Herbert Carter's Legacy; Or, the Inventor's Son, Jr. Horatio Alger [uplifting novels .txt] 📗
- Author: Jr. Horatio Alger
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“I shall be very much obliged to you if you will look at it,” said Herbert. “I have been afraid that father exaggerated its value and that it might have defects which would prevent its being adopted anywhere.”
“I will give you my opinion when I have seen it. And now suppose we set to work. Here is a treatise on logic. You may begin and read it very slowly, pausing at the end of every paragraph till I tell you to go on.”
Herbert began to read as he had been requested. For the first two or three times he took very little interest in his subject and thought it very dry. In fact, it was not all he began to re-read the earlier portions that he could comprehend much of it.
“Now,” said Cameron, after he had read half an hour, “I have something else for you to do. You are not only my reader, but I must make you my teacher, too.”
Herbert laughed, saying: “I think you'll have to get somebody that knows more than I, then; I wouldn't venture to teach a college student.”
“I mean that you shall hear my lessons. I want you to imagine yourself a college professor and ask me questions on what you have just read.”
“Do you think I can?”
“You may bungle a little at first, but you'll improve. If you do well, when I get through with you I will try to get you a professor's chair at some college.”
“I should like that, if professors get well paid.”
“They generally get more than five dollars a week; but that is all that I can afford to pay at present.”
“I'm only an apprentice,” said Herbert smiling, “and am quite satisfied.”
Herbert began to question Cameron on what he had been reading. He did not find it altogether easy, partly from want of practice, partly because the subject was one he knew nothing about. But whenever blunders were made Cameron laughed good-naturedly and the young professor joined in the merriment.
“We'll take political economy next,” said the student. “You won't find that so dry as logic.”
Though political economy is generally studied in the junior or senior year at college, its principles, if familiarly illustrated, are not beyond the comprehension of a boy of fifteen. He found himself reading with interest, and when he came to act the role of professor he acquitted himself more creditably than with logic.
“I think,” said Cameron, “I shall recommend you for the chair of political economy.”
“I like it much better,” said Herbert.
“So do I. Still, logic is important in its way. Tomorrow I must try you on Latin.”
“I am afraid it won't be much use,” said our hero. “I have studied it a little two winters when we had a college student keeping our winter school.”
“If you know as much as that you will answer my purpose better than I anticipated. Now we'll take a walk. You shall show me the houses of Wrayburn.”
“The houses of Wrayburn are four in number,” said Herbert; “the two churches, the town hall, and Squire Leech's house.”
“There's another walk which I prefer; I mean to Prospect Pond. Suppose we walk over to it.”
“I shall be glad to,” said Herbert.
“You are a very accommodating professor. You let me off from study when I feel lazy.”
CHAPTER XX PROSPECT POND
It was a beautiful afternoon and Herbert was satisfied to lay books aside and walk over to Prospect Pond.
This pond was about a mile from the village and probably about a mile and a half in circuit. At the farther end was a small hill crowned with forest trees.
“That would be a fine situation for a house.”
“Yes,” said Herbert, “but it would be hard to get at.”
“Oh, of course a road would have to be built connecting with the highway. Perhaps you will build a house there when you are a rich man.”
“Then I shall have to wait a few years,” said Herbert.
“You wouldn't be the first poor boy that has grown rich. My own father is rich now, but when he was of your age he was only a poor 'bobbin boy' working at scanty pay in the factory of which he is now owner.”
“I should like to be rich for my mother's sake,” said Herbert.
“With money one can do a great deal of good, though not all rich men choose to apply their riches worthily. How smooth the water is to-day! Isn't there a boat somewhere that we can use?”
“There's one a few rods from here, but it belongs to James Leech.”
“Would it do to take it, do you think?”
“It might do for you but not for me.”
“Why not for you?”
“James and I are not very good friends.”
“Why not?”
“He looks down upon me because I am poor.”
“So he is inclined to put on airs on account of his father's money?”
“I should say he is.”
“Let us go and see the boat at any rate.”
Herbert led the way through a meadow to a clump of trees, where a small rowboat floated upon the water.
“Does Leech often go out in it?”
“Two or three times a week.”
“It is just about large enough for two, though it would easily accommodate one more.”
“Yes.”
“If I thought your friend would not be round I should be tempted to try it for half an hour.”
“I think you might venture.”
“Jump in, then, and we'll push out.”
Herbert shook his head.
“If the boat belonged to anyone but James Leech I would go; but I don't like him well enough to take any liberty with anything of his.”
“Perhaps
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