Chapter VII

What next? was the question Mr. Thomas was revolving in his mind, when a knock was heard at his door, and he saw standing on the threshold, one of his former pupils.

“Well, Charley, how does the world use you?  Everything going on swimmingly?”

“Oh, no indeed.  I have lost my situation.”

“How is that?  You were getting on so well.  Mr. Hazleton seemed to be perfectly satisfied with you, and I thought that you were quite a favorite in the establishment.  How was it that you lost your place?”

“I lost it through the meanness of Mr. Mahler.”

“Mr. Mahler, our Superintendent of public schools?”

“Yes, it was through him that I lost my situation.”

“Why, what could you have done to offend him?”

“Nothing at all; I never had an unpleasant word with him in my life.”

“Do explain yourself.  I cannot see why he should have used any influence to deprive you of your situation.”

“He had it in his power to do me a mean, low-life trick, and he did it, and I hope to see the day when I will be even with him,” said the lad, with a flashing eye, while an angry flush mantled his cheek.

“Do any of the family deal at Mr. Hazleton’s store?  Perhaps you gave some of them offence through neglect or thoughtlessness in dealing with them.”

“It was nothing of the kind.  Mr. Mahler knew me and my mother.  He knew her because she taught under him, and of course saw me often enough to know that I was her son, and so last week when he saw me in the store, I noticed that he looked very closely at me, and that in a few moments after he was in conversation with Mr. Hazleton.  He asked him, ’if he employed a nigger for a cashier?’ He replied, ‘Of course not.’  ‘Well,’ he said, ‘you have one now.’  After that they came down to the desk where I was casting up my accounts and Mr. Mahler asked, ’Is Mrs. Cooper your mother?’ I answered, ‘yes sir.’  Of course I would not deny my mother.  ’Isn’t your name Charley?’[8] and again I answered, yes; I could have resorted to concealment, but I would not lie for a piece of bread, and yet for mother’s sake I sorely needed the place.

“What did Mr. Hazleton say?”

“Nothing, only I thought he looked at me a little embarrassed, just as any half-decent man might when he was about to do a mean and cruel thing.  But that afternoon I lost my place.  Mr. Hazleton said to me when the store was about to close, that he had no further use for me.  Not discouraged, I found another place; but I believe that my evil genius found me out and that through him I was again ousted from that situation and now I am at my wits end.”

“But, Charley, were you not sailing under false colors?”