Part 44 (1/2)
”And yet you can't bear the sight of him.”
”I hate him worse than any fellow I know.”
”Come, now, Sam, just listen to a little advice. If you had always treated Ben right you would like him as well as I do. Why should you cherish malice against him? He has good qualities, and so have you, if you'd only give 'em a chance to show themselves.”
”That's all gammon,” said Sam impatiently.
”What, about your having good qualities?”
”About my ever liking Ben Bradford. Before I'd make a friend of him, I would go without friends.”
”You may think differently some time.”
On the first of January Ben wrote to his aunt:
”My Dear Aunt: Congratulate me on my good luck. Mr. Porter, this morning, called me into the countingroom, and informed me that henceforth my wages would be eight dollars a week--two dollars more that I have been receiving. I owe this partly to my good luck.
I am a favorite of the bookkeeper, who is Mr. Porter's nephew; otherwise, if I had been advanced at all, it would have been only one dollar a week. Don't you think it would have been rather foolish if I had come back and gone into the mill, as you wished me to?”
”After all, I think Ben did right to stay,” said Aunt Jane, when she read the letter.
”I wish he'd come home,” said Tony. ”Then he could play with me.”
Chapter XXIX
The Cunard Steamer
Early one morning a gentleman came into Jones & Porter's bookstore, and selected some books, which he paid for. There were eighteen in all.
”Where shall we send them, sir?”
”Can you send them to the Cunard steamer at East Boston? I sail for Europe today.”
”Certainly, sir. When does the steamer start?”
”At twelve o'clock. Don't fail to have them there on time, as I shall be greatly disappointed to miss them.”
When the gentleman had left the store, Ben was summoned.
”Ben, do you know the Cunard Wharf in East Boston?” asked the bookkeeper.
”I can easily find it.”
”Here is a package of books to be carried there.”
”All right, sir,” said Ben.
”They are for Mr. James Parker. If you don't find him leave them with the steward.”
So Ben took the package, and made his way toward the East Boston Ferry.