Chapter II. Mrs. Fowler's Story

The Cash Boy

by Horatio Alger

"Not my mother!" he exclaimed. "Who, then, is my mother?"

"I cannot tell you, Frank. I never knew. You will forgive me
for concealing this from you for so long."

"No matter who was my real mother since I have you. You have
been a mother to me, and I shall always think of you as such."

"You make me happy, Frank, when you say that. And you will look
upon Grace as a sister also, will you not?"

"Always," said the boy, emphatically. "Mother, will you tell
all you know about me? I don't know what to think; now that I am not
your son I cannot rest till I learn who I am."

"I can understand your feelings, Frank, but I must defer the
explanation till to-morrow. I have fatigued myself with talking.
but to-morrow you shall know all that I can tell you."

"Forgive me for not thinking of your being tired, mother," and
he bent over and pressed his lips upon the cheek of the sick woman.
"But don't talk any more. Wait till to-morrow."

In the afternoon Frank had a call from Sam Pomeroy.

"The club is to play to-morrow afternoon against a picked nine,
Frank," he said. "Will you be there?"

"I can't, Sam," he answered. "My mother is very sick, and it is
my duty to stay at home with her."

"We shall miss you--that is, all of us but one. Tom Pinkerton
said yesterday that you ought to resign, as you can't attend to your
duties. He wouldn't object to filling your place, I fancy."

"He is welcome to the place as soon as the club feels like
electing him," said Frank. "Tell the boys I am sorry I can't be on
hand. They had better get you to fill my place."

"I'll mention it, but I don't think they'll see it in that
light. They're all jealous of my superior playing," said Sam,
humorously. "Well, good-bye, Frank. I hope your mother'll be better
soon."

"Thank you, Sam," answered Frank, soberly. "I hope so, too, but
she is very sick."

The next day Mrs. Fowler again called Frank to the bedside.

"Grace is gone out on an errand," she said, "and I can find no
better time for telling you what I know about you and the
circumstances which led to my assuming the charge of you."

"Are you strong enough, mother?"

"Yes, Frank. Thirteen years ago my husband and myself occupied
a small tenement in that part of Brooklyn know as Gowanus, not far
from Greenwood Cemetery. My husband was a carpenter, and though his
wages were small he was generally employed. We had been married
three years, but had no children of our own. Our expenses were
small, and we got on comfortably, and should have continued to do so,
but that Mr. Fowler met with an accident which partially disabled
him. He fell from a high scaffold and broke his arm. This was set
and he was soon able to work again, but he must also have met with
some internal injury, for his full strength never returned. Half a
day's work tired him more than a whole day's work formerly had done.
Of course our income was very much diminished, and we were obliged to
economize very closely. This preyed upon my husband's mind and
seeing his anxiety, I set about considering how I could help him, and
earn my share of the expenses.

"One day in looking over the advertising columns of a New York
paper I saw the following advertisement:

" `For adoption--A healthy male infant. The parents are able to
pay liberally for the child's maintenance, but circumstances compel
them to delegate the care to another. Address for interview A.
M.'

"I had no sooner read this advertisement than I felt that it was
just what I wanted. A liberal compensation was promised, and under
our present circumstances would be welcome, as it was urgently
needed. I mentioned the matter to my husband, and he was finally
induced to give his consent.

"Accordingly, I replied to the advertisement.

"Three days passed in which I heard nothing from it. But as we
were sitting at the supper table at six o'clock one afternoon, there
came a knock at our front door. I opened it, and saw before me a
tall stranger, a man of about thirty-five, of dark complexion, and
dark whiskers. He was well dressed, and evidently a gentleman in
station.

" `Is this Mrs. Fowler?' he asked.

" `Yes, sir,' I answered, in some surprise

" `Then may I beg permission to enter your house for a few
minutes? I have something to say to you.'

"Still wondering, I led the way into the sitting- room, where
your father--where Mr. Fowler----"

"Call him my father--I know no other," said Frank.

"Where your father was seated.

" `You have answered an advertisement,' said the stranger.

" `Yes, sir,' I replied.

" `I am A. M.,' was his next announcement. `Of course I have
received many letters, but on the whole I was led to consider yours
most favorably. I have made inquiries about you in the neighborhood,
and the answers have been satisfactory. You have no children of your
own?'

" `No, sir.'

" `All the better. You would be able to give more attention to
this child.'

" `Is it yours, sir?' I asked

" `Ye-es,' he answered, with hesitation. `Circumstances,' he
continued, `circumstances which I need not state, compel me to
separate from it. Five hundred dollars a year will be paid for its
maintenance.'

"Five hundred dollars! I heard this with joy, for it was
considerably more than my husband was able to earn since his
accident. It would make us comfortable at once, and your father
might work when he pleased, without feeling any anxiety about our
coming to want.

" `Will that sum be satisfactory?' asked the stranger.

" `It is very liberal,' I answered.

" `I intended it to be so,' he said. `Since there is no
difficulty on this score, I am inclined to trust you with the care of
the child. But I must make two conditions.'

" `What are they, sir?'

" `In the first place, you must not try to find out the friends
of the child. They do not desire to be known. Another thing, you
must move from Brooklyn.'

" `Move from Brooklyn?' I repeated.

" `Yes,' he answered, firmly. `I do not think it necessary to
give you a reason for this condition. Enough that it is imperative.
If you decline, our negotiations are at an end.'

"I looked at my husband. He seemed as much surprised as I
was.

" `Perhaps you will wish to consult together,' suggested our
visitor. `If so, I can give you twenty minutes. I will remain in
this room while you go out and talk it over.'

"We acted on this hint, and went into the kitchen. We decided
that though we should prefer to live in Brooklyn, it would be worth
our while to make the sacrifice for the sake of the addition to our
income. We came in at the end of ten minutes, and announced our
decision. Our visitor seemed to be very much pleased.

" `Where would you wish us to move?' asked your father.

" `I do not care to designate any particular place. I should
prefer some small country town, from fifty to a hundred miles
distant. I suppose you will be able to move soon?'

" `Yes, sir; we will make it a point to do so. How soon will
the child be placed in our hands? Shall we send for it?'

" `No, no,' he said, hastily. `I cannot tell you exactly when,
but it will be brought here probably in the course of a day or two.
I myself shall bring it, and if at that time you wish to say anything
additional you can do so.'

"He went away, leaving us surprised and somewhat excited at the
change that was to take place in our lives. The next evening the
sound of wheels was heard, and a hack stopped at our gate. The same
gentleman descended hurriedly with a child in his arms--you were the
child, Frank--and entered the house.

" `This is the child,' he said, placing it in my arms, `and here
is the first quarterly installment of your pay. Three months hence
you will receive the same sum from my agent in New York. Here is his
address,' and he placed a card in my hands. `Have you anything to
ask?'

" `Suppose I wish to communicate with you respecting the child?
Suppose he is sick?'

" `Then write to A. M., care of Giles Warner, No. ---- Nassau
Street. By the way, it will be necessary for you to send him your
postoffice address after your removal in order that he may send you
your quarterly dues.'

"With this he left us, entered the hack, and drove off. I have
never seen him since."