from a chair near-by a
stained suit, which had not yet attracted Joe's attention.

"Here is a suit of Oscar's," he said, "which is quite whole and
almost new. Oscar only wore it a month. It cost me thirty-four
dollars!" said the major impressively.

He held it up, and Joe recognized it at once.

"Isn't it the suit Oscar got stained?" he asked abruptly.

"Ahem! Yes; it is a little stained, but that doesn't injure the
texture of the cloth."

As he held it up the entire suit seemed to have been sprinkled with
acid, which had changed the color in large, patches in different
parts. The wearer would be pretty sure to excite an unpleasant
degree of attention.

Joe did not appear to be overwhelmed with the magnificence of the
gift.

"If it is so good, why don't Oscar wear it?" he asked.

Major Norton regarded Joe with displeasure.

"It cannot matter to you how Oscar chooses to dress," he said. "I
apprehend that you and he are not on a level."

"He is your son, and I am your hired boy," said Joe. "I admit that.
But I don't see how you can ask me to wear a suit like that."

"I apprehend that you are unsuitably proud, Joseph."

"I hope not, sir; but I don't want to attract everybody's notice as I
walk the streets. If I had stained the suit myself, I should have
felt bound to wear it, but it was Oscar's carelessness that destroyed
its appearance, and I don't think I ought to suffer for that.
Besides, it is much too small for me. Let me show you."

Joe pulled off his coat and put on the stained one. The sleeves were
from two to three inches too short, and it was so far from meeting in
front, on account of his being much broader than Oscar, that his
shoulders seemed drawn back to meet each other behind.

"It doesn't exactly fit," said the major; "but it can be let out
easily. I will send it to Miss Pearce--the village tailoress--to fix
it over for you."

"Thank you, Major Norton," said Joe, in a decided tone, "but I hope
you won't go to that expense, for I shall not be willing to wear it
under any circumstances."

"I cannot believe my ears," said Major Norton, with dignified
displeasure. "How old are you, Joseph?"

"Fifteen, sir."

"It is not fitting that you, a boy of fifteen, should dictate to your
employer."

"I don't wish to, Major Norton, but I am not willing to wear that
suit."

"You are too proud. Your pride needs taking down."

"Major Norton," said Joe firmly, "I should like to tell y