Page 66 - An Amateur Fireman

"Well, it was, Amateur, it was; and if you'll go upstairs and look on my bed you'll find the togs laid out there.
Put 'em on, and come down to show us how you look."

"Are they new clothes, sir?"

"Of course they are. You don't allow that when this 'ere company takes it into their heads to fit out a kid
they're going to do it on second-hand rigging, do you?"

"I only asked the question 'cause I thought perhaps if they was all new I'd better wash my face an' hands first."

"That's right, Amateur; fix yourself out the best you know how. We want to see what kind of a looking kid
we've taken on our hands."

Instead of immediately acting upon his own suggestion Seth hesitated, and after a moment the driver asked:

"What are you hanging in the wind now for? Got anything on your mind?"

"I'd like to know, sir, if I'm to be allowed to pay for these clothes when I get so I can earn money enough?"

"Bless your heart, Amateur, when you're regularly in the Department you shall come up and square the bills
with Ninety-four if it so be you're inclined; if not, why, what we do comes free as air, and we're glad to give
you a boost. All the payment we want is that you'll do us credit. I'd like to have the boys up at headquarters,
when they look at you, say to themselves, 'That kid belongs to Ninety-four,' and in the saying of it I'd have 'em
think you was way up--something out of the ordinary run of kids, don't you understand, Amateur?"

"If I can do anything to make you feel proud of me, Mr. Davis, I'll be mighty glad; but I promise you shan't be
ashamed of having sent me there."

"I ain't counting on the possibility of that, Amateur, 'cause I believe I know you better. Now, get along and put
yourself into condition, 'cause there's no knowing how soon we may get a call."

Before looking at the new clothing Seth washed his face and hands with scrupulous care, used the comb and
brush again and again until positive each single hair was in its proper place, and then went to the floor above.

He expected to see garments which somewhat resembled those worn by the firemen; but was unprepared for
that which met his gaze.

'Lish Davis, if indeed it was he who ordered the uniform, had seen to it that each article was a facsimile, both
as to texture and style, of what he himself wore, the one difference being that the buttons were plain black
instead of gilt with raised letters.

During several moments Seth stood as if spell-bound, gazing at this, to him, first real evidence that he was in a
certain degree, however remote, connected with the Department, and perhaps never again will he feel the
same honest pride which was his at that moment, for he knew without being told that he had gotten this far
toward the goal he had set himself by straightforward dealing and careful attention to all the duties which
might be expected of him.

He did not say in so many words that he had earned them; but there was in his mind a sense of satisfaction in
the knowledge that they would not have been presented unless he had shown himself to be in some degree
deserving.

After a long survey of the garments, he put them on, and never was transformation more complete than when