you had any experience as
an errand boy?"

"No, sir, but I am willing to learn."

"So they all say, but many boys don't seem to learn very fast. You look
like a country lad." And the elderly man peered at Nat closely through
his spectacles.

"I am a country boy. But if you'll give me a chance, I'll do my best."

"We can't pay you very much at the start."

"How much?"

"Two dollars and a half a week."

"I can't live on that. I've got to pay my board."

The elderly man shrugged his shoulders.

"Guess you had better look elsewhere then."

"Couldn't you pay me a little more? I am willing to work hard."

"Well, we might give you three dollars a week after the first month, but
that is our limit for an errand boy."

"I can't take it," answered Nat. "I've got to earn more," and after a
little additional talking he left the seed store.

He had a lunch in a bit of newspaper, and as it was nearly one o'clock,
he sat down on a box on the sidewalk and ate it, washing it down with a
drink of water from a cooler in a railroad ticket office. Then he went
on his way once more, but at sundown had to give it up. He was so tired,
and his feet were so sore from the pavements, that he could scarcely
walk to his boarding house.

"I trust you found something," said Mrs. Talcott, as he entered.

"No," he answered, soberly. "I could have had one position, but it only
paid two dollars and a half a week, so I didn't take it."

"I am sorry."

"I shall go out to-morrow again. I am bound to strike something sooner
or later."

Being tremendously hungry Nat ate the supper provided with a relish.
There were two other boarders--girls who worked in a large department
store--and they were quite interested in him.

"You might get work at our place," said one of the girls. "They
advertised to-day for wrappers."

"Yes, but they want experienced wrappers," said the other girl.

"I'll try them, anyway," said Nat. "And I am much obliged to you for
telling me about it," he added.

On the following morning he was up as before and got the list from the
papers again. Fortune was now with him, and at noon he found a position
in a wholesale paper house. One of the clerks was going to visit some
relatives down south, and Nat was hired to fill his place, at seven
dollars per week.

"You've struck luck!" cried Dick Talcott, on hearing the news. "I hope
the job lasts."

"So do I," answered Nat. "But even if it doesn't, it is better than
n