rum.

Hiram all the while would not move a muscle. He never cast his eyes
around the congregation--he never looked any where except at the
clergyman, to whom he paid profound attention. When the services were
over, he escorted Mrs. Hawkins back to her house, while the young ladies
sometimes stopped to say a few words to their companions.

In a fortnight Hiram had taken a class in the Sunday-school, of which
Mr. Burns was superintendent, and on the next communion Sabbath he
joined the church by letter.

For some time Hiram confined himself in the office to following
implicitly the instructions of Mr. Burns, without venturing to ask any
questions or make any suggestions. He carried out these instructions to
the letter. He wrote a beautiful hand. He was, as the reader knows, an
admirable accountant. For several days Mr. Burns seemed disposed to
ascertain his capabilities by putting a variety of matters into his
hands. He gave him a contract to copy, and then asked for an abstract of
it. He submitted several long accounts to him for arrangement. He sent
him to the mill or factory, sometimes to deliver a message simply,
sometimes to look after a matter of consequence. Mr. Burns found Hiram
on all these occasions to be intelligent, accurate, and prompt. He
invariably manifested this single characteristic, to wit, undivided
attention to the matter in hand.

'He is an invaluable fellow, I declare,' said Mr. Burns to himself; 'I
wish I could feel differently toward him. Strange how a first prejudice
will stick to one!'

'I think I am gaining ground,' soliloquized Hiram. 'Let him try me--the
more the better. I shall do him good in spite of himself.'

* * * * *

During this period, which we may term Hiram's novitiate, he had been
careful, without appearing to avoid her, not to come in contact with
Sarah Burns. Mr. Burns was a very hospitable man, but he had omitted to
ask Hiram to visit him. The latter was not slow to perceive and
appreciate the neglect. He did not mind it much, though. He had gained
his position, and felt he could take care of himself.

Meantime Sarah frequently inquired of her father how he liked his new
clerk. At first, as we have stated, she felt jealous that any one should
share his business confidences with her, but soon she resigned herself
to this, and learning who was to enter her father's service, she hoped
that she would find an agreeable acquaintance in the young