New York (N.Y.) -- Fiction; Short stories, American
I came here all right last night, and this morning I went down to the
store with your father's letter. It's an immense big building Fassiter,
Smith & Kiddle keep store in. Mr. Kiddle was busy when I asked for him,
but he saw me at last and he said anybody recommended by your father
was sure to be just the sort of clerk they wanted. So he turned me over
to one of his assistants and he set me to work at once. As I've come
from the country, he said, and know what country people want, he's put
me in the department where the storekeepers get their supplies. It isn't
easy to get the hang of the work, there's so much noise and confusion;
but when we quit at six o'clock he said he thought I'd do. When night
came I was most beat out, I don't mind telling you. It was the noise
mostly, I think. I've never minded noise before, but here it is all
around you all the time and you can't get away from it. Nights it isn't
so bad, but it's bad enough even then. And there isn't a let-up all day.
It seems as though it kept getting worse and worse; and at one time I
thought there was a storm coming or something had happened. But it
wasn't anything but the regular roar they have here every day, and none
of the New-Yorkers noticed it, so I suppose I shall get wonted to it
sooner or later.
The crowd is 'most as bad as the noise. Of course, I wasn't green enough
to think that there must be a circus in town, but I came near it. Even
on the side streets here there's as many people all day long as there is
in Auburnvale on Main Street when the parade starts--and more, too. And
they say it is just the same every day--and even at night it don't thin
out much. At supper this evening I saw a piece in the paper saying that
summer was nearly over and people would soon be coming back to town. I
don't know where the town is going to put them, if they do come, for it
seems to me about as full now as it will hold. How they can spend so
much time in the street, too, that puzzles me. My feet were tired out
before I had been down-town an hour. Life is harder in the city than it
is in the country, I see that already. I guess it uses up men pretty
quick, and I'm glad I'm strong.
But then I've got something to keep me up to the mark; I've got a little
girl up in Auburnvale who is waiting for me to make my way. If I needed
to be hearted up, that would do it. I've only got to shut my eyes tight
and I can see you as you stood by the door of the school-house yesterday
as the cars went by. I can see you standing there, so graceful and
delicate, waving your hand to me and making believe you weren't crying.
I know, you are ever so much too good for me; but I know, too, that if
hard work will deserve you, I shall put in that, anyhow.
It is getting late now and I must go out and post this. I wish I could
fold you in my arms again as I did night before last. But it won't be
long before I'll come back to Auburnvale and carry you away with me.
Your own
JACK.
II
NEW YORK, Sept. 16, 1894.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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