by Edwin Hodder
CHAPTER III.
STARTING WELL.
Never did days drag along more heavily than those which elapsed betweenthe interview with Mr. Compton, and the morning when George was to enterupon his new duties. Every day the office was a subject of muchconversation; and neither George nor his mother ever seemed to weary intalking over his plans and purposes. George wrote a long letter to Mr.Brunton, telling him of the successful issue of his application to Mr.Compton, and thanking him in the most hearty way for all his kindness.The next day Mr. Brunton replied to George's letter as follows:--
"MY DEAR NEPHEW,
"I am delighted to hear that you have obtained an appointment, and that you seem so well satisfied with your prospects. May you find it to be for your good in every way. Remember, you are going into new scenes, and will be surrounded with many dangers and temptations to which you have hitherto been a stranger. Seek to be strong against everything that is evil; aim at the highest mark, and press towards it. Much of your future depends upon how you begin--therefore begin well; hold yourself aloof from everything with which your conscience tells you you should not be associated, and then all your bright dreams may, I hope, be fully realized.
"I shall hope to be with you for an hour or two on Sunday evening.
"You will have some unavoidable expenses to incur before entering upon your duties, and will require a little pocket-money. Accept the enclosed cheque, with the love of
"Your affectionate Uncle,
"HENRY BRUNTON."
George's eyes sparkled with delight as he read the letter; and found theenclosure to be a cheque for five pounds. This was a great treasure andrelief to him, for he had thought many times about his boots, which weredown at heel, and his best coat, which shone a good deal about theelbows, and showed symptoms of decay in the neighbourhood of thebutton-holes.
A new suit of clothes and a pair of boots were therefore purchased atonce, and when Sunday morning came, and George dressed himself in them,and stood ready to accompany his mother to the house of God, she thought(although, of course, she did not say so) that she had never seen a morehandsome and gentlemanly-looking youth than her son.
"Mother," said George, as they walked along, "what a treat the Sundaywill always be now, after being pent up in the office all the week. Ishall look forward to it with such pleasure, not only for the sake ofits rest, but because I shall have a whole day with you."
"The Sabbath is, indeed, a boon," replied Mrs. Weston, "when it is madea rest-day for the soul, as well as for the body. You remember thoselines I taught you, when you were quite another fellow, before you wentto school, do you not?--
"'A Sunday well spent brings a week of content And health for the toils of the morrow; But a Sabbath profaned, whatsoe'er may be gained, Is a certain forerunner of sorrow.'"
"Yes, mother, I remember them; and capital lines they are. Dr. Seawardonce said, 'Strike the key-note of your tune incorrectly, and the wholesong will be inharmonious;' so, if the Sabbath is improperly spent, theweek will generally be like it."
That morning the preacher took for his text the beautiful words inIsaiah xli. 10, "Fear thou not, for I am with thee: be not dismayed, forI am thy God: I will strengthen thee--yea, I will help thee yea, I willuphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." These words camelike the sound of heavenly music into the soul of the widow; and sheprayed, with the fervency a mother alone can pray for a beloved and onlyson, that the time might speedily come when he would be able toappropriate these words, and realize, in the true sense of the term, Godas his Father. For George, although he had from early infancy beenbrought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and had learnt tolove holiness from so constantly seeing its beauty exemplified by hisparents, had not yet undergone that one great change which creates thesoul anew in Christ Jesus.
Mr. Brunton arrived in the evening, just as Mrs. Weston and George werestarting out to the second service, and so they all went together to thesame place. The minister, an excellent man, who felt the responsibilityof his office, and took every opportunity of doing good, was in thehabit of giving four sermons a year especially to young men, and it sohappened that on this evening one of these discourses was to bedelivered. Nothing could have been more appropriate to a young man juststarting out in life than his address. The text was taken from thosesolemn, striking words of the wise man, "My son, if sinners enticethee, consent thou not."
He spoke of the powerful influences continually at work to allure youngtravellers along life's journey into the snares and pitfalls of sin, andpointed to God's armoury, and the refuge from all the wiles of theadversary.
As the trio sat round the supper-table that evening, discussing theevents of the day, George said--
"I feel very glad that this Sunday has come before I go to Mr.Compton's. I thought, when the text was given out this evening, that theminister had prepared his sermon especially for me. I have no doubt allhe said was quite true; and so, being prepared, I shall be able to be onmy guard against the evils which he says are common to those who maketheir first start in life."
When Mr. Brunton rose to leave that night, he took George aside; and,laying his hand on his shoulder, said--
"George, I am glad you have got your appointment, my boy; but I amsorry, for some reasons, that it is in Mr. Compton's office, for I havemade inquiries about the clerks there, and I regret to find that theyare not the set of young men I should have liked you to be with. Now, Iwant you to make me a promise. If ever you are placed in criticalcircumstances, or dangers, or difficulties (I say _if_, because I do notknow why you should, but _if_ you are), be sure and come to me. Tell me,as you always have done, honestly and openly, your difficulty, and youwill always find in me one willing to advise and assist you. Will youpromise?"
"With all my heart I will, uncle; and thank you, too, for this, and allyour interests on my account."
"Good-bye, then, George. Go on and prosper; and God bless you."
Punctually at nine o'clock on Monday morning, George was at the office.Mr. Sanders, the manager (the old gentleman whom George had seen on hisfirst visit), introduced him to the clerks by saying--
"This is Mr. George Weston, our new junior;" and George, with his faceall aglow, made a general bow in return to the salutations which weregiven him.
"This is to be your seat," said Mr. Sanders; "and that peg is for yourhat. And now, as you would, no doubt, like to begin at once, here is adocument I want copied."
George was glad to have something to do; he felt all eyes were upon him,and the whispered voices of the clerks rather grated upon his ears. Hetook up his pen, and began to write; but he found his hand shaky, and hewas so confused that, after he had written half a page, and found he hadmade two or three blunders, he was obliged to take a fresh sheet, andbegin again.
"Take your time," said Mr. Sanders, who noticed his dilemma; "you willget on right enough by-and-bye, when you are more accustomed to theplace and the work."
George felt relieved by this; and making up his mind to try and forgetall around him, he set to work busily again, and in an hour or two hadfinished the job.
"I have done this, sir," he said, taking it to Mr. Sanders. "What shallI do next?"
"We will just examine it, and then you may take it into Mr. Compton'sroom. After that you can go and get your dinner, and be back again in anhour."
The document was examined, and, to the surprise of George and Mr.Sanders, not one mistake was found. "Come, this is beginning well," saidthe manager; "we shall soon make a clerk of you, I see."
When George went into Mr. Compton's room, and presented the papers, hewas again rewarded with an encouraging commendation. "This is very wellwritten--very well written indeed, and shows great painstaking," hesaid.
George felt he could have shaken hands with both principal and managerfor those few words. "How cheap a kind word is," he thought, "to thosewho give it; but it is more precious
than gold to the receiver. I likethese two men; and, if I can manage it, they shall like me too."
George had not as yet exchanged a word with any of the clerks; but as hewas leaving the office to go to dinner, one of them was going out at thesame time, on the same errand.
"Well, Mr. Weston, you find it precious dull, don't you, cooped up inyour den?"
"Do you mean the office?" said George.
"Yes; what else should I mean?"
"It seems a comfortable office enough," said George, "and notparticularly dull; but I have not had sufficient experience in it tojudge."
"You see, that old ogre (I beg his pardon, I mean old Sanders) takesjolly good care there shall be no flinching from work while he's there,and it makes a fellow deuced tired, pegging away all day long."
"If this is a specimen of the clerks," thought George, "Uncle Bruntonwas not far wrong when he said they were not a very good set."
"From what I have seen of Mr. Sanders," he said, "I think him a verynice man! and as for work, I always thought that was what clerks wereengaged to do, and therefore it is their duty to do it, whether underthe eye of the manager or not."
George got this sentence out with some difficulty. He felt it was anaggressive step, and did not doubt it would go the round of the officeas a tale against him.
"Ugh!" said the clerk; "you've got a thing or two to learn yet, I see.You must surely be fresh and green from the country; but such notionssoon die out. I don't like to be personal though, so we'll change thesubject. Where are you going to dine? Most of our chaps patronize theKing's Head--first-rate place; get anything you like in two twinklingsof a lamb's tail. I'm going there now; will you go? By the way, I shouldhave told you before this that my name is Williams."
"I suppose, Mr. Williams,' the King's Head is a tavern? If so, I prefera coffee-house; but thank you, notwithstanding, for your offer."
"By George! that's a rum start. Our chaps all hate coffee-shops, withthe exception of young Hardy, and he's coming round to our tastes now.You can get a good feed at the King's Head--stunning tackle in the shapeof beer, and meet a decent set of fellows who know how to crack a jokeat table; whereas, if you go to a coffee-shop, you have an ugly slice ofmeat set before you, a jorum of tea leaves and water, or some othermess, and a disagreeable set of people around. Now, which is best?"
"Your description is certainly unfavourable in the latter case; but I donot suppose all coffeehouses are alike, and therefore I shall try oneto-day. Good morning."
George soon found a nice-looking quiet place where he could dine, andfelt sure he had no need to go to taverns for better accommodation.
When he returned to the office, at two o'clock, Mr. Sanders was absent,and the clerks were busily engaged, not at work, but in conversation.Mr. Williams was the principal speaker, and seemed to have somethingvery choice to communicate. George made no doubt that he was the subjectof conversation, for he had caught one or two words as he entered, whichwarranted the supposition. He had nothing to do until Mr. Sandersreturned; this was an opportunity, therefore, for Mr. Williams to makehimself officious.
"Mr. Weston," he said, "allow me to do the honours of the office byintroducing you, in a more definite manner than that old ----, I meanthan Mr. Sanders did this morning. This gentleman is Mr. Lawson, this isMr. Allwood, this is Mr. Malcolm, and this my young friend, Mr. CharlesHardy, who is of a serious turn of mind, and is meditating entering theministry, or the undertaking line."
A laugh at Hardy's expense was the result of this attempt at jocularityon the part of Mr. Williams. George hardly knew how to acknowledge theseintroductions; but, turning to Charles Hardy, he said,--
"As Mr. Williams has so candidly mentioned your qualities, Mr. Hardy,perhaps you will favour me with a description of his."
Hardy rose from his seat, for up to this time he had been engaged inwriting, and, in a tone of mock gravity, replied,
"This is Mr. Williams, who lives at the antipodes of everything that isquiet or serious, whose mission to the earth seems expressly to turneverything he touches into a laugh. He is not a 'youth to fortune andto fame unknown,' for in the archives of the King's Head his name isemblazoned in imperishable characters."
"Well said, Hardy!" said one or two at once. "Now, Williams, you are onyour mettle, old boy; stand true to your colours, and transmute thesentence into a joke in self-defence."
Williams was on the point of replying when Mr. Sanders entered. In aninstant all the clerks pretended to be up to their eyes in business;each had his book or papers to hand as if by magic; whether upside downor not was immaterial.
But George Weston stood where he was; he could not condescend to so meanan imposition, and he felt pleased to see that Charles Hardy, unlike theothers, made no attempt to hide the fact that he had been engaged inconversation, instead of continuing at his work.
At six o'clock the day's duties were over; and George felt not a littlepleased when the hour struck, and Mr. Sanders told him he could go.Hardy was leaving just at the same time, and so they went out together.
"Are you going anywhere in my direction?" said Hardy; "I live atCanonbury."
"Indeed!" replied George; "I'm glad to hear that, for I live atIslington, close by you. If you are willing, we will bear one anothercompany, for I want to ask you one or two questions;" and taking Hardy'sarm, the two strolled homewards together.
Now George would never have thought of walking arm in-arm with Mr.Williams, or any of the other clerks; but, from the first time he sawHardy, and noticed his quiet, gentlemanly manners, he felt sure heshould like him. Hardy, too, had evidently taken a fancy to George; andtherefore both felt pleased that accident had brought them together.Accident? No, that is a wrong word; whenever a heart feels that there isanother heart beating like its own, and those two hearts go out onetowards the other, until they become knit together in the bonds offriendship, there is something more than accident in that.
"How long have you been in Mr. Compton's office?" said George, as theywalked along,
"Nearly two years," he replied; "I went there as soon as I left school.I was then about seventeen years old; and there I have been ever since."
"Then you are my senior by two years," said George. "I left school ayear ago, and this is my first situation. How do you like the office?"
"Do you mean my particular seat, the clerks, or the duties, or allcombined?"
"I should like to know how you like the whole combined."
"I prefer my desk to yours, because I sit next to Mr. Malcolm, who isone of the steadiest and most respectable clerks in the office; andtherefore I am not subject to so much annoyance as you will be, seatednext to that empty-headed Williams, and coarse low-minded Lawson. I donot really like any of the clerks; there are none of them the sort ofyoung men I should choose as companions. As to the duties, they areagreeable enough, and I have nothing to find fault with on that score."
"I tell you candidly," said George, "I am not prepossessed in favour ofthe clerks; they are far too 'fast' a set to please me; but I am veryglad, for my own sake, that you are in the office, Mr. Hardy."
"Why?"
"Because, although we are almost strangers at present, I know I shallfind in you some one who will be companionable. You don't seem verythick with the others; you don't join with them in that mean practice ofshirking work directly Mr. Sanders's back is turned; and you don't, fromwhat I have heard, approve of the society at the King's Head, in whichthe others seem to take so much delight. Now, in these points, I think,our tastes are similar."
"Ah! Mr. Weston," said Hardy, "you will find, as I have done, thatamongst such a set we are obliged to allow a great many things we do notapprove. But I'm very glad you have come amongst us; unity is strength,you know, and two can make a better opposition than one. Now, will youlet me give you a hint?"
"Certainly," said George.
"Be on your guard with Lawson and Williams; they are two dangerous youngmen, and can do no end of mischief, because they are double-faced--sn
eakingsometimes, and bullying at others. I don't know whether you have heardthat you are filling a vacancy caused by one of our clerks leaving theoffice in disgrace. It is not worth while my telling you the story now,but that poor chap would never have left in the way he did, had it notbeen for Lawson and Williams."
"Many thanks, Mr. Hardy, for your information and advice, upon which Iwill endeavour to act. And now, as our roads lay differently, we mustsay good evening."
"Adieu, then, till to-morrow," said Hardy. "By-the-bye, I pass thisroad in the morning, at half-past eight; if you are here we will walk tothe office together."
It took George the whole of the evening to give his mother a fullaccount of the day's proceedings; there were so many questions to ask onher part, and so many descriptions to give on his, and such a number ofevents occurred during the day, that it seemed as if he had at least aweek's experience to narrate.
"I like Hardy, mother," said George, once or twice during the evening;"he is such a thorough open-hearted fellow, and I know we shall getalong together capitally."
"I hope so, my boy," said his mother; "but be very careful how you formany other friendships."
When Mrs. Western retired to her room for the night, it was not tosleep. She felt anxious and uneasy about George; she thought of him asthe loving, gentle child, the merry, light-hearted boy, and the manly,conscientious youth. Then she thought of the future. How would he standagainst the evil influences surrounding him? Would his frank, ingenuousmanner change, and the confidence he always reposed in her cease? Wouldhe be led away by the gay and thoughtless young men with whom he wouldbe associated?
Tears gathered in the widow's eyes, and many a sigh sounded in thatquiet room; but Mrs. Weston had a Friend at hand, to whom she could goand pour out all her anxieties. She would cast her burden on Him, forshe knew He cared for her. As she knelt before the mercy-seat, thesewere her prayers:--
"Lord, create in him a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within him.May he remember Thee in the days of his youth. Heavenly Father, lead himnot into temptation, but deliver him from evil Guide him by Thy counsel,and lead him in the paths of righteousness, for Thy Name's sake."