“But how are we going to get him started in the department yet awhile?” demanded Weyman. “You know the rules are, that no one under twenty-one years of age can be taken into the service, and this boy don’t look to me to be more than fifteen. Get him into some good office now, and the chances are that by the time he’s twenty-one he won’t want to go to fires on a truck.”
Then Chief Trask, who had been silent for some time, removed his pipe from his lips and said, in the authoritative way which was habitual with him: “If the boy wants to be a fireman I believe in giving him a chance. This pension of $300 a year ought to pay for his board and clothes and there are plenty of odd jobs he can do about the quarters while he’s learning the business. He can make himself very useful to us here if he takes hold of the work in the right spirit, and if he gets sick of it within a year he won’t be any the worse for his training.”
That ended the discussion and very soon afterward the men went up stairs and turned in for the night.
The next morning the chief told Bruce that he had decided to give him employment for a few months in order that he might familiarize himself with the duties of a fireman. He could board at his (the chief’s) home, and make himself generally useful at the quarters. “Do you know anything about taking care of horses?” he required.
“Yes,” replied Bruce eagerly, “I’ve looked after horses all my life and I’d like nothing better than to take care of that big grey Pete that I’ve heard my father speak about so often. I am very handy with horses, and I can do anything with them. Then I’ll run errands and do anything you want me to. I’d rather be a fireman than President of the United States.”
Mr. Trask could not help smiling at the boy’s earnestness, but it pleased him, nevertheless, to see that he was bent upon entering the service and did not intend to let a little hard work stand in the way of getting there. That very afternoon found Bruce with his coat off whistling merrily as he rubbed down the horses, Pete, Jack and Joe, and gave them their hay and oats. Charley Weyman watched him from his seat in the rear room, and remarked to Brophy: “That lad takes hold of his work as if he liked it.”
Chapter III.
“Hitch up my wagon for me, Bruce,” said the chief one morning a few days after the young boy had been installed at the quarters, and accordingly he harnessed one of the horses to the wagon which the chief kept for his own use.
“Now jump in beside me,” he continued, and a few minutes later they were driving slowly up the broad avenue, while the chief gave his young protege some information regarding the department.
