They had received plenty of counsel, and much of it was excellent. The teacher, the minister, and numerous good neighbors had been as kind as they could possibly be, and the youths knew no real hardship could come to them as long as they stayed in or near the place where they were born.
But they were not satisfied to do so. They felt they ought to strike out for themselves, and Briggsville was not the place to do it. The opportunities were too few.
They talked for a long time in an aimless way, discussing numerous schemes, but without agreeing upon any.
"Jim, let"s go to New York."
Tom made the proposition as though it had come to him that moment, when in truth it had been in his mind from the first, as it was with Jim, who was on the point of uttering it, but was waiting for his friend, because he was a few months older and took the lead in all matters.
"I wonder if that wouldn"t be the best thing to do," remarked Jim, like one to whom the idea was new.
"Neither of us has ever been in New York. It is a great place, full of dangers of all kinds, but there are chances for every one to get along, if he will do what"s right and isn"t afraid to work."
"If we should tell the people what we have in mind, they would advise us to stay here or to try Philadelphia."
"We must pa.s.s Philadelphia to get to New York, but I don"t feel like staying there, do you, Jim?"
"No; I don"t fancy the place. Father took me there once when I was a wee younker, and it struck me as being slow."
Tom laughed at the thought of a little fellow being impressed that way by one of the leading cities in the Union. He, too, had been in the large and handsome town, but for some reason, which he could not explain, had formed a prejudice against it. He shook his head at the proposition of trying their fortunes there.
"Philadelphia isn"t big enough for us," he remarked quizzically; "New York is the only place where we can spread and grow."
"Then I propose we go to New York to seek our fortune. What do you say?"
"We"ll stick together."
And the young friends reached their hands toward each other and clasped them in the dim light of Jim Travers"s room.
It was an important decision they had reached, and they talked over the matter for a long time. Each had quite a little sum of money, which they had saved with scrupulous care. They had good serviceable clothing, with something extra in the way of change. The executors of Mr. Travers had completed their duty and made their report to court. As in the case of the Widow Gordon, not a penny was left for the boy, and the house and everything it contained was to pa.s.s into the hands of strangers.
Jim Travers and Tom Gordon were occupying their single room on sufferance.
The new-comers were to take possession on the first of the following month, and a hint had been given the boys which it was impossible for them to misunderstand. Their room was preferable to their company.
"Next Tuesday is the first," remarked Jim; "I suppose we can stay here the few days until then."
"That"s less than a week. What"s the use of waiting when we have made up our minds to go?" was the pertinent question of Tom. "I prefer not to meet those folks that are coming here."
"That"s the way I feel," a.s.sented the younger, striving to repress his ardor over the prospect. "They will put on airs, turn up their noses at us, and make themselves at home. I can"t bear," he added, his voice slightly trembling, "to see them parading through the house which father owned, and walking into his room as if no one else had the right to go there."
"Well, I"m glad, Jim, that we think alike. Tomorrow we"ll bid our friends good-by and take the afternoon train to New York."
"That suits me. It would hardly be right to slip off without saying anything to the fellows. We"ll call on them all."
"Yes; that is right. I promised Sam Harper to let him know about it."
"I suppose you did, and you won"t forget to tell Nellie."
Jim laughed at his own sly remark, and the handsome Tom blushed at this reference to the pretty sister of his playmate.
The hour grew late, but they sat a long time talking of what they would do when they made their home in the great metropolis. Bridget, the old servant, warned them once or twice that it was past bedtime; but seeing her words were unnoticed, she withdrew and left them together.
Ah, when are the dreams of life so radiant as in early youth? What pictures are so glowing, so beautiful, so vivid, so real, as those which come to the boy when he stands with his feet on the threshold, and looks far out over the limitless fields which spread before his view? The air "lets finer sunlight through," and the skies are more golden than they can ever be again. It is the hour when to him nothing in the whole wide world is impossible. It is a sweet, soul-stirring vision which, alas, too often is darkened or swept away by storm and mists and darkness and death.
The programme of the two boys was carried out, with some modification, the next day. They found, when they came to go around among their friends to bid them good-by, that it took longer than they had counted on. They separated; and when night arrived, Tom was urged so cordially to stay and take supper with Sam Harper that he did not refuse.
Then he had to remain a while in the evening, which proved to be a most pleasant one to the visitor. The parents of his playmate were sensible people, who, finding the caller had made up his mind to go, did not attempt to dissuade him. On the contrary, they reminded him that under heaven he had every reason to hope for success.
"The instruction received from your good mother," said Mr. Harper, "I am sure can never be forgotten by you. You have a fair education for your age; and I say to you as I did to Jimmy Travers, when he stopped here a while ago, be honest, truthful, obliging always, and your reward is certain. You will meet with disappointments and all sorts of trials, but keep up your courage. Never let go; hang fast; take whatever comes in your way and do it with all your might, and success is sure, sooner or later."
"I have made up my mind to that," replied Tom modestly. "Jimmy and I don"t imagine that half the merchants in New York will be waiting at the ferry for us, and will scramble over each other to see who shall have our services."
The gentleman smiled at the picture, and his wife added,--
"There are so many dangers and pitfalls that I tremble at the thought of two boys like Tom and Jim going into such a great city, where they do not know a living person."
"It is a matter for serious thought, but hundreds have done the same before them, and have achieved success."
"Have not some failed?"
"Doubtless the majority have failed to attain what they expected. But the same is true right here in Briggsville, and is true everywhere. I hold the doctrine, that to the boy who is strong, rugged, honest, willing, not only to work, but to wait, that success is bound to come sooner or later."
Tom was much encouraged by these wise words, and felt a strengthening of the resolve he had formed the night before.
It was bright, pretty Nellie who now spoke.
"Won"t it be splendid when Tom becomes a rich merchant, able to live in his fine house and have his horse and carriages and servants?"
"I am afraid it will be a long time before I get that far," replied the lad with a blush; "but I shall do it if there is any way possible."
"Riches are not the highest object in this life, though they are well enough in their way. Don"t think so much about them as about doing your duty. Be content to begin at the bottom of the ladder. It is an old saying, but there never was a truer one, that you will always find plenty of room at the top."
After some more pleasant conversation, Tom shook hands with his friends and bade them good-by. He ventured to give the delicate palm of Nellie a little warmer squeeze than he had ever dared to do before, and looked meaningly in her eyes. But she was diffident and did not return the pressure, and he was not certain of the precise meaning of the look she gave him at parting.
He felt a trifle uncomfortable, while walking homeward in the crisp moonlight.
"I suppose Nellie would feel quite proud of me if I ever become a rich man; but suppose I don"t. She always was a proud girl, and likely enough will turn up her nose if I fail, which _I won"t!_" he added, compressing his lips and walking faster.
Tom found Jim at home and waiting for him. They sat up late again talking over their grand scheme of seeking their fortune, and even after they retired the hum of their conversation continued until far into the night.
The following morning they turned their backs upon Briggsville forever.
The ride to Philadelphia was not far. They had decided to stop there for a time, as there was no call for haste. Neither held a thought of making their stay permanent. They strolled down Chestnut Street, looking at the pleasing sights that are always to be met in that fashionable thoroughfare, viewed some of the fine structures, and stared until they were tired.
But they were eager to go on. The metropolis of the country was their destination, and they would never be satisfied until they reached it.
Accordingly, when the afternoon was well along, they boarded the train and sped away to the northward. Everything thus far, even if interesting, had been dull and commonplace, but sooner than they antic.i.p.ated, they entered upon the most stirring and momentous experience of their lives.