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Read Ebook: The Train Boy by Alger Horatio Jr
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Ebook has 2648 lines and 53190 words, and 53 pages
"Rather dearly purchased, Grace," said the elder lady, "since it costs you forty-seven dollars."
"Oh, I consider your company worth that sum," said the young lady, playfully.
"Really, Grace, you have taken your loss very coolly."
"Would it do any good to make a lament over it, aunt?"
"No, perhaps not, but you seem in just as good spirits as if you had lost nothing."
"So I am, but I should not be if I were a poor seamstress, or a milliner's apprentice, for instance. Then it would be a serious thing for me."
"Well, Grace, all I can say is that it would annoy me very much if I had met with such a loss. I dare say I shouldn't sleep to-night."
"That would be foolish, aunt, to lose sleep as well as money."
At seven o'clock the train ran into the depot, and Miss Dearborn and her aunt rose from their seats.
"Can I call a carriage, Miss Dearborn?" asked Paul, politely.
"If you please, Paul."
"My dear, you are too familiar with that boy," said Mrs. Sheldon, while Paul was gone in search of a hack.
"He seems very well bred, aunt, and he is certainly polite and obliging."
"Come and see me, and bring your little sister," said Grace, smiling, as Paul handed her into the hack and closed the door after her.
Paul touched his hat, and then, leaving the depot, bent his steps toward his humble home, where supper and a warm welcome awaited him.
PAUL PALMER AT HOME.
In a small two-story house, not far from the junction of a side street with Lake street, lived Mrs. Palmer, Paul's mother.
It was rather shabby-looking externally, being sadly in want of paint, but Mrs. Palmer's rooms on the second floor were neatly, though plainly furnished, and scrupulously clean.
There was an outside staircase, so that the second floor was independent of the first.
Paul ran up stairs, and opened the door, entering at once into the sitting-room, where his mother and sister were seated.
Mrs. Palmer's face brightened at the sight of Paul. He was always full of life and gayety, and his coming never failed to cheer her.
"So you are back again, Paul," she said, smiling a welcome.
"Yes, mother, and I am hungry, I can tell you. Is supper most ready?"
"It will be in five minutes," said his mother, folding up her work and going into the adjoining room. "I have got some dipped toast for you to-night."
"Just what I like."
"But I delayed putting the toast into the dip till you came. There is some minced meat."
"In other words, hash," said Paul, laughing.
"I think you will find it good, in spite of the name."
"Oh, I am sure to like it, since it is home-made. At the restaurants I am a little afraid; I don't know but it may be made of dogs or cats."
"Do they make it of dogs or cats, Paul?" asked his little sister, curiously.
"I don't know," said Paul; "I won't swear to it. All I know is that there's a lot of dogs and cats that disappear mysteriously every year in Chicago."
Meanwhile Mrs. Palmer had been busily completing her arrangements for supper, and it was ready within the five minutes mentioned.
"Supper's ready, Paul. I haven't made you wait long," she said.
"No, mother; you're always on time, like an express train."
"What sort of a day have you had, Paul? Did you sell much?"
"Yes, more than usual. How much do you think I made?"
"A dollar and a quarter?"
"More than that. A dollar and seventy-five cents."
"That is very good indeed. It would take me a week to make as much as that by sewing."
"They pay mean wages for sewing, mother. I wouldn't slave at that kind of work."
"I shouldn't like to depend upon that kind of work altogether, but I can just as well earn something that way. I don't want you to support Grace and me in idleness."
"No danger of your being idle, mother. That doesn't come natural to you. Some time or other I hope to support you as a lady."
"I hope you will be prospered, Paul; but I shall never be willing to fold my hands and do nothing."
"Then again I don't want always to live in this poor place," pursued Paul.
"It is comfortable. I feel fortunate in having so good a home."
"It would be easier to find a better one if we could afford to pay more rent. Of course this will do for the present. What have you been doing to-day, Grace?"
"I went to school this morning, and I have been studying arithmetic and geography at home since school was over."
"You will become a famous scholar in time, Grace."
"I never expect to know as much as mother," said Grace.
"I hope you will know a good deal more," said Mrs. Palmer.
"You know ever so much, mother."
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