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Jed, The Poorhouse Boy
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1444 | At this point a neighbor's boy, Joe Coakley, entered the yard. | |
1445 | "Here's a letter for you, Mr. Fogson," he said. "I guess it's from a lady." | |
1446 | With considerable surprise Mr. Fogson took the letter in his hand. The envelope was square, and of fine paper, while the address was in a lady's handwriting. | |
1447 | Mr. Fogson examined the postmark curiously. | |
1448 | "Sea Spray!" he repeated. "Why, that's a fashionable watering-place. Who can have written me from there?" | |
1449 | Just then Mrs. Fogson came out from the side door. "What letter have you there?" she asked. | |
1450 | "It is from a lady, Mrs. F.," answered her husband with a grin. | |
1451 | "What business has a lady writing to you?" demanded Mrs. Fogson suspiciously. | |
1452 | "Really I don't know, as I have not read the letter." | |
1453 | "Give it to me!" | |
1454 | "No, thank you. I read my own letters." | |
1455 | "Mr. Fogson, if you are engaged in a private correspondence with any lady I intend to find out all about it." | |
1456 | "Don't be a fool, Mrs. F.; I don't know who the writer is, and I have never had a letter from her before." | |
1457 | By this time he had opened the envelope, and his face quickly assumed an expression of interest. | |
1458 | "It's about Jed," he exclaimed. "Til read it to you." | |
1459 | This was the letter: | |
1460 | My Dear Sir: | |
1461 | I am informed that you can give me information as to the past history of Jedediah Gilman. Some weeks ago my brother, Robert Holbrook, a well-known merchant of New York, engaged the boy as a companion and personal attendant of his young son Chester, without knowing much about him or taking the trouble to inquire. Having seen the boy, I have doubts as to whether he is a suitable companion for a boy in my nephew's high social station. I learn from young Mr. Percy Dixon, of your town, that you can give me full information as to the boy's antecedents. I shall feel indebted to you if you will take the trouble to communicate with me by letter. My brother is now in Chicago, and I am in temporary charge of my nephew. I feel that it is my duty to inquire into the character of a boy who by his intimate association with him may, if he is unworthy, do incalculable harm to his young and trustful nature. | |
1462 |
Yours very truly, Maria Holbrook, | |
1463 | "Well, upon my word!" ejaculated Mrs. Fogson. "So that young villain has wormed his way into the confidence of a rich New York merchant!" | |
1464 | "Like a snake in the grass," suggested Simeon Fogson. | |
1465 | "Exactly. It makes me shudder to think what an impostor he is. It is providential that Percy Dixon should find him out and show him up." | |
1466 | "I'll show him up!" said Fogson, nodding. "I'll just write to Miss Holbrook, and tell her of his goin's on. I reckon he won't keep his place long after they get my letter." | |
1467 | "You'd better let me write the letter, Simeon." | |
1468 | "No, Mrs. F., the letter was addressed to me, and I'm goin' to answer it." | |
1469 | "Just as you like, Mr. Fogson, but you are well aware that you are weak in your spell- mg. | |
1470 | "Never mind, Mrs. F., I reckon I can make myself understood." "Just as you like, Fogson. Only make it strong enough." | |
1471 | "You can trust me for that." | |
1472 |
CHAPTER XIX. | |
1473 | IN a front room on the second floor of the Spray Hotel sat Miss Maria Holbrook with a letter in her hand. It was written on the cheapest note-paper, and inclosed in a plebeian brown envelope. | |
1474 | Of course it will be understood that it was the epistolary effort of Mr. Simeon Fogson. | |
1475 | "Just as I thought!" soliloquized the lady. "This boy seems to be a disreputable char- acter of the lowest antecedents, and utterly unworthy to associate even as a servant with a member of my family." | |
1476 | Here Chester entered in his usual impetuous manner. | |
1477 | "Oh, Aunt Maria," he cried, "I had a bully bath." | |
1478 | "I am shocked to hear you use such a low term as 'bully,' Chester," said his aunt "No doubt you learned it of Jedediah." | |
1479 | "No, I didn't. Jed never uses the word. At least I never heard him." | |
1480 | "Will you tell Jedediah that I wish to see him at once on important business?" | |
1481 | "It seems funny to hear you call him Jedediah, Aunt Maria." | |
1482 | "I apprehend that it is his right name; 'Jed' sounds low." | |
1483 | "Well, I'll tell him to come up." | |
1484 | When Jed made his appearance Miss Holbrook said: "You may go below, Chester. I wish to speak to Jedediah in private." | |
1485 | "What's up now, I wonder?" thought Jed. | |
1486 | The lady turned upon him a severe look. | |
1487 | "Jedediah," she said, "is it true that your earlier years were spent at the Scranton poorhouse?" | |
1488 | "Yes, madam," answered Jed, coloring. | |
1489 | "Did you apprise my brother of this fact when he engaged you?" | |
1490 | "No, madam. I suppose you learned it from Percy Dixon." | |
1491 | "I learned it from young Mr. Dixon, but I could hardly believe it. He referred me to Mr. Simeon Fogson. of Scranton, and I have a letter from that gentleman in my hand. You probably will not care to read it" | |
1492 | "I should like very much to read it, Miss Holbrook. I should like to know whether Mr. Fogson tells the truth." | |
1493 | "Here is the letter, then." | |
1494 | Jed read it with conflicting emotions. | |
1495 | Respected Madam: |