Desk and Debit; or, The Catastrophes of a Clerk

such a matter to rest any longer, and I wondered how I had been able to keep quiet two years with the consciousness that I had a mother whom I had seen only with my baby eyes. Something seemed to rep

le one she had lost. What a joy it would be to her to know that her son, her lost one, was still alive! If in her maternal heart she had ever pictured that babe as becoming a stalwart young man, I felt that I could already realize her ho

to go to Chicago, and speak for myself and for him. I could not say that my plan was the best, or that any good would come of it; and I mentioned

many reproaches to me," said he, with emotion. "But I deserve it all, for though I feel tha

for anything you have done," I replied, disturbed by his words a

ur mother left me when she could no longer live wi

you are now a good and true man. I am sure, if she knew t

s. I do not even know where she is. If I did I would write to her.

eturns, father. They say it w

can

go to

nce of your grandfather, and then tell him that you are the son of his

be rash or

What can you do?" deman

te of my mishaps, fortune has favored me in the long run,"

know your

r even

orn ruts. He follows only legitimate and recognized channels. He rejects anything that is strange and out of the common course, and for that reason your story would find no favor with him. I doubt whether he ever read a novel in his life. If you sh

go. I have seen but little of the world, and

pression upon the mind of Mr. Collingsby, or his son Richard, who is as near like his father as one pea is like another pea. I s

out going farthe

don't get into a quarre

uarrelsome

you went to him with your story,

he fact that he was so afforded me a new sensation, and I began to glow with an unwonted excitement. It was my mission to see and convince Mr. Collingsby that I was his grandson, unless he should be able to prove that

train for Chicago. A journey of two hundred and eighty miles, accomplished in about twelve hours, was not a very great event, even a dozen years ago; but somehow, I do not know why, I felt as though I was setting out in a new career of

n inquiring mind, I was disposed to examine minutely everything I saw, and to understand the use of every new object. I bought my ticket, and stepping back, I amused myself in

go and way stations!"

full; indeed, there was only a single vacant seat, and that was by the side of an old woman whose company did not appear to be particularly desirable. However, I had made up my mind that

aken, madam?" I

see it's taken?" sai

ther vacant seat i

them things," sn

n the rack above you

agin. You are a young feller, and you can find a seat

uld safely look for a seat in some other car. After this exhibition of rudeness, I did not think my seat at her side would be comfortable; I was afraid her bristles would annoy me, and it was more comfortable to stand. The train m

conductor, as he stopped beside the vacant pla

m things," interpos

ts a seat," added t

don't want my bundles tipped round,

m," insisted the conductor. "I b

a body have a plac

them in the

t them put i

m where you please, but this

o go a pestering a poor lone woman like me. You l

spose of them; but if you don't take care of

in't you got nothin' better to do t

e protest of the indignant owner. I confess that I rather enjoyed the discomfiture of the old lady, who had compelled me to stand for the accom

" continued the conductor, with a great

growls with which the woman saluted her new seat-mate were lost upon me, whether they were or not upon the unfortunate sub

rather coldly, after the hard battle

en we reach the next station," ad

t, for I could now choose my own positio