CHAPTER XXVIII.
AFTER A YEAR.
Twelve months passed without any special incident. With Carl it was aperiod of steady and intelligent labor and progress. He had excellentmechanical talent, and made remarkable advancement. He was not contentwith attention to his own work, but was a careful observer of the workof others, so that in one year he learned as much of the business asmost boys would have done in three.
When the year was up, Mr. Jennings detained him after supper.
"Do you remember what anniversary this is, Carl?" he asked, pleasantly.
"Yes, sir; it is the anniversary of my going into the factory."
"Exactly. How are you satisfied with the year and its work?"
"I have been contented and happy, Mr. Jennings; and I feel that I owe myhappiness and content to you."
Mr. Jennings looked pleased.
"I am glad you say so," he said, "but it is only fair to add that yourown industry and intelligence have much to do with the satisfactoryresults of the year."
"Thank you, sir."
"The superintendent tells me that outside of your own work you havea general knowledge of the business which would make you a valuableassistant to himself in case he needed one."
Carl's face glowed with pleasure.
"I believe in being thorough," he said, "and I am interested in everydepartment of the business."
"Before you went into the factory you had not done any work."
"No, sir; I had attended school."
"It was not a bad preparation for business, but in some cases it gives aboy disinclination for manual labor."
"Yes; I wouldn't care to work with my hands all my life."
"I don't blame you for that. You have qualified yourself for somethingbetter. How much do I pay you?"
"I began on two dollars a week and my board. At the end of six monthsyou kindly advanced me to four dollars."
"I dare say you have found it none too much for your wants."
Carl smiled.
"I have saved forty dollars out of it," he answered.
Mr. Jennings looked pleased.
"You have done admirably," he said, warmly. "Forty dollars is not alarge sum, but in laying it by you have formed a habit that will beof great service to you in after years. I propose to raise you to tendollars a week."
"But, sir, shall I earn so much? You are very kind, but I am afraid youwill be a loser by your liberality."
Mr. Jennings smiled.
"You are partly right," he said. "Your services at present are hardlyworth the sum I have agreed to pay, that is, in the factory, but I shallprobably impose upon you other duties of an important nature soon."
"If you do, sir, I will endeavor to meet your expectations."
"How would you like to take a journey Carl?"
"Very much, sir."
"I think of sending you--to Chicago."
Carl, who had thought perhaps of a fifty-mile trip, looked amazed, buthis delight was equal to his surprise. He had always wished to see theWest, though Chicago can hardly be called a Western city now, sincebetween it and the Pacific there is a broad belt of land two thousandmiles in extent.
"Do you think I am competent?" he asked, modestly.
"I cannot say positively, but I think so," answered Mr. Jennings.
"Then I shall be delighted to go. Will it be very soon?"
"Yes, very soon. I shall want you to start next Monday."
"I will be ready, sir."
"And I may as well explain what are to be your duties. I am, as youknow, manufacturing a special line of chairs which I am desirous ofintroducing to the trade. I shall give you the names of men in my linein Albany, Buffalo, Cleveland and Chicago, and it will be your duty tocall upon them, explain the merits of the chair, and solicit orders. Inother words, you will be a traveling salesman or drummer. I shall payyour traveling expenses, ten dollars a week, and, if your orders exceeda certain limit, I shall give you a commission on the surplus."
"Suppose I don't reach that limit?"
"I shall at all events feel that you have done your best. I willinstruct you a little in your duties between now and the time of yourdeparture. I should myself like to go in your stead, but I am neededhere. There are, of course, others in my employ, older than yourself,whom I might send, but I have an idea that you will prove to be a goodsalesman."
"I will try to be, sir."
On Monday morning Carl left Milford, reached New York in two hours anda half and, in accordance with the directions of Mr. Jennings, engagedpassage and a stateroom on one of the palatial night lines of HudsonRiver steamers to Albany. The boat was well filled with passengers, anda few persons were unable to procure staterooms.
Carl, however, applied in time, and obtained an excellent room. Hedeposited his gripsack therein, and then took a seat on deck, meaning toenjoy as long as possible the delightful scenery for which the Hudsonis celebrated. It was his first long journey, and for this reason Carlenjoyed it all the more. He could not but contrast his present positionand prospects with those of a year ago, when, helpless and penniless, heleft an unhappy home to make his own way.
"What a delightful evening!" said a voice at his side.
Turning, Carl saw sitting by him a young man of about thirty, dressed insomewhat pretentious style and wearing eyeglasses. He was tall and thin,and had sandy side whiskers.
"Yes, it is a beautiful evening," replied Carl, politely.
"And the scenery is quite charming. Have you ever been all the way upthe river?"
"No, but I hope some day to take a day trip."
"Just so. I am not sure but I prefer the Rhine, with its romanticcastles and vineclad hills."
"Have you visited Europe, then?" asked Carl.
"Oh, yes, several times. I have a passion for traveling. Our family iswealthy, and I have been able to go where I pleased."
"That must be very pleasant."
"It is. My name is Stuyvesant--one of the old Dutch families."
Carl was not so much impressed, perhaps, as he should have been by thisannouncement, for he knew very little of fashionable life in New York.
"You don't look like a Dutchman," he said, smiling.
"I suppose you expected a figure like a beer keg," rejoined Stuyvesant,laughing. "Some of my forefathers may have answered that description,but I am not built that way. Are you traveling far?"
"I may go as far as Chicago."
"Is anyone with you?"
"No."
"Perhaps you have friends in Chicago?"
"Not that I am aware of. I am traveling on business."
"Indeed; you are rather young for a business man."
"I am sixteen."
"Well, that cannot exactly be called venerable."
"No, I suppose not."
"By the way, did you succeed in getting a stateroom?"
"Yes, I have a very good one."
"You're in luck, on my word. I was just too late. The man ahead of metook the last room."
"You can get a berth, I suppose."
"But that is so common. Really, I should not know how to travel withouta stateroom. Have you anyone with you?"
"No."
"If you will take me in I will pay the entire expense."
Carl hesitated. He preferred to be alone, but he was of an obligingdisposition, and he knew that there were two berths in the stateroom.
"If it will be an accommodation," he said, "I will let you occupy theroom with me, Mr. Stuyvesant."
"Will you, indeed! I shall esteem it a very great favor. Where is yourroom?"
"I will show you."
Carl led the way to No. 17, followed by his new acquaintance. Mr.Stuyvesant seemed very much pleased, and insisted on paying for the roomat once. Carl accepted half the regular charges, and so the bargain wasmade.
At ten o'clock the two travelers retired to bed. Carl was tired andwent to sleep at once. He slept through the night. When he awoke inthe morning the boat was in dock. He heard voices
in the cabin, and thenoise of the transfer of baggage and freight to the wharf.
"I have overslept myself," he said, and jumped up, hurriedly. He lookedinto the upper berth, but his roommate was gone. Something else wasgone, too--his valise, and a wallet which he had carried in the pocketof his trousers.