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A Good Name
by
“I’ve spoken to Tom already” said Jacob, cooling off a little. “And he’s promised to go; so there’s no getting away from it. I’m sorry you’re so over nice.”
The rowing party came off, but Ralph was not of the number. As the boys were getting into the boat at Fairmount, Jacob noticed two or three men standing on the wharf; and on lifting his eyes to the face of one of them, he recognized the same individual who had looked at him so intently as he entered the oyster saloon. The man’s eyes rested upon him for a few moments, and then turned to the boy, Tom Forsyth. Young Peters might have been mistaken, but he thought he saw on the man’s face a look of surprise and disapprobation. Somehow or other he did not feel very comfortable in mind as the boat pushed off from shore. Who was this man? and why had he looked at him twice so intently, and with something of disapproval in his face?
Jacob Peters was fifteen years old. He had left school a few weeks before, and his father was desirous of getting him into a large whole-sale house, on Market Street. A friend was acquainted with a member of the firm, and through his kind offices he hoped to make the arrangement. Some conversation had already taken place between the friend and merchant, who said they wished another lad in the store, but were very particular as to the character of their boys. The friend assured him that Jacob was a lad of excellent character; and depending on this assurance, a preliminary engagement had been made, Jacob was to go into the store just one week from the day on which he went on the boating excursion. Both his own surprise and that of his father may be imagined when a note came, saying that the firm in Market Street had changed its views in regard to a lad, and would not require the services of Jacob Peters.
The father sent back a polite note, expressing regret at the change of view, and asking that his son should still be borne in mind, as he would prefer that situation for him to any other in the city. Jacob was the bearer of this note. When he entered the store, the first person he met was the man who looked at him so closely in the oyster saloon and on the wharf at Fairmount. Jacob handed him the note, which he opened and read, and then gave him cold bow.
A glimpse of the truth passed through Jacob’s mind. He had been misjudged, and here was the unhappy result. His good name had suffered, and yet he had done nothing actually wrong. But boys, like men, are judged by the company they keep and the places in which they are seen.
“I’m going into a store next week,” said Ralph Gilpin, to his friend Jacob, about a week afterwards.
“Where?” asked Jacob.
“On Market Street.”
“In what store?”
“In A. & L.’s,” replied Ralph.
“O, no!” ejaculated Jacob, his face flushing, “not there!”
“Yes,” replied Ralph. “I’m going to A. & L.’s. Father got me the place. Don’t you think I’m lucky? They’re very particular about the boys they taking that store. Father says he considers their choice of me quite a compliment. I’m sure I feel proud enough about it.”
“Well, I think they acted very meanly,” said Jacob, showing sonic anger. “They promised father that I should have the place.”
“Are you sure about that?” asked the young friend.
“Certainly I am. I was to go there this week. But they sent father a note, saying they had changed their minds about a boy.”
“Perhaps,” suggested Ralph, “it you were seen going into a drinking saloons or in company with Tom Forsyth. You remember what I said to you about preserving a good name.”
Jacob’s face colored, and his eyes fell to the ground.
“O, that’s only your guess,” he replied, tossing his head, and putting on an incredulous look; but he felt in his heart that the suggestion of Ralph was true.