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Jed, The Poorhouse Boy

Creator: Horatio Alger (author)
Date: 1899
Publisher: The John Winston Company. Philadelphia
Source: Available at selected libraries
Figures From This Artifact: Figure 2

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1066  

"Is it far away?"

1067  

"About fifty miles. I'll tell you what, Jed, you had better come with me. Something may turn up for you."

1068  

"What is the fare, Mr. Bertram?"

1069  

"About a dollar and a half. You will have some money coming to you. You haven't been paid anything yet, have you?"

1070  

"No; I didn't suppose I was entitled to any."

1071  

"You will get something. I will speak to the treasurer and arrange matters for you."

1072  

Accordingly on Saturday evening, after the last performance, Jed was made happy by receiving twelve dollars, or at the rate of four dollars per week for the time he had been employed.

1073  

"Mr. Mordaunt directs me to say that he would pay you more if the business would permit," said the treasurer.

1074  

"Tell him this is more than I expected," said Jed elated.

1075  

"That isn't professional," remarked Bertram smiling. "Actors generally claim to be worth a good deal more than they are paid."

1076  

"I haven't been on the stage long enough to be professional," said Jed.

1077  

Early on Monday morning Jed and his friend Bertram took the cars for Sea Spray. As they neared the coast, the ocean breeze entered cool and refreshing through the open windows. Presently the cars stopped, only two hundred feet from the bluff, and Jed for the first time gazed with delight at the Atlantic billows rolling in on the beach.

1078  

"This is beautiful!" he exclaimed. "I hope I can stay here all summer."

1079  

"Have you never seen the sea before?"

1080  

"No; I have never travelled before. All my life has been spent at Scranton."

1081  

"Take a walk with me along Ocean Avenue, and I will see what chance there is of my obtaining employment."

1082  

Harry Bertram made his way to the principal hotel, where he knew there was a Western Union office. He told Jed to sit down in the reading-room while he sought for information.

1083  

In ten minutes he came back with a smile of satisfaction on his face.

1084  

"I am in great luck," he said. "The operator here has just been summoned home by the serious illness of his father in Chicago. He was considering whom he could get to take his place when I presented myself. The result is that I am engaged to take charge of the telegraph office at twelve dollars a week and my board."

1085  

"Then you are provided for."

1086  

"Yes. I can get through the summer very well."

1087  

"I should think so. You will have the twelve dollars a week clear."

1088  

"No; I must get a room outside. However, my predecessor has recommended his -- in a private house about a quarter of a mile from the shore -- at only four dollars a week."

1089  

"Then I suppose we must part," said Jed with a tinge of sadness.

1090  

"No, Jed. You shall room with me, and your room will cost you nothing. As to meals, I can see you through till you secure some work."

1091  

"But I don't want to be a burden upon you, Mr. Bertram."

1092  

"I don't mean that you shall be, any longer than is necessary. It will go hard if a boy like you can't find something to do that will buy his meals at a crowded watering-place."

1093  

"Thank you, Mr. Bertram. I have money enough left to buy my meals for two weeks at least."

1094  

"If we were at a regular office I could employ you as messenger, but most of the messages will come to guests in the hotel."

1095  

"I don't know exactly what I can do, but I am ready to do anything."

1096  

"Except black boots," said Bertram with a smile.

1097  

"I don't think I should like to do that if there is anything else to be found."

1098  

"I couldn't think of allowing a member of our honorable profession to undertake such menial employment."

1099  

Harry Bertram went to work that evening. Jed kept him company in the office a part of the time, and during the three succeeding days went from one hotel to another to see if he could obtain anything to do.

1100  

But every position had been filled for the season. Jed began to fear that there was no work for him at Sea Spray.

1101  

On the fourth morning, as he was sitting with Bertram, a gentleman whom he had several times seen -- a guest of the house -- approached them.

1102  

"Is this boy your brother?" he asked of Bertram.

1103  

"No, but he is my valued friend. In fact, I may call myself his guardian for the time being."

1104  

"Yes," assented Jed with a smile.

1105  

"He does not assist you?"

1106  

"No, he knows nothing of telegraphy."

1107  

"Would you like employment?" asked the gentleman, turning to Jed.

1108  

"I am very anxious to get work," said Jed quickly.

1109  

"Then I think I may be able to meet your wishes. How old are you?"

1110  

"Sixteen."

1111  

"You may have seen a boy of ten walking about with me?"

1112  

"Yes, sir."

1113  

"He is my son. He and I are here alone, but until yesterday I had a nurse in my employ whose sole business was to look after Chester. I felt entire confidence in her, but discovered last evening that she had purloined some jewelry belonging to me. Of course I discharged her instantly, and in consequence am obliged to find some one in her place.

1114  

"Chester objects to another nurse. It hurts his boyish pride to have a woman accompanying him everywhere. It appears to me that a boy old enough to look after him will suit him much better. But perhaps you would not like being encumbered with a small boy?"

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