ROBERT'S REFERENCE

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 13, 1 April 1909, Page 517

ROBERT'S REFERENCE

' Mr. Hinks, the grocer, tells me you are looking for a boy to work on your place, sir. I would like to apply for it.' RobeTt Coulton's hopes were high as he addressed himself to the white-bearded gentleman on the verandah. This big white house, with" its beautiful grounds and maplebordered drive, looked as if it might bo a happy place in which to work. ' Riglit, young man,' Captain Gordon returned. ' Have you any references — for industry and honesty?' That simple question dashed Robert's hopes. He and his widowed mother had just come East from far-away lowa. Neither of them knew a soul who could honestly give such a reference. 'That's too bad,' the Captain sympathised, when Robert explained. ' I would want a boy in and around the house all the time, and I wouldn't feel justified in engaging anyone without a reference.' The tone was kindly, but it could not prevent the bitter disappointment which Robert experienced. No one knew how poor he and his mother were. Mrs. Coulton had spent nearly all her savings to come East, only to be disappointed in her expectation of finding a situation. A little bit of sewing helped out, to be sure, and Robert occasionally found an odd job; but every day conditions were getting worse. Mrs. Coulton had been quite cheerful that morning when the grocer suggested that Robert apply to Captain Gordon. Her savings grew less every meal time. She had spoken as if she thought the chance at Captain Gordon's was the turning point in their fortunes. Robert had counted quite as much upon the place. Now he turned slowly and dejectedly , away. He felt that he could not bear to tell his mother' of the failure to get work. He knew how gloomy it would make her.

' Ohr — my boy,' the Captain called, ' would you liko to earn -twenty-five cents before you look for another place ?' Robert turned about so quickly that the Captain smiled. He did not need words to assure him that the boy would like to earn anything. 'My wife-wants a little patching done on the arbor above the woodshed. Come along and I'll show you.'

From the recesses of the woodshed the Captain brought ; orth a hammer. Then he showed Robert that the slats of jhe arbor were nearly all lose. A box of old nails was forthcoming, and Robert -set to work. It was a pleasure to be working, even if very little money would result therefrom. Robert found a brief forzetfulness of his financial difficulties while he labored.

One of the posts of the arbor was loose. After that had been set more firmly' in -the ground, Robert discovered that one whole slat was missing. A brief search in the woodshed discovered' it tucked away. It was in two pieces, but there were plenty of nails with which to correct the damage. The climbing vines we're somewhat tangled for want of ' repairs to the arbor. When the slats had been made fast Robert tAvined the long shoots iipward to the top pieces which ran from the arbor to the shed roof. Several of the cross strips were missing also. The vines would not have a fair chance to weave their way from the arbor to the shed unless these strips were replaced. Another visit to the shed discovered plenty, of old % material that served admirably for the purpose. The nails . held out, and Robert had the satisfaction of seeing the shady walk and the arbor restored little by little to what he judged was their former neatness. But all this had consumed much time. It had been comparatively early morning when he started, and although he had no watch, he decided from the position of the sun..that it must now "be after 3 o'clock. He felt a little hungry as he pu-fc the hammer and nails away. Leaving the shed, he encountered Mrs. Gordon. ' „ • - ' It's a good job, my boy, a very good job. How much do we owe you ? The Captain is not at home, so I wjil pay you myself.' ' Twenty-five cents,' Robert assured her, pleased with the favor his work found. ' That's what the Captain promised.' 'Oh, nonsense!' she replied! 'The Captain would never ask you to do all that work for twenty-five cents.' ' He told me he would give me twenty-five cents for nailing the loose slats on the arbor,' Robert explained. | 'He didn't" say anything about the extra work. I did that because I had the time to spare. My father always used to say that a workman couldn't afford to half do a job at any price.' * , Mrs. Gordon smiled and nodded approvingly. ' It's a very fine ideal,' she declared, ' and I hope you will always stick to it. There is fifty cents for your work, anyway; twenty-five from the Captain and twenty-five from me.' Robert thanked her as he took" the money. On his homeward way, with fifty cents in his pocket and compliments ringing in his ears, he felt quite rich. His mother tried to help him think where a reference might be found such as the Captain wanted. But the thinking was in vain. There were a few purchases to lie made in the village that Saturday night. After he had visited the store, and while he waited for the order to be made up, Robert went over to the post office. He had sent in an answer to an advertisement for factory help, -which he found in the country paper, and although he was in no wise qualified to take the place outlined he hoped against hope. The postmaster handed him a long envelope addressed to himself. The handwriting was unfamiliar, and Robert had visions of an offer of work. He waited until he had reached a quiet spot on the homeward way. Then he set his "basket down and tore open the envelope. The sheet inside was written from a town address, and bore date of that very day. ' To Whom It May Concern : ' This is to certify that Robert Coulton is both honest and industrious, having proved himself so in my employ and to my satisfaction. (Signed) ' Charles Gordon.' ' Why, that's a reference,' Robert told himself out loud, as if someone had just disputed the fact. There was also a little note enclosed in the envelope : ' Don't forget to call Monday if you happen to have the reference I spoke of.' i