin to the depot, where he took the cars for home, Frank met Victor Dupont, on Madison avenue.
"Where's your uniform?" he asked.
"I have taken it off."
"Aint you a telegraph boy any longer?"
"No, I have left the office."
"They turned you off, I suppose," said Victor, with a sneer.
"They would like to have had me stay longer," said Frank, with a smile.
Victor shrugged his shoulders incredulously.
"Are you going back to your old business of selling papers?" he asked.
"I think not."
"What are you going to do for a living?"
"I am much obliged to you for your interest in my affairs, Victor; I don't mean to go to work at all at present,—I am going to school."
"How are you going to pay your expenses, then?" asked Victor, in surprise.
"I have had some money left me."
"Is that so? How much?"
"Some thousands of dollars,—enough to support me while I am getting an education."
"Who left it to you?"
"My father left it, but I have only just received it."
"You are awfully lucky," said Victor, evidently annoyed. "Are you going to live with the Vivians?"
"I don't know."
"I shouldn't think you would. It would be imposing upon them."
"Thank you for your kind advice. Won't you take me to board at your house?"
"We don't take boarders," said Victor, haughtily.
It so happened that Frank entered himself as a scholar at the school where Victor was a student, and was put in the same class. Frank at once took a higher place, and in time graduated with the highest honors, while Victor came out nearly at the foot.
Frank did remain with the Vivians; they would not hear of his leaving them, nor would they permit him to pay any board.
"You are a companion for Fred," said Mrs. Vivian, "and you exert a good influence over him. Having your company, he does not wish to seek society outside. You must let me look upon you as one of my boys, and accept a home with us."
Against this, Frank could urge no objection. He was offered a home far more attractive than a boarding-house, which his presence made more social and attractive. Having no board to provide for, the income of his little property was abundant to supply his other wants, and, when he left school, it was unimpaired.
It was a serious question with our hero whether he would continue his studies through a collegiate course. He finally decided in the negative, and accepted a good position in the mercantile establishment of Mr. Hartley. Here he displayed such intelligence and aptitude for business that he rose rapidly, and in time acquired an interest in the firm, and will in time obtain a junior partnership. It must not be supposed that all this came without hard work. It had always been Frank's custom to discharge to the utmost of his ability the duties of any position in which he was placed. To this special trait of our hero, most of his success was owing.
Our hero had the satisfaction of giving a place to his companion in the telegraph office, Tom Brady, who was in time able to earn such a salary as raised his mother and sister above want. Frank did not forget his old street comrade, Dick Rafferty, but gave him a position as porter, Dick's education not being sufficient to qualify him for a clerkship. He even sought out old Mills, the blind man, to whom he had small reason to feel grateful; but found that the old man had suddenly died, leaving behind him, to the surprise of every one who knew him, several hundred dollars in gold and silver, which were claimed by a sister of the deceased, to whom they were most acceptable.
Here end the experiences of the Telegraph Boy. He has been favored above most of his class; but the qualities which helped him achieve success are within the reach of all. Among the busy little messengers who flit about the city, in all directions, there are some, no doubt, who will in years to come command a success and prosperity as great as our hero has attained. In a republic like our own, the boy who begins at the bottom of the ladder may in time reach the highest round.
