Mrs. Merton was rather astonished when her grand-nephew Harold walked into her room one day and inquired for her health. (She had been absent from the dinner table on account of a headache.)
"Thank you, Harold," she said. "I am feeling a little better."
"Have you any errand you would like to have me do for you?"
Mrs. Merton was still more surprised, for offers of services were rare with Harold.
"Thank you, again," she said, "but Luke was here this morning, and I gave him two or three commissions."
"Perhaps you would like me to read to you, Aunt Eliza."
"Thank you, but I am a little afraid it wouldn't be a good thing for my head. How are you getting on at school, Harold?"
"Pretty well."
"You don't want to go to college?"
"No. I think I would rather be a business man."
"Well, you know your own tastes best."
"Aunt Eliza," said Harold, after a pause, "I want to ask a favor of you."
"Speak out, Harold."
"Won't you be kind enough to give me ten dollars?"
"Ten dollars," repeated the old lady, eying Harold closely. "Why do you want ten dollars?"
"You see, mother keeps me very close. All the fellows have more money to spend than I."
"How much does your mother give you as an allowance?"
"Two dollars a week."
"It seems to me that is liberal, considering that you don't have to pay for your board or clothes."
"A boy in my position is expected to spend money."
"Who expects it?"
"Why, everybody."
"By the way, what is your position?" asked the old lady, pointedly.
"Why," said Harold, uneasily, "I am supposed to be rich, as I live in a nice neighborhood on a fashionable street."
"That doesn't make you rich, does it?"
"No," answered Harold, with hesitation.
"You don't feel absolutely obliged to spend more than your allowance, do you?"
"Well, you see, the fellows think I am mean if I don't. There's Ben Clark has an allowance of five dollars a week, and he is three months younger than I am."
"Then I think his parents or guardians are very unwise. How does he spend his liberal allowance?"
"Oh, he has a good time."
"I am afraid it isn't the sort of good time I would approve."
"Luke has more money than I have, and he is only a newsboy," grumbled Harold.
"How do you know?"
"I notice he always has money."
"I doubt whether he spends half a dollar a week on his own amusement. He has a mother and young brother to support."
"He says so!"
"So you doubt it?"
"It may be true."
"If you find it isn't true you can let me know."
"I am sorry that you think so much more of Luke than of me," complained Harold.
"How do you know I do?"
"Mother thinks so as well as I."
"Suppose we leave Luke out of consideration. I shall think as much of you as you deserve."
Harold rose from his seat.
"As you have no errand for me, Aunt Eliza, I will go," he said.
Mrs. Merton unlocked a drawer in a work table, took out............
Join or Log In!
You need to log in to continue reading
(Left Keyword <-) Previous:
Chapter 27 Uncle And Nephew
Back
Next:
Chapter 29 Harold's Theft
(Right Keyword:->)