Dick the Bank Boy | Page 8

and go in his make-up there ain't no fear but he'll
get there."

It filled Dick with a sense of deepest satisfaction to realize that he was
actually earning real money; and again and again he pictured the look
of happiness that he knew would flash over the face of his mother when
he told her of his success; of course the job was only a temporary one,
but then it certainly seemed like the harbinger of other good things to
come.
He whistled at his work, and the miller thought this merry-hearted lad
was worth having around as an inspiration, even though he might not
be as sturdy a worker as his big-muscled Toby.
But Dick was possessed of indomitable pluck, and after he grew a little
accustomed to the work he thoroughly satisfied his employer.
At noon he heard a conch shell blown, and washing up as Mr.
Cartwright had directed him, he proceeded to the house, where he sat
down to a bountiful spread that was certainly a joyous sight in the eyes
of a hungry boy.
He only wished the little mother were sitting beside him instead of big
Toby, now well on the road to recovery.
And all that afternoon, when he felt tired from the unusual employment
of his muscles, he cheered himself up with the thought of how proud he
would be to place that first dollar and a quarter in the hand of the
waiting little woman in the cottage by the river bank--for it was one of
the miller's peculiarities to do a cash business, and pay any one
working for him each day after the hour for stopping arrived.
It was a tiresome walk back to town and then out home, but Dick strode
along with a light heart, and having changed his mind about his
homecoming stopped in town to buy something in the way of groceries
which he knew would fill a long-felt want at home.
In the gloaming then he arrived, to find his mother beginning to grow
nervous over his long absence; and only when her arms were about his
neck he told of his success in obtaining work.

Doubly sweet was the humble fare that night, for he felt that he had
really done his part toward the support of the Morrison family, and that
he was in a fair road toward filling that place at the head made vacant
by the death of his father.

CHAPTER IV
IN SEARCH OF A JOB
The job with the miller lasted just five days.
Then Toby, having declared himself ready to take up his duties, Mr.
Cartwright was compelled to let Dick go, for he really had no need of
his help, since things were running in their natural channel, all the back
work having been cleaned up under the energetic push of young
Morrison.
"I'm really sorry to lose you, Dick, boy. You've done all right, and if I
ever have need of a helper again I'd like nothing better than to call on
you. If I hear of an opening I'll sure let you know," the miller said, that
evening as he placed the last pay in the boy's hand.
Mrs. Cartwright had taken considerable interest in all she had heard
about Dick from her husband, and being a woman of discernment she
knew that a boy who was so fond of his mother as he seemed to be
could not go very far wrong in life.
She came out to shake hands with him, and she carried a package too
that she gave into his charge.
"It's a new kind of cake I've been trying lately. My sister away out in
Boston sent me the recipe. Tell her I want her to try it, and if she wants
the directions I'll be glad to send 'em to her. Good-bye, Dick. I hope
you find a good steady job soon. Come in and see us whenever you
happen to be passing, and if it's nigh dinner time we'll be glad to have
you jine us."

Dick felt that he had indeed made good friends in this, his first position,
and the thought brought with it such solid satisfaction that he
determined to profit by the circumstance in the future; he was young in
years but already he had begun to see that one cannot have too many
friends and well wishers in life.
Once again he was grappling with the problem as to what he should do
in order to continue this method of assisting to lighten the many
burdens that had fallen on the shoulders of his mother.
Just as he neared the town he heard a great spluttering behind him and
stepped aside to allow the party on the motor-cycle to pass; as he
suspected