Risen from the Ranks | Page 2

you have a paper of your own, you
can give your old friend, Professor Henderson, an occasional puff."
"I shall be glad to do that," said Harry, smiling, "but I shall have to wait
some time first."
"How old are you now?"
"Sixteen."
"Then you may qualify yourself for an editor in five or six years. I
advise you to try it at any rate. The editor in America is a man of
influence."
"I do look forward to it," said Harry, seriously. "I should not be
satisfied to remain a journeyman all my life, nor even the half of it."
"I sympathize with your ambition, Harry," said the Professor, earnestly,
"and I wish you the best success. Let me hear from you occasionally."
"I should be very glad to write you, sir."
"I see the stage is at the door, and I must bid you good-by. When you
have a vacation, if you get a chance to come our way, Mrs. Henderson
and myself will be glad to receive a visit from you. Good-by!" And
with a hearty shake of the hand, Professor Henderson bade farewell to
his late assistant.
Those who have read "Bound to Rise," and are thus familiar with Harry
Walton's early history, will need no explanation of the preceding
conversation. But for the benefit of new readers, I will recapitulate

briefly the leading events in the history of the boy of sixteen who is to
be our hero.
Harry Walton was the oldest son of a poor New Hampshire farmer,
who found great difficulty is wresting from his few sterile acres a living
for his family. Nearly a year before, he had lost his only cow by a
prevalent disease, and being without money, was compelled to buy
another of Squire Green, a rich but mean neighbor, on a six months'
note, on very unfavorable terms. As it required great economy to make
both ends meet, there seemed no possible chance of his being able to
meet the note at maturity. Beside, Mr. Walton was to forfeit ten dollars
if he did not have the principal and interest ready for Squire Green. The
hard-hearted creditor was mean enough to take advantage of his poor
neighbor's necessities, and there was not the slightest chance of his
receding from his unreasonable demand. Under these circumstances
Harry, the oldest boy, asked his father's permission to go out into the
world and earn his own living. He hoped not only to do this, but to save
something toward paying his father's note. His ambition had been
kindled by reading the life of Benjamin Franklin, which had been
awarded to him as a school prize. He did not expect to emulate Franklin,
but he thought that by imitating him he might attain an honorable
position in the community.
Harry's request was not at first favorably received. To send a boy out
into the world to earn his own living is a hazardous experiment, and
fathers are less sanguine than their sons. Their experience suggests
difficulties and obstacles of which the inexperienced youth knows and
possesses nothing. But in the present case Mr. Walton reflected that the
little farming town in which he lived offered small inducements for a
boy to remain there, unless he was content to be a farmer, and this
required capital. His farm was too small for himself, and of course he
could not give Harry a part when be came of age. On the whole,
therefore, Harry's plan of becoming a mechanic seemed not so bad a
one after all. So permission was accorded, and our hero, with his little
bundle of clothes, left the paternal roof, and went out in quest of
employment.

After some adventures Harry obtained employment in a shoe-shop as
pegger. A few weeks sufficed to make him a good workman, and he
was then able to earn three dollars a week and board. Out of this sum
be hoped to save enough to pay the note held by Squire Green against
his father, but there were two unforeseen obstacles. He had the
misfortune to lose his pocket-book, which was picked up by an
unprincipled young man, by name Luke Harrison, also a shoemaker,
who was always in pecuniary difficulties, though he earned much
higher wages than Harry. Luke was unable to resist the temptation, and
appropriated the money to his own use. This Harry ascertained after a
while, but thus far had succeeded in obtaining the restitution of but a
small portion of his hard-earned savings. The second obstacle was a
sudden depression in the shoe trade which threw him out of work.
More than most occupations the shoe business is liable to these sudden
fluctuations and suspensions, and the most industrious and ambitious
workman is often compelled to spend in his enforced