Chester Rand; or, The New Path to Fortune Read online

  CHAPTER II.

  OUT OF WORK.

  Chester had a talk with his mother that evening. She felt indignant atSilas Tripp's meanness, but advised Chester to remain in the store forthe present.

  "I'd rather work anywhere else for two dollars," said Chester,bitterly.

  It would be humiliating enough to accept the reduction, but he feltthat duty to his mother required the sacrifice. He started on his wayto the store in the morning, prepared to notify Mr. Tripp that he wouldremain, but he found that it was too late. Just before he reached thestore, he met Abel Wood, a loose-jointed, towheaded boy, with a stoutbody and extraordinarily long legs, who greeted him with a grin.

  "I'm goin' to work in your place Monday mornin'," he said.

  "Has Mr. Tripp spoken to you?" asked Chester, his heart sinking.

  "Yes, he said you was goin' to leave. What's up?"

  "Mr. Tripp cut down my wages," said Chester. "I couldn't work for twodollars and a half."

  "He's only goin' to give me two and a quarter."

  "You can afford to work for that. Your father's got steady work."

  "Yes, but all the same I'll ask for more in a few weeks. Where are yougoin' to work?"

  "I don't know yet," answered Chester, sadly.

  "It's awful hard to get a place in Wyncombe."

  "I suppose it is. I hope something will turn up."

  He tried to speak hopefully, but there was very little hope in hisheart.

  He went about his work in a mechanical way, but neglected nothing. Whenthe time came for the store to close, Silas Tripp took three dollarsfrom the drawer and handed it to him, saying: "There's your wages,Chester. I expect it's the last I'll pay you."

  "Yes, sir, I suppose so."

  "I don't know how I'll like the Wood boy. He hain't no experience."

  "He'll get it, sir."

  "If you want to stay for two and a quarter--the same I'm going to givehim--I'll tell him I've changed my mind."

  "No, sir; it wouldn't be right to put him off now. I guess I'll getsomething else to do."

  He turned and left the store, walking with a slower step than usual.His heart was heavy, for he felt that, poorly as they lived hitherto,they must live more poorly still in the days to come. He reached homeat last, and put the three dollars in his mother's hands.

  "I don't know when I shall have any more money to give you, mother," hesaid.

  "It looks dark, Chester, but the Lord reigns. He will still be ourfriend."

  There was something in these simple words that cheered Chester, and aweight seemed lifted from his heart. He felt that they were not quitefriendless, and that there was still One, kinder and more powerful thanany earthly friend, to whom they could look for help.

  When Monday morning came he rose at the usual hour and breakfasted.

  "I'll go out and take a walk, mother," he said. "Perhaps I may findsome work somewhere."

  Almost unconsciously, he took the familiar way to the store, and pausedat a little distance from it. He saw Abel come out with some packagesto carry to a customer. It pained him to see another boy in his place,and he turned away with a sigh.

  During the night four or five inches of snow had fallen. This gave himan idea. As he came to the house of the Misses Cleveland, two maidensisters who lived in a small cottage set back fifty feet from the road,he opened the gate and went up to the front door.

  Miss Jane Cleveland opened it for him.

  "Good-morning, Chester," she said.

  "Good-morning, Miss Cleveland. I thought you might want to get a pathshoveled to the gate."

  "So I would; Hannah tried to do it last time it snowed, but she caughtan awful cold. But ain't you working up at the store?"

  "Not now. Mr. Tripp cut down my wages, and I left."

  "Do tell. Have you got another place?"

  "Not just yet. I thought I'd do any little jobs that came along till Igot one."

  "That's right. What'll you charge to shovel a path?"

  Chester hesitated.

  "Fifteen cents," he answered, at last.

  "I'll give you ten. Money's skerce."

  Chester reflected that he could probably do the job in half an hour,and he accepted. It cheered him to think he was earning something,however small.

  He worked with a will, and in twenty-five minutes the work was done.

  "You're spry," said Jane Cleveland, when he brought the shovel to thedoor. "It took Hannah twice as long, and she didn't do it as well."

  "It isn't the kind of work for ladies," replied Chester.

  "Wait till I fetch the money."

  Miss Cleveland went into the house, and returned with a nickel and fourpennies.

  "I'm reely ashamed," she said. "I'll have to owe you a cent. But here'sa mince pie I've just baked. Take it home to your ma. Maybe it'll comehandy. I'll try to think of the other cent next time you come along."

  "Don't trouble yourself about it, Miss Cleveland. The pie is worth agood deal more than the cent. Mother'll be very much obliged to you."

  "She's very welcome, I'm sure," said the kindly spinster. "I hopeyou'll get work soon, Chester."

  "Thank you."

  Chester made his way homeward, as he did not care to carry the pieabout with him. His mother looked at him in surprise as he entered thehouse.

  "What have you there, Chester?" she asked.

  "A pie from Miss Cleveland."

  "But how came she to give you a pie?"

  "I shoveled a path for her, and she gave me a pie and ten cents--no,nine. So you see, mother, I've earned something this week."

  "I take it as a good omen. A willing hand will generally find work todo."

  "How are you off for wood, mother?"

  "There is some left, Chester."

  "I'll go out in the yard and work at the wood pile till dinner time.Then this afternoon I will go out again and see if I can find some morepaths to shovel."

  But Chester was not destined to earn any more money that day. As ageneral thing, the village people shoveled their own paths, and wouldregard hiring such work done as sinful extravagance. Chester did,however, find some work to do. About half-past three he met Abel Woodtugging a large basket, filled with groceries, to the minister's house.He had set it down, and was resting his tired arms when Chester camealong.

  "Give me a lift with this basket, Chester, that's a good fellow," saidAbel.

  Chester lifted it.

  "Yes, it is heavy," he said.

  "The minister's got some company," went on Abel, "and he's given anextra large order."

  "How do you like working in the store, Abel?"

  "It's hard work, harder than I thought."

  "But remember what a magnificent salary you will get," said Chester,with a smile.

  "It ain't half enough. Say, Chester, old Tripp is rich, ain't he?"

  "I should call myself rich if I had his money."

  "He's a miserly old hunks, then, to give me such small pay."

  "Don't let him hear you say so."

  "I'll take care of that. Come, you'll help me, won't you?"

  "Yes," answered Chester, good-naturedly; "I might as well, as I havenothing else to do."

  Between the two the basket was easily carried. In a short time they hadreached the minister's house. They took the basket around to the sidedoor, just as Mr. Morris, the minister, came out, accompanied by ayoung man, who was evidently a stranger in the village, as Chester didnot remember having seen him before.

  "Chester," said the minister, kindly, "how does it happen that you havean assistant to-day?"

  "I am the assistant, Mr. Morris. Abel is Mr. Tripp's new boy."

  "Indeed, I am surprised to hear that. When did you leave the store?"

  "Last Saturday night."

  "Have you another place?"

  "Not yet."

  "Are you at leisure this afternoon?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "Then perhaps you will walk around with my friend, Mr. Conrad, and showhim the village. I
was going with him, but I have some writing to do,and you will do just as well."

  "I shall be very happy to go with Mr. Conrad," said Chester, politely.

  "And I shall be very glad to have you," said the young man, with apleasant smile.

  "Come back to supper, Chester," said the minister; "that is, if yourmother can spare you."

  "Thank you, sir. I suppose you will be able to carry back the emptybasket, Abel," added Chester, as his successor emerged from the sidedoor, relieved of his burden.

  "I guess so," answered Abel, with a grin.

  "I was never in Wyncombe before," began Mr. Conrad, "though I am asecond cousin of your minister, Mr. Morris. I have to go away to-morrowmorning, and wish to see a little of the town while I am here."

  "Where do you live, Mr. Conrad?"

  "In the city of New York."

  "Are you a minister, too?"

  "Oh, no!" laughed the young man. "I am in a very different business. Iam an artist--in a small way. I make sketches for books and magazines."

  "And does that pay?"

  "Fairly well. I earn a comfortable living."

  "I didn't know one could get money for making pictures. I like to draw,myself."

  "I will see what you can do this evening; that is, if you accept mycousin's invitation."

  Before the walk was over Chester had become much interested in his newfriend. He listened eagerly to his stories of the great city, and feltthat life must be much better worth living there than in Wyncombe.