The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-01-03
Hard Luck
By w. Bert Foster.
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Nj wv, that S WnaI L call down.
~ right shame" exclaimed Milton
Hartley, to his fellow-cierk, Ned Steele.
"Old Bowes has more cheek than gave
him credit for. To think of his asking
you to teach that young nephew of his
the business, which means your walk
ing ticket sure, as soon as he learns!
Wouldn't do it,"
at is rather hard luck" replied Ned,
his voice trembling little. He knows
Just how much | need the money; and
even if he were going to discharge me-
he needn't have asked me to spend
fortnight or more teaching Charlie
Page all / know about the work"
"It's taking the bread right out of
YOUR mouth" said the older clerk, in
dignantly. Young Page don't need it,
either. If were you, Ned, I'd skip, and
let the old man teach his nephew him
self. No one can do your work as you
do it, anyway"
81 shall be on the lookout for another
job. Works pretty scarce, you know,
and it's hard enough living on six dol
lars a week now"
you're right, Ned. I don't see how
you do it. Why, I can't live half de-
cent on $50 a month, and I've no one
to look after but myself"
''Yet mother and Nan and 1 have got
along very well so far, and probably
there'll be a way opened" said Ned,
cheerfully, as he turned to his desk.
''Well, you're wonder to me-" NUT
tered Milton.
Young Hartley could not, and prob
ably never would, understand the mean
ing of economy. He spent all he had
and found that far from enough, al
though his income was twice that of
Ned Steele.
Hartley was head clerk when Ned en-
tered the employ of Bowes & Co., nearly
q year before, and Ned had taken what
the boys call "a shine" to the fiashily-
dressed and careless young man of the
world. Not that Ned was led into the
the certainly questionable company in
which Milton Hartley shone; but he
admired from a distance.
Their lives were entirely different,
and always would be, Ned told himself.
He had mother and little sister to
help support, and such pleasures as his
fellow-clerk INDUCED in were not for
him.
Hard luck! that's what it is" he
thought, as he leaned over his books.
Only that noon Mr.. Bowes had called
his youngest clerk INTO the private Of
fee, and shooting a piercing glance
over his gold-bowed spectacles at Ned.
as was his habit when talking, said
sternly:
"Mr. Steele, my nephew, Charles
Page, will be here next Monday morn
ing, and 1 wish you to teach him your
work thoroughly. I intend to make
some changes here shortly. That is
all"
That was all; but it meant every thing
to Ned-more than he had even let Mil
ton know; and now, as he bent low over
the page of his ledger, two great tears
splashed down on the neat rows of fig
ures, and he dashed his hand across his .
eyes, and bit his lip in vexation at this
little weakness.
Hard luck!" he muttered, as he went
home to supper; and it was a very
grave Ned Steele that entered the lit
tie house that evening
When little Nan had been put to bed,
Ned told his mother the bad news, and
received the comfort that a kind. Chris
tan mother always has for her boy.
keep up your courage, my son." she
said, as Ned kissed her good night.
"Maybe good will come out of your
hard luck"
81 wish 1 could think So" replied Ned.
True to promise, Mr.. Bowes intro
duced Charlie Page into the office the
following Monday morning, and it was
well he did, for Milton did not make
his appearance all day, and even a
"green hand" was some help.
Mr.. Bowes went about with a face
gike a thunder-cloud, and it was none
the less dark when Milton came in the
next day, as cool and placid as ever. Mr..
Bowes' sharpest reprimand never ruff
fled the serenity of his head clerk.
Charlie Page and Ned had been school
friends before Ned's father died; but
Charles warmth of friendship was
considerably chilled by his old school |
mates very apparent GOODNESS.
81 wonder what it can be that's |
changed Ned So" unused Charlie, en-