“No,” said Herbert; “I am entirely ignorant of it; but I felt that I could learn.”
“That’s the way to talk,” was the hearty reply. “The only way to learn to do a thing is to do it. I think you would pan out all right in an office of this kind; but I am sorry to say we have no opening at the present time.”
Herbert said “Good-by” quietly; but once out of the building he felt very much depressed at his failure to secure a situation. He did not tell his mother of his adventure, not wishing to annoy her with anything that was not of a cheerful nature. During the next few months he managed to earn a small amount of money by odd bits of employment that were furnished to him through Horace Coke, the lawyer; but as he had no taste for the law he did not feel very much encouraged over this occasional work. His mind still dwelt upon the newspaper business.
One evening he wrote a little item describing an entertainment given at the Cleverly High School, and mailed it to the office of the Banner, without indicating the name or address of the writer. After he had sent this little message on its way, he was figuratively speaking, on pins and needles until the next issue of the Cleverly Banner should appear. On the date of its regular issue, he hurried home in order to get the paper as soon as possible. He was disappointed. It had not arrived. Unable to wait, he rushed to the post office, and securing the paper, he eagerly tore off the wrapping and opened the page which contained the local news. What he found there caused his face to flush scarlet. The little item that he had written with such care was reproduced, word for word, as he had penned it, without a change of any kind. He felt so glad that he could have shouted for joy. Several other persons were in the post office, and he looked around at them as if to see whether they had read his secret; but apparently no one was paying any attention to him. He walked home in a fever of happiness, and it was only by the strongest effort on his part that he refrained from telling his mother about the incident.
Naturally he continued to send little items to the paper from week to week. Sometimes they failed to appear. On such occasions he felt a sense of loss and disappointment that was far out of proportion to the importance of the subject. But when the paragraphs did appear that feeling of elation and joy returned to him on each occasion.
Finally he determined to call at the office of the Banner once more. It was just possible that there might be an opening, and he made up his mind not to miss it merely for the sake of asking. The venerable editor with the snow white hair was in his place as usual. He recognized Herbert immediately, and cried out:
“Hello young man! I see you are here again.”
“Yes sir,” replied Herbert. “I do not want to be a bore, but I felt that it would be all right to inquire whether an opportunity had arisen by which I could secure employment on the Banner.”
Once again the old man looked at him in that quizzical manner.
“Perseverance wins, boy,” he said, “and you have won. I do need somebody. My apprentice has left me very suddenly, and I think I can make use of you. He only got four dollars a week. I know that will be pretty small for you; but I can afford to give you six dollars, and if you are willing to take it the job is yours.”