CHAPTER XXIV. HARRY'S LETTER
During Harry's absence, the little household at Granton had got alongabout as usual. They lived from hand to mouth. It required sharpfinanciering to provide food and clothes for the little family.
There was one neighbor who watched their progress sharply and this wasSquire Green. It will be remembered that he had bound Mr. Walton toforfeit ten dollars, if, at the end of six months, he was not preparedto pay the forty dollars and interest which he had agreed to pay for thecow. It is a proof of the man's intense meanness that, though rich whilehis neighbor was poor, he was strongly in hopes that the latter wouldincur the forfeit and be compelled to pay it.
One morning Squire Green accosted Mr. Walton, the squire being at workin his own front yard.
"Good morning, neighbor Walton," he said.
"Good morning, squire."
"How is that cow a-doin'?"
"Pretty well."
"She's a good cow."
"Not so good as the one I lost."
"You're jokin' now, neighbor. It was my best cow. I wouldn't have soldher except to obleege."
"She doesn't give as much milk as my old one."
"Sho! I guess you don't feed her as well as I did."
"She fares just as well as the other one did. Of course, I don't knowhow you fed her."
"She allers had her fill when she was with me. Le' me see, how long isit since I sold her to ye?"
Though the squire apparently asked for information, he knew the time toa day and was not likely to forget.
"It's between four and five months, I believe."
"Jus'so. You was to be ready to pay up at the end of six months."
"That was the agreement."
"You'd better be a-savin' up for it."
"There isn't much chance of my saving. It's all I can do to make bothends meet."
"You don't say so," said the squire, secretly pleased.
"My farm is small and poor, and doesn't yield much."
"But you work out, don't you?"
"When I get a chance. You don't want any help, do you, squire? I mightwork off part of the debt that way."
"Mebbe next spring I'd like some help."
"That will be too late to meet my note, unless you'll renew."
"I'll see about it," said the squire, evasively. "What do you hear fromthat boy of yours? Is he doin' well?"
"He's at work in a shoe shop."
"Does it pay well?"
"He doesn't get much just at first."
"Then he won't be able to pay for the cow," thought the squire. "That'swhat I wanted to know."
"He'd better have gone to work for me," he said
"No, I think he will do better away from home. He will get a good tradethat he can fall back upon hereafter, even if he follows some otherbusiness."
"Wal, I never learned no trade but I've got along middlin' well," saidthe squire, in a complacent tone. "Farmin's good enough for me."
"I would say the same if I had your farm, squire. You wouldn't exchange,would you?"
"That's a good joke, neighbor Walton. When I make up my mind to do it.I'll let you know."
"What a mean old curmudgeon he is!" thought Hiram Walton, as he kepton his way to the village store. "He evidently intends to keep me to myagreement and will exact the ten dollars in case I can't pay for the cowat the appointed time. It will be nothing but a robbery."
This was not the day for a letter from Harry but it occurred to Mr.Walton to call at the post office. Contrary to his anticipations, aletter was handed him.
"I won't open it till I get home," he said to himself.
"I've got a letter from Harry," he said, as he entered the house.
"A letter from Harry? It isn't his day for writing," said Mrs. Walton."What does he say?"
"I haven't opened the letter yet. Here, Tom, open and read it aloud."
Tom opened the letter and read as follows:
"Dear Father:--I must tell you, to begin with, that I have beencompelled to stop work in the shoe shop. The market is overstocked andtrade has become very dull.
"Of course, I felt quite bad when Mr. Leavitt told me this, for I fearedit would prevent my helping you pay for the cow, as I want so much todo. I went round to several other shops, hoping to get in, but I foundit impossible. Still, I have succeeded in getting something to do thatwill pay me better than work in the shop. If you were to guess all day,I don't believe you would guess what business it is. So, to relieve yoursuspense, I will tell you that I have engaged as assistant to ProfessorHenderson, the famous magician and ventriloquist and am to startto-morrow on a tour with him."
"Assistant to a magician!" exclaimed Mrs. Walton
"What does the boy know about magic?"
"It's a bully business," said Tom, enthusiastically. "I only wish I wasin Harry's shoes. I'd like to travel round with a magician first-rate."
"You're too thick-headed, Tom," said Marry.
"Shut up!" said Tom. "I guess I'm as smart as you, any day."
"Be quiet, both of you!" said Mr. Walton. "Now, Tom, go on with yourbrother's letter."
Tom proceeded: "I am to take money at the door. We are going aboutin the southern part of the State and shall visit some towns inMassachusetts, the professor says. You know I've never been round anyand I shall like traveling and seeing new places. Professor Hendersonis very kind and I think I shall like him. He pays my traveling expensesand five dollars a week, which is nearly twice as much money as I gotfrom Mr. Leavitt. I can't help thinking I am lucky in getting so good achance only a day after I lost my place in the shoe shop. I hope, yet,to be able to pay for the cow when the money comes due.
"Love to all at home.
"Harry."
"Harry's lucky," said Mary. "He can get along."
"He is fortunate to find employment at once," said his father; "thoughsomething which he can follow steadily is better. But the pay is goodand I am glad he has it."
"How long it seems since Harry was at home," said his mother. "I wish Icould see him."
"Yes, it would be pleasant," said Mr. Walton; "but the boy has his ownway to make, so we will be thankful that he is succeeding so well."