But I soon found that they knew nothing of the matter,
and after several days had passed, I began to rest quite easy.
Alas for human hopes! one rainy afternoon I saw the squire riding down
the lane. I ran off to the barn, ashamed to face him, and afraid to meet
my father. They sat on the porch and talked for a long time.
At last my curiosity overcame my fear, and I stole back to the house,
and went into mother's room to see if I could hear what they were
talking about.
"Why, the boy could be spared well enough, but he doesn't know anything
about the business," said my father.
"There is one thing he does know," said the squire, "he knows how to
tell the truth." He then related the circumstance which I so much
dreaded to have my father hear.
After he had gone, my father called me to him, and told me that the
squire was going to start a store in the village, and wanted a boy to
help, and that I could go if I wished. I went, and remained in the
village store until it became a city store. People say that I got my
start in life when I entered Albright's store, but I will always declare
that I got it while I was waiting for the grist.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: "_Twenty dollars against themselves_."]
A BOY'S LESSONS IN DISHONESTY
"Have you examined that bill, James?"
"Yes, sir.
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