By a supreme
effort, he managed to hold his own in his class, but no more.
Instinctively, he felt that he was not getting all that he might from
his educational opportunities, yet the need for him to add to the
family income was, if anything, becoming greater. The idea of leaving
school was broached to his mother, but she rebelled. She told the boy
that he was earning something now and helping much. Perhaps the tide
with the father would turn and he would find the place to which his
unquestioned talents entitled him. Finally the father did. He
associated himself with the Western Union Telegraph Company as
translator, a position for which his easy command of languages
admirably fitted him. Thus, for a time, the strain upon the family
exchequer was lessened.
But the American spirit of initiative had entered deep into the soul of
Edward Bok. The brother had left school a year before, and found a
place as messenger in a lawyer's office; and when one evening Edward
heard his father say that the office boy in his department had left, he
asked that he be allowed to leave school, apply for the open position,
and get the rest of his education in the great world itself.
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