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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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1607  

"I will see that he does not recall you. Chester, if you don't come back at once I will punish you."

1608  

Looking at his aunt's angry face, Chester very reluctantly felt compelled to obey.

1609  

"Kiss me, Jed!" he said.

1610  

Jed bent over and kissed the little boy. Tears nearly came to his eyes when he felt that it might be for the last time.

1611  

"I trust, Jedediah," said Miss Holbrook stiffly, "that your sense of propriety will prevent your speaking to Chester again."

1612  

"Miss Holbrook," said Jed with a tremor in his voice, "as I am to leave Sea Spray tomorrow morning I shall hardly meet Chester again."

1613  

Then, as Chester walked away unwillingly with his aunt, Jed's heart sank within him. In all the world he seemed to be alone, and he cared little at that moment what was to become of him in the future.

1614  

CHAPTER XXI.
Jed Arrives in New York

1615  

JED counted over his money and found he had thirty-nine dollars and thirty-seven cents. He would have had more, but he had supplied himself with clothes, so that he was on the whole very well provided in that way.

1616  

He resolutely refused to borrow from Harry Bertram, though the actor pressed a loan upon him.

1617  

"No, Harry," he said, "I have almost forty dollars, and I am sure that will last me till I can earn some more."

1618  

"Well, perhaps so," replied the actor, "but you have no idea how fast money melts away. What are your plans?"

1619  

"I am afraid I haven't any," answered Jed, looking perplexed. "I want to make a living, but I don't know what I am fit for."

1620  

"Where do you mean to go?"

1621  

"I think I should like to go to New York," answered Jed. "I have never been there."

1622  

"You will find the city very dull at this time of year. Business is very quiet in August."

1623  

"But there must be a good many chances in a city of over a million inhabitants."

1624  

"Well, perhaps you may as well find out for yourself. I am afraid you will be dis- appointed."

1625  

Jed attached considerable importance to the opinion of his friend Bertram, but in his own mind there was a conviction that the other exaggerated the chances of failure. He was of a sanguine temperament himself, and this made him hopeful.

1626  

There were two ways of reaching New York from Sea Spray. One was a combination of cars and boat, the other took one all the way by steamer. This, on the whole, Jed preferred.

1627  

With his modest gripsack in his hand he passed over the gang-plank and took a seat forward. Next to him was a tall, thin man, dressed in shabby attire, who did not appear to have shaved for several days. Though the weather was warm, he had his coat buttoned tight across his chest, possibly to conceal the lack of a vest.

1628  

When the boat had been perhaps fifteen minutes under way, he turned and eyed Jed with some attention.

1629  

"Are you staying at Sea Spray this summer, young man?" he asked.

1630  

"I have spent some weeks there," answered Jed.

1631  

"I suppose you are going to New York for the day?"

1632  

"No; I am going for good. That is I hope I am going for good."

1633  

"You are going to fill a business position perhaps?"

1634  

"I hope so, but I have none engaged."

1635  

"Are you acquainted in New York?"

1636  

"No; I have never been there. This will be my first visit."

1637  

"Indeed! This is very interesting. I should be glad to help you to a position."

1638  

Jed thought privately that his new acquaintance must stand quite as much in need of a place as he, but courtesy led him to say, "Thank you."

1639  

"Have you any particular choice as to the business you take up?"

1640  

"No; anything that will enable me to pay my expenses will satisfy me."

1641  

"Just so. You have heard of H. B. Claflin, probably?"

1642  

"Yes; he is a dry goods merchant."

1643  

"On a very large scale. I have a mind to give you a letter to him."

1644  

"Do you know him?" asked Jed doubtfully.

1645  

"Yes; Horace and I used to go to school together. He was older than I, but we were pretty intimate."

1646  

"Why don't you apply for a position for yourself?"

1647  

"Dry goods are not in my line. I am an editor -- that is, an editorial writer."

1648  

"Indeed!"

1649  

Jed had read from time to time squibs and witty paragraphs touching the poverty of editors, and this seemed to explain the shabby appearance of his new friend.

1650  

"What paper do you write for?" he ventured to ask.

1651  

"I contribute editorially to most of the city dailies. Sometimes I get as high as fifteen and twenty dollars a column."

1652  

Jed was rather surprised at this. He concluded that Mr. Hamilton Barry -- for this was the name the stranger had given -- was not a very good financial manager.

1653  

"That seems a high price," said Jed.

1654  

"Yes, but brain-work ought to be paid handsomely. Do you ever write for publication yourself?"

1655  

"Oh, no," said Jed, flattered nevertheless by the question. "I haven't education enough."

1656  

"I thought if you did I might get you something to do. But perhaps business is more in your line?"

1657  

"I think it will be."

1658  

"Then I had better write you a note to Mr. Claflin. When we get to the city I will run into some hotel and write you a letter of recommendation."

1659  

"But, Mr. Barry, you don't know me. How can you recommend me?"

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