Dick the Bank Boy | Page 4

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"You're working too hard as it is, mother," said Dick, putting an arm
around her and looking up into her face, "and I've determined that this
sort of thing just can't go on any longer."
"What do you mean, my son?" she asked. "You know that since I am a
good needle-woman and the times are so hard with us just at present, I
am fortunate to be able to get work from several of the ladies around
Riverview. Perhaps it will not have to be for long, Dick, dear."
"I know it won't if I have any say in the matter. You're sitting up every
night sewing long after I've gone to bed. Why, one night, you
remember I woke up and it was after twelve, yet you were still sewing.
You are getting thin and careworn, mother. Do you think I don't notice
it? And do you imagine I can stand it right along? There has got to be a
change, that's all. I've made my mind up."
She looked into his resolute face, and seeing the love that shone in his
eyes felt that after all her burdens could not be so hard when Heaven

had given her such a stalwart son to be the staff of her old age.
"And what have you decided, Dick? Will you get after that company
and force them to begin paying dividends again? I think that would be a
blessing to more widows than one; but I'm afraid it would prove a task
beyond your strength, dear," she said, patting him on the head as he
stood beside her, almost three inches taller than his mother.
"No, I don't think I could manage that, but there is one thing I can and
will do and that is to find a job, so that I can be bringing in something
every week to help out. Then you needn't sit up at night as you do.
Please don't say anything against it, mother. I've made up my mind to it.
The vacation has begun, and unless things take a turn for the better,
school and Dick Morrison have parted company for good. I'm only
sorry I don't seem to have inherited any of father's genius for tools, or I
could get a position as an assistant to Mr. Plane, the carpenter. But I've
been considering the situation, and I'm going to find some way to bring
in a few dollars each week, even if I have to set out to be a fisherman."
She smiled with pride, and in that moment the fond mother did not
envy the wife of the rich department store keeper who rode about in her
carriage and delighted to let other people realize just how small and
mean they appeared in her sight.
"Well, it is nice to hear you say all that, Richard, for it tells me that
your heart is true, and that no matter what befalls I can depend on my
boy's love. But there's no use crossing a river before we come to it. I
shall offer no opposition to you doing any honest work that comes your
way during vacation; and if times have not improved when school
opens again, I suppose I must endure the thought of your continuing on.
You have always been a lucky fisherman, and what you bring home has
been so sweet and palatable that it seems to me you could easily find
purchasers for all you could catch," she said, leaving him, to begin to
look after the supper that was cooking on the stove.
"Only if everything else fails can I try that," he explained. "You see one
can't depend on the fish to do their part of the contract. Some days they
refuse to bite at all, and then other days are stormy. But I've got several

ideas that I'm bound to try out, and I'm going to start to-morrow."
That was all he said, for Dick never liked to boast in advance of what
he expected to accomplish, having learned from sad experience that
very often a snag is apt to sink the craft freighted with hopes, and when
least expected.
He busied himself setting the table, while his mother lighted the lamp
and prepared to serve their frugal meal.
It was a time of year when very little came in from the small garden
that lay back of the house, and which they took care of in common,
Dick doing all the hard work and his mother some of the weeding; later
on they expected that the proceeds from this patch would provide many
a good meal, should the weather smile upon their united efforts.
Being naturally a boy who looked upon the bright side of things, as a
healthy lad might be