Joe's Luck; Or, Always Wide Awake Read online

  Produced by Al Haines

  JOE'S LUCK

  OR

  ALWAYS WIDE AWAKE

  BY

  HORATIO ALGER, JR.

  AUTHOR OF

  "TONY THE TRAMP," "SLOW AND SURE," "THE CASH BOY,""MAKING HIS WAY," "JACK'S WARD," "DO AND DARE,""FACING THE WORLD," "STRONG AND STEADY,""STRIVE AND SUCCEED," ETC.

  NEW YORK

  THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY

  1913

  JOE'S LUCK

  CHAPTER I

  INTRODUCES JOE

  "Come here, you Joe, and be quick about it!"

  The boy addressed, a stout boy of fifteen, with an honest,sun-browned face, looked calmly at the speaker.

  "What's wanted?" he asked.

  "Brush me off, and don't be all day about it!" said Oscar Nortonimpatiently.

  Joe's blue eyes flashed indignantly at the tone of the other.

  "You can brush yourself off," he answered independently.

  "What do you mean by your impudence?" demanded Oscar angrily. "Haveyou turned lazy all at once?"

  "No," said Joe firmly, "but I don't choose to be ordered round byyou."

  "What's up, I wonder? Ain't you our servant?"

  "I am not your servant, though your father is my employer."

  "Then you are bound to obey me--his son."

  "I don't see it."

  "Then you'd better, if you know what's best for yourself. Are yougoing to brush me off?"

  "No."

  "Look out! I can get my father to turn you off."

  "You may try if you want to."

  Oscar, much incensed, went to his father to report Joe'sinsubordination. While he is absent, a few words of explanation willenlighten the reader as to Joe's history and present position.

  Joe Mason was alone in the world. A year previous he had lost hisfather, his only remaining parent, and when the father's affairs weresettled and funeral expenses paid there was found to be just fivedollars left, which was expended for clothing for Joe.

  In this emergency Major Norton, a farmer and capitalist, offered toprovide Joe with board and clothes and three months' schooling in theyear in return for his services. As nothing else offered, Joeaccepted, but would not bind himself for any length of time. He wasfree to go whenever he pleased.

  Now there were two disagreeable things in Joe's new place. The firstwas the parsimony of Major Norton, who was noted for his stingydisposition, and the second was the overbearing manners of Oscar, wholost no opportunity to humiliate Joe and tyrannize over him so far asJoe's independent spirit would allow. It happened, therefore, thatJoe was compelled to work hard, while the promised clothing was ofthe cheapest and shabbiest description. He was compelled to go toschool in patched shoes and a ragged suit, which hurt his pride as hecompared himself with Oscar, who was carefully and even handsomelydressed. Parsimonious as his father was, he was anxious that hisonly boy should appear to advantage.

  On the very day on which our story begins Oscar had insulted Joe in away which excited our hero's bitter indignation.

  This is the way it happened:

  Joe, who was a general favorite on account of his good looks andgentlemanly manners, and in spite of his shabby attire, was walkinghome with Annie Raymond, the daughter of the village physician, whenOscar came up.

  He was himself secretly an admirer of the young lady, but had neverreceived the least encouragement from her. It made him angry to seehis father's drudge walking on equal terms with his own favorite, andhis coarse nature prompted him to insult his enemy.

  "Miss Raymond," he said, lifting his hat mockingly, "I congratulateyou on the beau you have picked up."

  Annie Raymond fully appreciated his meanness, and answered calmly:

  "I accept your congratulations, Mr. Norton."

  This answer made Oscar angry and led him to go further than heotherwise would.

  "You must be hard up for an escort, when you accept such a ragamuffinas Joe Mason."

  Joe flushed with anger.

  "Oscar Norton, do you mean to insult Miss Raymond or me," he demanded.

  "So you are on your high horse!" said Oscar sneeringly.

  "Will you answer my question?"

  "Yes, I will. I certainly don't mean to insult Miss Raymond, but Iwonder at her taste in choosing my father's hired boy to walk with."

  "I am not responsible to you for my choice, Oscar Norton," said AnnieRaymond, with dignity. "If my escort is poorly dressed, it is nothis fault, nor do I think the less of him for it."

  "If your father would dress me better, I should be very glad of it,"said Joe. "If I am a ragamuffin, it is his fault."

  "I'll report that to him," said Oscar maliciously.

  "I wish you would. It would save me the trouble of asking him forbetter clothes."

  "Suppose we go on," said Annie Raymond.

  "Certainly," said Joe politely.

  And they walked on, leaving Oscar discomfited and mortified.

  "What a fool Annie Raymond makes of herself" he muttered. "I shouldthink she'd be ashamed to go round with Joe Mason."

  Oscar would have liked to despise Annie Raymond, but it was out ofhis power. She was undoubtedly the belle of the school, and he wouldhave been proud to receive as much notice from her as she freelyaccorded to Joe. But the young lady had a mind and a will of herown, and she had seen too much to dislike in Oscar to regard him withfavor, even if he were the son of a rich man, while she had the goodsense and discrimination to see that Joe, despite his ragged garb,possessed sterling good qualities.

  When Oscar got home he sought his father.

  "Father," said he, "I heard Joe complaining to Annie Raymond that youdidn't dress him decently."

  Major Norton looked annoyed.

  "What does the boy mean?" he said. "What does he expect?"

  "He should be dressed as well as I am," said Oscar maliciously.

  "Quite out of the question," said the major hastily. "Your clothescost a mint of money."

  "Of course, you want me to look well, father. I am your son, and heis only your hired boy."

  "I don't want folks to talk," said the major, who was sensitive topublic opinion. "Don't you think his clothes are good enough?"

  "Of course they are; but I'll tell you what, father," said Oscar,with a sudden idea, "you know that suit of mine that I got stainedwith acid?"

  "Yes, Oscar," said the major gravely. "I ought to remember it. Itcost me thirty-four dollars, and you spoiled it by your carelessness."

  "Suppose you give that to Joe?" suggested Oscar.

  "He's a good deal larger than you. It wouldn't fit him; and,besides, it's stained."

  "What right has a hired boy to object to a stain? No matter if it istoo small, he has no right to be particular."

  "You are right, Oscar," said the major, who was glad to be saved theexpense of a new suit for Joe. Even he had been unpleasantlyconscious that Joe's appearance had become discreditable to him."You may bring it down, Oscar," he said.

  "I dare say Joe won't like the idea of wearing it, but a boy in hisposition has no right to be proud."

  "Of course not," returned the major, his ruling passion gratified bythe prospect of saving the price of a suit. "When Joseph comeshome--at any rate, after he is through with his chores--you may tellhim to come in to me."

  "All right, sir."

  Before Oscar remembered this message, the scene narrated at thecommencement of the chapter occurred. On his way to complain to hisfather, he recollected the message, and, retracing his steps, said toJoe:

  "My father wants to see you right off."

  This was a summons which Joe felt it his duty to obey. Heaccordingly bent his steps
to the room where Major Norton usually sat.

  CHAPTER II

  THE STAINED SUIT

  "Oscar tells me that you wish to see me, sir," said Joe, as heentered the presence of his pompous employer.

  Major Norton wheeled round in his armchair and looked at Joe over hisspectacles. He looked at Joe's clothes, too, and it did strike himforcibly that they were very shabby. However, there was Oscar'sstained suit; which was entirely whole and of excellent cloth. As tothe stains, what right had a boy like Joe to be particular?

  "Ahem!" said the major, clearing his throat. "Oscar tells me thatyou are not satisfied with the clothes I have I given you."

  "He has told you the truth, Major Norton," replied Joe bluntly. "Ifyou will look for yourself, I think you will see why I amdissatisfied."

  "Joseph," said the major, in a tone of disapproval, "you are too freespoken. I understand you have been complaining to Doctor Raymond'sdaughter of the way I dress you."

  "Did Oscar tell you the way that happened?" inquired Joe.

  "I apprehend he did not."

  "When I was walking home with Miss Annie Raymond, Oscar came up andinsulted me, calling me a ragamuffin. I told him that, if I was aragamuffin, it was not my fault."

  Major Norton looked disturbed.

  "Oscar was inconsiderate," he said. "It seems to me that yourclothes are suitable to your station in life. It is not well for aboy in your circumstances to be 'clothed in purple and fine linen,'as the Scriptures express it. However, perhaps it is time for you tohave another suit."

  Joe listened in astonishment. Was it possible that Major Norton wasgoing to open his heart and give him what he had long secretlydesired?

  Our hero's delusion was soon dissipated.

  Major Norton rose from his seat, and took from a chair near-by astained suit, which had not yet attracted Joe's attention.

  "Here is a suit of Oscar's," he said, "which is quite whole andalmost new. Oscar only wore it a month. It cost me thirty-fourdollars!" said the major impressively.

  He held it up, and Joe recognized it at once.

  "Isn't it the suit Oscar got stained?" he asked abruptly.

  "Ahem! Yes; it is a little stained, but that doesn't injure thetexture of the cloth."

  As he held it up the entire suit seemed to have been sprinkled withacid, which had changed the color in large, patches in differentparts. The wearer would be pretty sure to excite an unpleasantdegree of attention.

  Joe did not appear to be overwhelmed with the magnificence of thegift.

  "If it is so good, why don't Oscar wear it?" he asked.

  Major Norton regarded Joe with displeasure.

  "It cannot matter to you how Oscar chooses to dress," he said. "Iapprehend that you and he are not on a level."

  "He is your son, and I am your hired boy," said Joe. "I admit that.But I don't see how you can ask me to wear a suit like that."

  "I apprehend that you are unsuitably proud, Joseph."

  "I hope not, sir; but I don't want to attract everybody's notice as Iwalk the streets. If I had stained the suit myself, I should havefelt bound to wear it, but it was Oscar's carelessness that destroyedits appearance, and I don't think I ought to suffer for that.Besides, it is much too small for me. Let me show you."

  Joe pulled off his coat and put on the stained one. The sleeves werefrom two to three inches too short, and it was so far from meeting infront, on account of his being much broader than Oscar, that hisshoulders seemed drawn back to meet each other behind.

  "It doesn't exactly fit," said the major; "but it can be let outeasily. I will send it to Miss Pearce--the village tailoress--to fixit over for you."

  "Thank you, Major Norton," said Joe, in a decided tone, "but I hopeyou won't go to that expense, for I shall not be willing to wear itunder any circumstances."

  "I cannot believe my ears," said Major Norton, with dignifieddispleasure. "How old are you, Joseph?"

  "Fifteen, sir."

  "It is not fitting that you, a boy of fifteen, should dictate to youremployer."

  "I don't wish to, Major Norton, but I am not willing to wear thatsuit."

  "You are too proud. Your pride needs taking down."

  "Major Norton," said Joe firmly, "I should like to tell you how Ifeel. You are my employer, and I am your hired boy. I try to do myduty by you."

  "You are a good boy to work, Joseph. I don't complain of that."

  "You agreed to give me board and clothing for my services."

  "So I have."

  "Yes, sir; but you have dressed me in such a way that I attractattention in the street for my shabbiness. I don't think I am veryproud, but I have been mortified! more than once when I saw peoplelooking at my patched clothes and shoes out at the toes. I think ifI work faithfully I ought to be dressed decently."

  "Joseph," said Major Norton uneasily, "you look at the thing tooone-sided. You don't expect me to dress you like Oscar?"

  "No, sir; I don't. If you would spend half as much for my clothes asyou do for Oscar's I would be contented."

  "It seems to me you are very inconsistent. Here is a suit of clothesthat cost me thirty-four dollars, which I offer you, and you decline."

  "You know why well enough, sir," said Joe, "You did not tell me youintended to dress me in Oscar's castoff clothes, too small, andstained at that. I would rather wear the patched suit I have on tillit drops to pieces than wear this suit."

  "You can go, Joseph," said Major Norton, in a tone of annoyance. "Idid not expect to find you so unreasonable. If you do not choose totake what I offer you, you will have to go without."

  "Very well, sir."

  Joe left the room, his face flushed and his heart full of indignationat the slight which had been attempted on him.

  "It is Oscar's doings, I have no doubt," he said to himself. "It islike his meanness. He meant to mortify me."

  If there had been any doubt in Joe's mind, it would soon have beencleared up. Oscar had been lying in wait for his appearance, andmanaged to meet him as he went out into the yard.

  "Where are your new clothes?" he asked mockingly.

  "I have none," answered Joe.

  "Didn't my father give you a suit of mine?"

  "He offered me the suit which you stained so badly with acid."

  "Well, it's pretty good," said Oscar patronizingly. "I only wore itabout a month."

  "Why don't you wear it longer?"

  "Because it isn't fit for me to wear," returned Oscar.

  "Nor for me," said Joe.

  "You don't mean to say you've declined?" exclaimed Oscar, in surprise.

  "That is exactly what I have done."

  "Why?"

  "You ought to know why."

  "It is better than the one you have on."

  "It is too small for me. Besides, it would attract generalattention."

  "Seems to me somebody is getting proud," sneered Oscar. "Perhaps youthink Annie Raymond wouldn't walk with you in that suit?"

  "I think it would make ho difference to her," said Joe. "She waswilling to walk with me in this ragged suit."

  "I don't admire her taste."

  "She didn't walk with my clothes; she walked with me."

  "A hired boy!"

  "Yes, I am a hired boy; but I don't get very good pay."

  "You feel above your business, that's what's the matter with you."

  "I hope some time to get higher than my business," said Joe. "I meanto rise in the world, if I can."

  Oscar shrugged his shoulders.

  "Perhaps you would like to be a wealthy merchant, or a member ofCongress," he said.

  "I certainly should."

  Oscar burst into a sneering laugh, and left Joe alone.

  Joe's work was done, and, being left free to do as he liked, hestrolled over to the village store.

  CHAPTER III

  THE RETURNED CALIFORNIAN

  The village store, in the evening, was a sort of village club-house,where not only
the loungers, but a better class, who desired to passthe evening socially, were wont to congregate. About the center ofthe open space was a large box-stove, which in winter was kept fullof wood, ofttimes getting red-hot, and around this sat the villagers.Some on wooden chairs, some on a wooden settee, with a broken back,which was ranged on one side.

  Joe frequently came here in the evening to pass a social hour andkill time. At the house of Major Norton he had no company. Oscarfelt above him, and did not deign to hold any intercourse with hisfather's drudge, while the housekeeper--Major Norton being awidower--was busy about her own special work, and would have wonderedat Joe if he had sought her company. I make this explanation becauseI do not wish it to be understood that Joe was a common villagelounger, or loafer.

  When Joe entered the store he found the usual company present, butwith one addition.

  This was Seth Larkin, who had just returned from California, whitherhe had gone eighteen months before, and was, of course, an object ofgreat attention, and plied with numerous questions by his oldacquaintances in regard to the land of promise in the far West, ofwhich all had heard so much.

  It was in the fall of the year 1851, and so in the early days ofCalifornia.

  Seth was speaking as Joe entered.

  "Is there gold in California?" repeated Seth, apparently in answer toa question. "I should say there was. Why, it's chock full of it.People haven't begun to find out the richness of the country. It'sthe place for a poor man to go if he wants to become rich. What'sthe prospects here? I ask any one of you. A man may go working andplodding from one year's end to another and not have ten dollars atthe end of it. There's some here that know that I speak the truth."