` What do you say to a railroad office ? ' ' I do n't like it . A noisy , hurried kind of place , I know , with all sorts of rough men about . I hope it is n't that , dear ? ' ' I could have it ; but does book-keeping in a wholesale leather business please you better ? ' ` No ; you 'll get round-shouldered writing at a tall desk ; and they say , once a book-keeper always a book-keeper . ' ` How does a travelling agent suit your views ? ' ` Not at all ; with all those dreadful accidents , and the exposure and bad food as you go from place to place , you are sure to get killed or lose your health . ' ' I could be private secretary to a literary man ; but the salary is small , and may end any time . ' ` That would be better , and more what I want . It is n't that I object to honest work of any kind ; but I do n't want my son to spend his best years grubbing for a little money in a dark office , or be knocked about in a rough-and-tumble scramble to get on . I want to see you in some business where your tastes and talents can be developed and made useful ; where you can go on rising , and in time put in your little fortune and be a partner ; so that your years of apprenticeship will not be wasted , but fit you to take your place among the honourable men who make their lives and work useful and respected . I talked it all over with your dear father when you were a child ; and if he had lived he would have shown you what I mean , and helped you to be what he was . ' Mrs Meg wiped away a quiet tear as she spoke ; for the memory of her husband was a very tender one , and the education of his children had been a sacred task to which she gave all her heart and life , and so far she had done wonderfully well -- as her good son and loving daughters tried to prove . Demi 's arm was round her now , as he said , in a voice so like his father 's that it was the sweetest music to her ear : ` Mother dear , I think I have got just what you want for me ; and it shall not be my fault if I do n't become the man you hope to see me . Let me tell you all about it . I did n't say anything till it was sure because it would only worry you ; but Aunt Jo and I have been on the look-out for it some time , and now it has come . You know her publisher , Mr Tiber , is one of the most successful men in the business ; also generous , kind , and the soul of honour -- as his treatment of Aunty proves . Well , I 've rather hankered for that place ; for I love books , and as I ca n't make them I 'd like to publish them . That needs some literary taste and judgement , it brings you in contact with fine people , and is an education in itself .
Whenever I go into that large , handsome room to see Mr XXXXX for Aunt Jo , I always want to stay ; for it 's lined with books and pictures , famous men and women come and go , and Mr Tiber sits at his desk like a sort of king , receiving his subjects ; for the greatest authors are humble to him , and wait his Yes or No with anxiety .
Aunty Demi Jo Meg Tiber accidents book-keeper book-keeping look-out years