The Errand Boy; or, How Phil Brent Won Success by Horatio Alger, Jr. Chapter 1, 2, 3, 4

”What proof is there of this?“ he asked, after a while.

”Your father’s word. I mean, of course, Mr. Brent’s word. He told me this story before I married him, feeling that I had a right to know.“

”Why didn’t he tell me?“ asked Philip incredulously.

”He thought it would make you unhappy.“

”You didn’t mind that,“ said Philip, his lips curling.

”No,“ answered Mrs. Brent, with a curious smile. ”Why should I? I never pretended to like you, and now I have less cause than ever, after your brutal treatment of my boy.“

Jonas endeavored to look injured, but could not at once change the expression of his countenance.

”Your explanation is quite satisfactory, Mrs. Brent,“ returned Philip. ”I don’t think I stood much higher in your estimation yesterday than today, so that I haven’t lost much. But you haven’t given me any proof yet.“

”Wait a minute.“

Mrs. Brent left the room, went up-stairs, and speedily returned, bringing with her a small daguerreotype, representing a boy of three years.

”Did you ever see this before?“ she asked.

”No,“ answered Philip, taking it from her hand and eying it curiously.

”When Mr. and Mrs. Brent decided that you were to be left on their hands,“ she proceeded, ”they had this picture of you taken in the same dress in which you came to them, with a view to establish your identity if at any time afterward inquiry should be made for you.“

The daguerreotype represented a bright, handsome child, dressed tastefully, and more as would be expected of a city child than of one born in the country. There was enough resemblance to Philip as he looked now to convince him that it was really his picture.

”I have something more to show you,“ said Mrs. Brent.

She produced a piece of white paper in which the daguerreotype had been folded. Upon it was some writing, and Philip readily recognized the hand of the man whom he had regarded as his father.

He read these lines:

”This is the picture of the boy who was mysteriously left in the charge of Mr. Brent, April, 1863, and never reclaimed. l have reared him as my own son, but think it best to enter this record of the way in which he came into my hands, and to preserve by the help of art his appearance at the time he first came to us. GERALD BRENT.“

”Do you recognize this handwriting?“ asked Mrs. Brent.

”Yes,“ answered Philip in a dazed tone.

”Perhaps,“ she said triumphantly, ”you will doubt my word now.“

”May I have this picture?“ asked Philip, without answering her.

”Yes; you have as good a claim to it as any one.“

”And the paper?“

”The paper I prefer to keep myself,“ said Mrs. Brent, nodding her head suspiciously. ”I don’t care to have my only proof destroyed.“

Philip did not seem to take her meaning, but with the daguerreotype in his hand, he left the room.

”I say, mother,“ chuckled Jonas, his freckled face showing his enjoyment, ”it’s a good joke on Phil, isn’t it?“ I guess he won’t be quite so uppish after this.“

CHAPTER III.

PHIL’S SUDDEN RESOLUTION.

WHEN Phil left the presence of Mrs. Brent, he felt as if he had been suddenly transported to a new world. He was no longer Philip Brent, and the worst of it was that he did not know who he was. In his tumultuous state of feeling, however, one thing seemed clear–his prospects were wholly changed, and his plans for the future also. Mrs. Brent had told him that he was wholly dependent upon her. Well, he did not intend to remain so. His home had not been pleasant at the best. As a dependent upon the bounty of such a woman it would be worse. He resolved to leave home and strike out for himself, not from any such foolish idea of independence as sometimes leads boys to desert a good home for an uncertain skirmish with the world, but simply be cause he felt now that he had no real home.

To begin with he would need money, and on opening his pocket-book he ascertained that his available funds consisted of only a dollar and thirty-seven cents. That wasn’t quite enough to begin the world with. But he had other resources. He owned a gun, which a friend of his would be ready to take off his hands. He had a boat, also, which he could probably sell.

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