Barriers Burned Away Read online

  CHAPTER X

  THE NEW BROOM

  The following Sabbath was a bright winter day without, but brightsummer in Dennis's heart. He inquired his way to a neighboring church,and every word of prayer, praise, and truth fell on a glad, gratefulspirit. Returning, he wrote a long letter to his mother, telling herall he had passed through, especially dwelling on the truth he haddiscovered of God's wish to make this life happy and successful, aswell as the life beyond.

  In closing, he wrote: "Here I am, Dennis Fleet, who a few days sincethought the world scarcely large enough for what I meant to do, standingcontentedly and gratefully in Pat Murphy's shoes. I will not concealfrom you, speaking figuratively (the fates forbid that it should beliterally true), that I hope to outgrow them, and arrive at somethingbetter before many months pass. In the meantime I am indeed thankfulfor the means of winning honest bread for us all. It is quite acome-down from the classics and law to the position of porter and manof-all-work in a picture and music store, but if God means me to riseHe can lead me upward from my lowly standpoint as well as from themost favored that I could have chosen for myself. I have learned thatif I will _trust Him_ and do present duty thoroughly, He will not forgetme."

  On Monday morning, half an hour before the specified time, Dennis stoodat the store. Impatiently he walked up and down before what wouldbecome the scene of joys and sorrows such as he had never beforeexperienced. But we will not anticipate.

  In due time Mr. Schwartz appeared. He gave Dennis a cool nod, and said,"Glad to see you so prompt," then muttered again to himself, "Newbroom."

  In Mr. Schwartz's slow, plodding soul the fire of enthusiasm had neverburned. He was eminently conservative, and looked with wary suspicionon anything that appeared like earnestness. In the midst of a driving,bustling Western city, he stuck in the mud of his German phlegm, likea snag in the swift current of the Mississippi. Yet Mr. Ludolph foundhim a most valuable assistant. He kept things straight. Under hisminute supervision everything had to be right on Saturday night aswell as on Monday morning, on the 31st of December as well as on the1st of January. He was one who through life would be satisfied witha subordinate position, conscious of the lack of enterprise needfulto push his own way in the world. His painstaking, methodical spiritwas just the kind to pervade a large warehouse like that he had incharge, and prevent loss and confusion in the multiplicity of objectsit contained. Pat's careless Irish ways had vexed his soul beyondwords, and now Dennis's eager manner suggested a hare-brained Yankeeyouth who would raise a dust for a week and then be off at somethingelse. He was therefore cool and curt, seeking by frostiness of mannerto nip the budding enthusiasm that annoyed him.

  Dennis heeded him not, but bent every faculty to the mastery of theduties required of him. He was to mop out the store with damp cloths,so as to raise no dust, to look after the furnace and graduate theheat throughout the building, to receive boxes, to assist in packingand unpacking pianos and other musical instruments that occupied partof the upper floors, and to make himself generally useful. So far frombeing an easy position, it was one that required great strength anddespatch, and these had been Pat's qualities save when drink got thebetter of him. For one of his age, Dennis was very strong, and hisexperience in helping his mother in household duties had made him quickand dexterous, where most young men would have been awkward and slow.After a day or two Mr. Schwartz relaxed his grimness somewhat, for ifDennis worked eagerly he also worked well for a beginner. Still itwould require several years of well-doing to satisfy old Schwartz thatall was right. But Mr. Ludolph, with his quick insight into character,watched this "new broom" a few days, and then congratulated himselfon gaining another decided help toward the object nearest his heart.

  The other clerks were of German descent, and under Mr. Schwartz's rigidsystem each one filled his appropriate niche, and performed carefullythe duties assigned.

  Even to Dennis's uncultivated eye there was an inartistic formalityabout the whole establishment. His sense of this was at first but afeeling--a vague impression that grew upon him without his quite knowingwhy. He soon discovered, however, that everything was arranged squarely,according to system, order, and not with a view of placing in the bestlights and shadows the beautiful things to be sold. He saw that Mr.Ludolph was annoyed by the same defect. One bright day, when everythingstood out with glaring distinctness, he seemed provoked beyond measureby this inartistic rigidity, and stormed through the store at a greatrate.

  "This art building and everybody and everything in it look as if theyhad swallowed a ramrod," snarled he. "Mr. Schwartz, can't you teachthe young men to throw a little ease and grace into the arrangementof the articles under their charge?"

  Mr. Schwartz looked at him with a blank, impassive face, and hisemployer felt that he might as well ask an elephant to teach dancing.

  Turning suddenly on a stolid youth, he exclaimed, "By the gods! if youhave not arranged all the statuettes on your counter in straight lines,and half of them with their backs toward the door at which our customersenter! Here, gather round me while I give you some ideas ofarrangement."

  The clerks gathered around him, while with hands of skill and tastehe placed everything artistically. The effect of a little transpositionwas marvellous, and Mr. Schwartz acknowledged that the groups lookeddoubly pretty and inviting. Dennis stood at a respectful distance, butwas a close observer. He was the only one who gained much benefit fromthe lesson, because the only one capable of receiving it. With quick,appreciative eye he saw the grouping needful to produce the desiredeffect.

  As Mr. Ludolph looked up he caught Dennis's intelligent gaze.

  "That is right, Fleet," he said; "you learn, too, if you can, and whenyou are dusting around see if you cannot combine a little order andgrace."

  From that day forward the hand and taste of Dennis Fleet gradually,and almost imperceptibly at first, gave a new aspect and created anew atmosphere in the "Art Building." But at first he was kept busyenough at his humble routine duties. Every one felt and expressed alittle surprise at his getting into harness so quickly, but Mr.Schwartz's influence was not conducive to conversation or emotions,however faint. All went forward quietly and orderly, like well-oiledmachinery. Customers received every attention, and though many no doubthad the undefined feeling that something was wrong in the arrangementof the store, each found an abundance of beautiful things suited to histaste and purse, and so trade was good, even though the holiday seasonwas over.

  As for Dennis, he was to a certain extent in Paradise. Nature had givenhim a deep, earnest love of the beautiful, and a keen perception of it.

  Though his days were busy indeed, he found time gradually to studyevery pretty thing in the store. Though much was mystery to him asyet, he felt that he had crossed the threshold of a beautiful world--theworld of art. When a boy in New England he had taken drawing-lessons,and had shown remarkable aptness. While at college, also, he had givensome attention to drawing and coloring, but circumstances had preventedhim from following the bent of his taste. Now the passion awoke withtenfold force, and he had not been in his place a week before he beganto make sketches of little things that pleased him. Some of the picturesand bronzes became almost dear because of the pleasure and inspirationthat they occasioned, and at their sale his feeling was akin to regret.Early in the morning, when refreshed and brightened by the night'srest, he would walk through the store as through fairy-land, and,forgetting that he was a humble servitor, would feel as if all werehis. But in fact was not his possession truer than that of many whosepalace walls glow with every rich gem of art, and yet whose eyes areblind and their hearts dull to the beauty they have paid for?

  A few days after his arrival, a little incident occurred that was hardand practical enough, and might justly cause him to feel that heoccupied a humble place, not only in the world of art, but in the worldin general. There had been a day of rain, slush, and mud. One of theyounger clerks had been sent out on an errand, and came in wellsplashed. Drawing off his boots, he threw them t
o Dennis, saying: "Hereyou, Fleet! black my boots as quick as you can. I must go out again."

  Dennis reddened, and for a moment drew himself up as if he had beenstruck. The young man saw it and said, in a loud, coarse tone thatcould be heard by several customers: "Vat! you above your biz? I thoughtit vould be so."

  Dennis acted with decision. He meant to have the matter settled atonce. Picking up the muddy boots, he marched straight into Mr. Ludolph'soffice. That gentleman looked up, impatient at interruption, and sawhis man-of-all-work standing before him with the splashed boots danglingin his hands.

  "'Well, what is it?" asked he, sharply.

  "Mr. Berder threw me those boots and told me to black them. Is thisa part of my duty here?" said Dennis, in a firm, quiet tone.

  "Curse it all!" said Mr. Ludolph, with much irritation; "I thoughtthere would be trouble with your uppishness."

  "There shall be no trouble whatever," said Dennis; "but I prefer totake my orders from you, and not from Mr. Berder. If you say this isexpected, the disagreeable task shall be done as well as I can do it."

  Mr. Ludolph looked sharply at the young man for a moment and hesitated.In his heart he felt that he was speaking to a gentleman, and that itwas not the thing to ask of him such menial work. But his irritationand desire to crush out anything like insubordination prevailed. Still,rather than directly order it, he appealed to the custom of the past,and stepping to the door of the office he called: "Mr. Schwartz, comehere! Did Pat black the shoes of the _gentlemen_ of this store?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "You took Pat Murphy's place, did you not?"

  "Yes, sir," said Dennis.

  "It seems to me, then, that this settles the question," said Mr.Ludolph, coolly, turning to his writing; but he furtively and carefullywatched Dennis's course.

  Determined to show that he was not above his business, that he acceptedthe bitter with the sweet, Dennis went upstairs to his room, gotblacking and brush, and taking his station in a corner where Mr. Ludolphcould plainly see him through the glass doors of his office, he polishedaway as vigorously as if that were his only calling. Mr. Ludolph lookedand smiled. His was a nature that could be pleased with a small triumphlike this. But the other clerks, seeing Mr. Berder's success, anddetermining to do their part, also, in taking Dennis, "down a peg,"as they expressed it, brought their boots, too, and Mr. Berder camewith his again in the afternoon. Dennis cleaned and polished away infull view of Mr. Ludolph, who began to realize with vexation that hisman-of-all-work would have little time for the duties of the store ifhe were installed general bootblack of the establishment. But, afterthis, cold and snow kept the streets dry and clean for some time, andthe matter passed on without further notice. Boots were seldom broughtto him, and when they were, they were cleaned without a word. In themeantime, his ability and faithfulness in the discharge of his regularduties, and in some slight degree his taste and judgment, began to berecognized, and Mr. Ludolph congratulated himself that in giving DennisPat Murphy's place he had made a decided change for the better.