It will be admitted that Tom Gordon and Jim Travers had met with a prettystirring experience, as a result of the visit of the circus and menagerieto Briggsville. Tom had not been able to attend the performance; but itmay be said he was favored with a little "circus" of his own, in which heplayed the part of star performer. But all's well that ends well, and hehad the pleasure of walking into his humble home and turning over to hismother the handsome reward paid for the restoration of Tippo Sahib,comparatively unharmed, to the owner. He was so well liked by teacher andplaymates that all congratulated him. There was no jealousy of his goodfortune, for there was none more deserving, and, it may be added, no morein need of the material help given by that one hundred dollars.
But what has been told was but an incident in the life of the two boys,whose fortunes I have set out to tell. A remarkable train of circumstancesin due course involved the lads in a series of incidents which had animportant bearing on their future lives, and taught a lesson which younglads cannot learn too often in this world.
Tom and Jim devoted themselves more closely than ever to their schoolstudies, and, as a result, became two of the best-informed pupils at thatcrude institution of learning. They grew to be strong, sturdy youths, asfond of athletic sports as they were of study, and with a promise of theright sort of success in life. Neither dreamed of what the immediatefuture had in store for them.
A year after the incident of the tiger, Tom's Aunt Cynthia peacefullydied, and a few month later, to his almost inconsolable grief, his belovedmother passed away. Thus he was left an orphan, without brother or sister.The blow was a crushing one, and for weeks he wished to die and join thedear ones that had gone before. He grieved until his friends feared he wasfalling into a decline, and became seriously concerned for him.
It has been truly said, however, that no person in the enjoyment of healthand vigor of body can long be crushed by affliction. He will rally sooneror later. Thus it proved in the case of Tom Gordon. His former strengthand spirits gradually came back to him. There were moments and hours whenhe was weighed down by his great loss; but it was gradually softened bythe passage of time, until the day came when his friends believed he hadfully recovered from the sorrow that had nearly driven the life from hisbody and soul.
One sad feature of his affliction was that he was left almost penniless.With all the thrift, frugality, and self-denial of mother and aunt, theyhad been able to leave the youth hardly anything at all when they died.The humble home, with all its belongings, was sold for less than themortgage, and Tom found himself with little besides the clothes he woreand a few precious mementoes of those that had passed away.
In a community where he was so favorably known, it was impossible that heshould suffer actual want. More than one home was offered him, not onlyuntil he could find some situation or engage in some trade, but as long ashe chose to avail himself of it.
Tom was forced to accept some one of these offers, and he went home withJim Travers until he could decide what to do. He knew he was welcomethere, and could stay as long as he wished, though he had no thought ofbecoming a burden upon the kind friends that had opened their doors tohim.
Now, it was this change in the surroundings in the daily life of TomGordon that led to the singular incidents I have set out to tell.
Jim Travers lived alone with his father, who was in fair circumstances.His mother had died in his infancy; and his only sister, Maggie, was hisplaymate for a few years longer, when she departed to join the loved onethat had preceded her. The husband and father became a lonely and bowedman, whose years were far less than they seemed. Although a farmer in asmall way, he committed the sad error of engaging in stock speculations,more with a view of diverting his mind from his gnawing grief than withthe hope of bettering his fortune. It is hardly necessary to relate whatfollowed. He was successful for a time, and improved his financialstanding. He gladly welcomed Tom Gordon beneath his roof, for he knew hisown boy could not have a playmate whose company would be more improving tohim. Then Mr. Travers dipped more deeply into speculation. With brighterprospects than ever, there came the fateful hour in Wall Street, whenevery penny was swept from him.
"I am a beggar!" he gasped, when the whole dreadful truth broke upon him;"and I am too old to begin life again. It is better that I should die."
And die he did in the great city of New York. The shock was fatal; and hisbody was brought back to Briggsville, and laid to rest beside the forms ofhis wife and little Maggie, that had died long before. Jim was dazed bythe unexpected blow. It became the privilege of Tom Gordon to act as hiscomforter, but it was a long time before the little fellow came out fromthe valley of shadow into the life-giving sunlight again.
But here was the solemn situation: Tom Gordon and Jim Travers wereorphans, with no near relatives, and with only their own hands to earntheir daily bread. What was the best thing for them to do?
This was the grave question which the two boys sat down to answer in thegloom of a wintry evening, when they were about fourteen years of age.They had received plenty of counsel, and much of it was excellent. Theteacher, the minister, and numerous good neighbors had been as kind asthey could possibly be, and the youths knew no real hardship could come tothem as long as they stayed in or near the place where they were born.
But they were not satisfied to do so. They felt they ought to strike outfor themselves, and Briggsville was not the place to do it. Theopportunities were too few.
They talked for a long time in an aimless way, discussing numerousschemes, but without agreeing upon any.
"Jim, let's go to New York."
Tom made the proposition as though it had come to him that moment, when intruth it had been in his mind from the first, as it was with Jim, who wason the point of uttering it, but was waiting for his friend, because hewas a few months older and took the lead in all matters.
"I wonder if that wouldn't be the best thing to do," remarked Jim, likeone to whom the idea was new.
"Neither of us has ever been in New York. It is a great place, full ofdangers of all kinds, but there are chances for every one to get along, ifhe will do what's right and isn't afraid to work."
"If we should tell the people what we have in mind, they would advise usto stay here or to try Philadelphia."
"We must pass Philadelphia to get to New York, but I don't feel likestaying there, do you, Jim?"
"No; I don't fancy the place. Father took me there once when I was a weeyounker, and it struck me as being slow."
Tom laughed at the thought of a little fellow being impressed that way byone of the leading cities in the Union. He, too, had been in the large andhandsome town, but for some reason, which he could not explain, had formeda prejudice against it. He shook his head at the proposition of tryingtheir fortunes there.
"Philadelphia isn't big enough for us," he remarked quizzically; "New Yorkis the only place where we can spread and grow."
"Then I propose we go to New York to seek our fortune. What do you say?"
"We'll stick together."
And the young friends reached their hands toward each other and claspedthem in the dim light of Jim Travers's room.
It was an important decision they had reached, and they talked over thematter for a long time. Each had quite a little sum of money, which theyhad saved with scrupulous care. They had good serviceable clothing, withsomething extra in the way of change. The executors of Mr. Travers hadcompleted their duty and made their report to court. As in the case of theWidow Gordon, not a penny was left for the boy, and the house andeverything it contained was to pass into the hands of strangers.
Jim Travers and Tom Gordon were occupying their single room on sufferance.The new-comers were to take possession on the first of the followingmonth, and a hint had been given the boys which it was impossible for themto misunderstand. Their room was preferable to their company.
"Next Tuesday is the first," remarked Jim; "I suppose we can stay here thefew days until then."
"That's less th
an a week. What's the use of waiting when we have made upour minds to go?" was the pertinent question of Tom. "I prefer not to meetthose folks that are coming here."
"That's the way I feel," assented the younger, striving to repress hisardor over the prospect. "They will put on airs, turn up their noses atus, and make themselves at home. I can't bear," he added, his voiceslightly trembling, "to see them parading through the house which fatherowned, and walking into his room as if no one else had the right to gothere."
"Well, I'm glad, Jim, that we think alike. Tomorrow we'll bid our friendsgood-by and take the afternoon train to New York."
"That suits me. It would hardly be right to slip off without sayinganything to the fellows. We'll call on them all."
"Yes; that is right. I promised Sam Harper to let him know about it."
"I suppose you did, and you won't forget to tell Nellie."
Jim laughed at his own sly remark, and the handsome Tom blushed at thisreference to the pretty sister of his playmate.
The hour grew late, but they sat a long time talking of what they would dowhen they made their home in the great metropolis. Bridget, the oldservant, warned them once or twice that it was past bedtime; but seeingher words were unnoticed, she withdrew and left them together.
Ah, when are the dreams of life so radiant as in early youth? Whatpictures are so glowing, so beautiful, so vivid, so real, as those whichcome to the boy when he stands with his feet on the threshold, and looksfar out over the limitless fields which spread before his view? The air"lets finer sunlight through," and the skies are more golden than theycan ever be again. It is the hour when to him nothing in the whole wideworld is impossible. It is a sweet, soul-stirring vision which, alas, toooften is darkened or swept away by storm and mists and darkness and death.
The programme of the two boys was carried out, with some modification, thenext day. They found, when they came to go around among their friends tobid them good-by, that it took longer than they had counted on. Theyseparated; and when night arrived, Tom was urged so cordially to stay andtake supper with Sam Harper that he did not refuse.
Then he had to remain a while in the evening, which proved to be a mostpleasant one to the visitor. The parents of his playmate were sensiblepeople, who, finding the caller had made up his mind to go, did notattempt to dissuade him. On the contrary, they reminded him that underheaven he had every reason to hope for success.
"The instruction received from your good mother," said Mr. Harper, "I amsure can never be forgotten by you. You have a fair education for yourage; and I say to you as I did to Jimmy Travers, when he stopped here awhile ago, be honest, truthful, obliging always, and your reward iscertain. You will meet with disappointments and all sorts of trials, butkeep up your courage. Never let go; hang fast; take whatever comes inyour way and do it with all your might, and success is sure, sooner orlater."
"I have made up my mind to that," replied Tom modestly. "Jimmy and I don'timagine that half the merchants in New York will be waiting at the ferryfor us, and will scramble over each other to see who shall have ourservices."
The gentleman smiled at the picture, and his wife added,--
"There are so many dangers and pitfalls that I tremble at the thought oftwo boys like Tom and Jim going into such a great city, where they do notknow a living person."
"It is a matter for serious thought, but hundreds have done the samebefore them, and have achieved success."
"Have not some failed?"
"Doubtless the majority have failed to attain what they expected. But thesame is true right here in Briggsville, and is true everywhere. I hold thedoctrine, that to the boy who is strong, rugged, honest, willing, not onlyto work, but to wait, that success is bound to come sooner or later."
Tom was much encouraged by these wise words, and felt a strengthening ofthe resolve he had formed the night before.
It was bright, pretty Nellie who now spoke.
"Won't it be splendid when Tom becomes a rich merchant, able to live inhis fine house and have his horse and carriages and servants?"
"I am afraid it will be a long time before I get that far," replied thelad with a blush; "but I shall do it if there is any way possible."
"Riches are not the highest object in this life, though they are wellenough in their way. Don't think so much about them as about doing yourduty. Be content to begin at the bottom of the ladder. It is an oldsaying, but there never was a truer one, that you will always find plentyof room at the top."
After some more pleasant conversation, Tom shook hands with his friendsand bade them good-by. He ventured to give the delicate palm of Nellie alittle warmer squeeze than he had ever dared to do before, and lookedmeaningly in her eyes. But she was diffident and did not return thepressure, and he was not certain of the precise meaning of the look shegave him at parting.
He felt a trifle uncomfortable, while walking homeward in the crispmoonlight.
"I suppose Nellie would feel quite proud of me if I ever become a richman; but suppose I don't. She always was a proud girl, and likely enoughwill turn up her nose if I fail, which _I won't!_" he added, compressinghis lips and walking faster.
Tom found Jim at home and waiting for him. They sat up late again talkingover their grand scheme of seeking their fortune, and even after theyretired the hum of their conversation continued until far into the night.
The following morning they turned their backs upon Briggsville forever.The ride to Philadelphia was not far. They had decided to stop there for atime, as there was no call for haste. Neither held a thought of makingtheir stay permanent. They strolled down Chestnut Street, looking at thepleasing sights that are always to be met in that fashionablethoroughfare, viewed some of the fine structures, and stared until theywere tired.
But they were eager to go on. The metropolis of the country was theirdestination, and they would never be satisfied until they reached it.Accordingly, when the afternoon was well along, they boarded the train andsped away to the northward. Everything thus far, even if interesting, hadbeen dull and commonplace, but sooner than they anticipated, they enteredupon the most stirring and momentous experience of their lives.
Chapter VIII.