Page 75 - An Amateur Fireman

"Yes, sir."

"Then clear out an' go down-town, 'cause this is likely to be your last day off for quite a spell. I'll look after
the other horses."

Seth would have been better pleased to remain in the engine-house two or three hours longer, but 'Lish Davis's
injunctions, although given as a permission rather than a command, were not to be disobeyed, and without
protesting he left the building.

It is hardly necessary to attempt to describe the reception accorded the amateur fireman, when he arrived at
Printing House Square.

Every bootblack or newsboy in that section of the city had heard from Bill or Dan the fullest possible
particulars regarding the new uniform, and all were expecting to see a great change in Seth's appearance, but
not prepared for such a decided transformation.

During at least two hours business was practically suspended, and Seth was literally forced to remain on
exhibition because of the throng which surrounded him.

Many times did the policemen in the vicinity disperse the gathering; but the admiring ones reassembled
immediately afterward, regardless of the threats of the officers, and thus the Society for the Admiration of
Seth Bartlett was virtually in continuous session.

Those who had laughed the loudest because of his ambition were now the most extravagant in their praises,
and there was not a boy on Printing House Square who did not realize as never before how much might be
accomplished by persistent effort. Until eleven o'clock Seth "visited" with his friends and acquaintances, and
then made his way up to keep the appointment with 'Lish Davis.

The driver, clad in his best uniform, was awaiting the boy's arrival, and cried good-naturedly when the latter
appeared:

"Well, Amateur, you've spread yourself, eh? Been swelling all the morning till your head is so big that you
need to borrow a new cap?"

"There's no danger of that yet a while, Mr. Davis. I'll wait till I see how I get along at headquarters before
puffin' myself out very much."

"That's a good idea, Amateur, though at the same time I believe you'll pull through in great shape, providing
you hang on as you've done since I knew you. Now, if it so be you've tended to all your business and are ready
to duf into the work, we'll mosey along toward Sixty-seventh Street."

"The sooner I get to work the quicker we'll know whether the folks up there are goin' to let me stay," Seth
replied, and with words expressive of kindly cheer and friendly wishes ringing in his ears, the Amateur set out
on this his first real step toward a position in the Department.

"I don't want them as you'll meet at headquarters to think you're a dummy, Amateur, and it's in my mind to
give you a little outline, so to speak, of this 'ere school, after which there'll be no need of your showing
ignorance by asking questions. In the first place it ain't counted on that this 'ere branch of the service is to
educate anybody and everybody that may come along. It's for such men as are admitted to the Department on
trial, 'probationary firemen' chiefly; but the old hands have had a deal of good out of it.

"This plan was started long about '83 for no other reason than to show the men who were then in the service