Risen from the Ranks; Or, Harry Walton's Success Read online

  CHAPTER 11.

  THE PRINTING OFFICE.

  Jotham Anderson, editor and publisher of the "Centreville Gazette,"was sitting at his desk penning an editorial paragraph, when theoffice door opened, and Harry Walton entered.

  "Good-morning, Mr. Anderson," said our hero, removing his hat.

  "Good-morning, my friend. I believe you have the advantage of me,"replied the editor.

  Our hero was taken aback. It didn't occur to him that the engagementwas a far less important event to the publisher than to himself. Hebegan to be afraid that the place had not been kept open for him.

  "My name is Harry Walton," he explained. "I was travelling withProf. Henderson last winter, and called here to get some billsprinted."

  "Oh yes, I remember you now. I agreed to take you into the office,"said the editor, to Harry's great relief.

  "Yes, air."

  "You haven't changed your mind, then?--You still want to be aprinter?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "You have left the Professor, I suppose."

  "I left him yesterday."

  "What did he pay you?"

  "Five dollars a week. He offered me six, if I would stay with him."

  "Of course you know that I can't pay you any such wages at present."

  "Yes, sir. You agreed to give me my board the first month, and twodollars a week for six months afterward."

  "That is all you will be worth to me at first. It is a good dealless than you would earn with Professor Henderson."

  "I know that, sir; but I am willing to come for that."

  "Good. I see you are in earnest about printing, and that is a goodsign. I wanted you to understand just what you had to expect, sothat you need not be disappointed."

  "I sha'n't be disappointed, sir," said Harry confidently. "I havemade up my mind to be a printer, and if you didn't receive me intoyour office, I would try to get in somewhere else."

  "Then no more need be said. When do you want to begin?"

  "I am ready any time."

  "Where is your trunk?"

  "At the tavern."

  "You can have it brought over to my house whenever you please. Thehotel-keeper will send it over for you. He is our expressman. Comeinto the house now, and I will introduce you to my wife."

  The editor's home was just across the street from his printingoffice. Followed by Harry he crossed the street, opened the frontdoor, and led the way into the sitting-room, where a pleasant-lookinglady of middle age was seated.

  "My dear," he said, "I bring you a new boarder."

  She looked at Harry inquiringly.

  "This young man," her husband explained, "is going into the office tolearn printing. I have taken a contract to make a second BenjaminFranklin of him."

  "Then you'll do more for him than you have been able to do foryourself," said Mrs. Anderson, smiling.

  "You are inclined to be severe, Mrs. Anderson, but I fear you arecorrect. However, I can be like a guide-post, which points the waywhich it does not travel. Can you show Harry Walton--for that is hisname--where you propose to put him?"

  "I am afraid I must give you a room in the attic," said Mrs.Anderson. "Our house is small, and all the chambers on the secondfloor are occupied."

  "I am not at all particular," said Harry. "I have not beenaccustomed to elegant accommodations."

  "If you will follow me upstairs, I will show you your room."

  Pausing on the third landing, Mrs. Anderson found the door of a smallbut comfortable bed-room. There was no carpet on the floor, but itwas painted yellow, and scrupulously clean. A bed, two chairs, abureau and wash-stand completed the list of furniture.

  "I shall like this room very well," said our hero.

  "There is a closet," said the lady, pointing to a door in the corner."It is large enough to contain your trunk, if you choose to put it inthere. I hope you don't smoke."

  "Oh, no, indeed," said Harry, laughing. "I haven't got so far alongas that."

  "Mr. Anderson's last apprentice--he is a journeyman now--was asmoker. He not only scented up the room, but as he was very carelessabout lights, I was continually alarmed lest he should set the houseon fire. Finally, I got so nervous that I asked him to boardsomewhere else."

  "Is he working for Mr. Anderson now?"

  "Yes; you probably saw him in the office."

  "I saw two young men at the case."

  "The one I speak of is the youngest. His name is John Clapp."

  "There is no danger of my smoking. I don't think it would do me anygood. Besides, it is expensive, and I can't afford it."

  "I see we think alike," said Mrs. Anderson, smiling. "I am sure wewill get along well together."

  "I shall try not to give you any trouble," said our hero, and histone, which was evidently sincere, impressed Mrs. Anderson still morefavorably.

  "You won't find me very hard to suit, I hope. I suppose you will behere to supper?"

  "If it will he quite convenient. My trunk is at the tavern, and Icould stay there till morning, if you wished."

  "Oh, no, come at once. Take possession of the room now, if you like,and leave an order to have your trunk brought here."

  "Thank you. What is your hour for supper?"

  "Half-past five."

  "Thank you. I will go over and speak to Mr. Anderson a minute."

  The editor looked up as Harry reappeared.

  "Well, have you settled arrangements with Mrs. Anderson?" he asked.

  "Yes, sir, I believe so."

  "I hope you like your room."

  "It is very comfortable. It won't take me long to feel at homethere."

  "Did she ask you whether you smoked?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "I thought she would. That's where Clapp and she fell out."

  Harry's attention was drawn to a thin, sallow young man of abouttwenty, who stood at a case on the opposite side of the room.

  "Mrs. Anderson was afraid I would set the house on fire," said theyoung man thus referred to.

  "Yes, she felt nervous about it. However, it is not surprising. Anuncle of hers lost his house in that way. I suppose you don't smoke,Walton?"

  "No, sir."

  "Clapp smokes for his health. You see how stout and robust he is,"said the editor, a little satirically.

  "It doesn't do me any harm," said Clapp, a little testily.

  "Oh, well, I don't interfere with you, though I think you would bebetter off if you should give up the habit. Ferguson don't smoke."

  This was the other compositor, a man of thirty, whose case was notfar distant from Clapp's.

  "I can't afford it," said Ferguson; "nor could Clapp, if he had awife and two young children to support."

  "Smoking doesn't cost much," said the younger journeyman.

  "So you think; but did you ever reckon it up?"

  "No."

  "Don't you keep any accounts?"

  "No; I spend when I need to, and I can always tell how much I haveleft. What's the use of keeping accounts?"

  "You can tell how you stand."

  "I can tell that without taking so much trouble."

  "You see we must all agree to disagree," said Mr. Anderson. "I amafraid Clapp isn't going to be a second Benjamin Franklin."

  "Who is?" asked Clapp.

  "Our young friend here," said the editor.

  "Oh, is he?" queried the other with a sneer. "It'll be a great honorI'm sure, to have him in the office."

  "Come, no chaffing, Clapp," said Mr. Anderson.

  Harry hastened to disclaim the charge, for Clapp's sneer affected himdisagreeably.

  "I admire Franklin," he said, "but there isn't much danger of myturning out a second edition of him."

  "Professional already, I see, Walton," said the editor.

  "When shall I go to work, Mr. Anderson?"

  "Whenever you are ready."

  "I am ready now."

  "You are prompt."

  "You won't be in such a hurry to g
o to work a week hence," said Clapp.

  "I think I shall," said Harry. "I am anxious to learn as fast aspossible."

  "Oh, I forgot. You want to become a second Franklin."

  "I sha'n't like him," thought our hero. "He seems to try to makehimself disagreeable."

  "Mr. Ferguson will give you some instruction, and set you to work,"said his employer.

  Harry was glad that it was from the older journeyman that he was toreceive his first lesson, and not from the younger.