A BOY WHO HAD NO CHANCE

New Zealand Tablet, 4 October 1906, Page 37

A BOY WHO HAD NO CHANCE

' You feel proud, don't you, Dick ?' ' I feel glad,' said Dick, simply. 'Of course he feels glad. And proud too, if he felt like owning it, but it's the right kin-d of pride. Here is one that feels proud, and is quite ready to say it.'

A plainly-dressed, sweet-faced woman was holding Dick's hand in a close grasp. The kindly faces surrounding her showed by their sympathy that 'they warmly acknowledged her right to be proud, for most of them knew through what struggles her son had leached this day when he had stood as- valedictorian in the graduating class of the high school. Herbert Barnes, the first speaker, stood a little to one side, gazing on what was going on about him with half indifferent amusement.

' It is a great thing for Dick,' he remarked to : companion. 'At least, he thinks so. He has a fancy that a high-school diploma is an open sesame to all tthe big things in the world. ' It's a good -deal to help us, isn't it ? I mean the education that it stands for.' ' Oh, I suppose so— to boys who need that sort of thing. Now, I don't, you know ; I can get alone without it.' & fa 'I 'dare say you can,' said the other, who knew that Herbert had been -quietly dropped out of the school about six months before for poor scholarship. ' Yes, I'm in for business now, and Latin and ologies don't count much there. I have a good chance ahead of me, you know. My uncle is going to give me a clerkship in his big business. It's a fine thine; to hayje a 'pull. . *. Dick Woodb-ury had plenty of kind friends, but the demand for intelligent employment was limited, and he had a great desire to remain near his widowed mother. So it came about that within a few weeks after the proud commencement day Herbert stopped in surprise to speak to a boy wrestling with some heavy packing-cases at the alley entrance to his uncle s store. ' You here, Dick'?' -he said. ' Looks like it, doesn't it ?' said Dick, pausing to t a ke a long breath. 'You don't mean you are doing this kind of work ?'

That s just what I mean. A fellow that can't get what foe wants must take what he can get.' • But— isn't it pretty tough ?' ' Rather, at first. But "I'm going to give my muscles a training now.' ' A porter, after all his fine study, and the fuss made over his .graduation,' remarked Herbert to the young man near the desk at which he worked a little and idled a good deal. 'Poor chap.'' half contemptuously, ' I' m afraid he's going to find, as I said belore, that it takes something ■besides a high-school diploma to boost a fellow up.' Dick brought the same earnest, conscientious effort to his subordinate position that he had always given to his studies. At lirst he ached cruelly under the unaccustomed,physical strain, but before long the rebellious muscles obeyed the demand on them, furnishing a good bodily foundation on whioh to build such mental effort as might in future be demanded.

And- the demand came in good time to the boy who toad, no chance • except that -built upon faithful effort. ' 'I am told there was a light in the basement all night,' said Mr. Seymour, on coming to Ms place of business one cold morning. ' Who knows anything-about it ?' . He was referred to Dick Woodbury. ' A ; load of that tropical fruit came from the station just as I was leaving,' explained Dick. • I told the drayman everything was locked up for the night, and we couldn't receive it. ; but he said they couldn't put it anywhere, it would freeze. So I got into the basement and made a fire.' 1 And you stayed here all night ?' •' Yes, it needed an even temperature V Mr. Seymour had his own opinion of an employee who, in the seeking of his employer's interest, did more than he was hired to do. 'It was not long after this that Herbert was surprised a-t seeing Dick at one of the desks in the same office with himself. There he remained for a long time— longer than would suit the maker of sensational stories of the rapid advancement of poor boys. In real life the crowding for place is too pressing for rapid promotion. But in the years in which Dick worked hard for what might be thought moderate pay he was steadily building up a character for integrity and reliability whioh in time found the place of trust which awaits the trustworthy. Herbert still remains at his desk, relying on bis well-off father to supply him with what he cannot earn, and the boy who had 'no chance '—except the chance always belonging to energy, perseverance and right living— now in charge of an" important branch of the business, writes out the cheques for his monthly pay. 3