been obliged to sleep out doors. What he wanted
was employment.

It was about ten o'clock when, looking along the road, his curiosity was
excited by a man of very unusual figure a few rods in advance of him.
He looked no taller than a boy of ten; but his frame was large, his
shoulders broad, and his arms were of unusual length. He might properly
be called a dwarf.

"I am glad I am not so small as that," thought Carl. "I am richer
than he in having a good figure. I should not like to excite attention
wherever I go by being unusually large or unusually small."

Some boys would have felt inclined to laugh at the queer figure, but
Carl had too much good feeling. His curiosity certainly was aroused, and
he thought he would like to get acquainted with the little man, whose
garments of fine texture showed that, though short in stature, he was
probably long in purse. He didn't quite know how to pave the way for an
acquaintance, but circumstances favored him.

The little man drew out a handkerchief from the side pocket of his
overcoat. With it fluttered out a bank bill, which fell to the ground
apparently unobserved by the owner.

Carl hurried on, and, picking up the bill, said to the small stranger as
he touched his arm: "Here is some money you just dropped, sir."

The little man turned round and smiled pleasantly.

"Thank you. Are you sure it is mine?"

"Yes, sir; it came out with your handkerchief."

"Let me see. So it is mine. I was very careless to put it loose in my
pocket."

"You were rather careless, sir."

"Of what denomination is it?'

"It is a two-dollar note."

"If you had been a poor boy," said the little man, eying Carl keenly,
"you might have been tempted to keep it. I might not have known."

Carl smiled.

"What makes you think I am not a poor boy?" he said.

"You are well dressed."

"That is true; but all the money I have is a dollar and five cents."

"You know where to get more? You have a good home?"

"I had a home, but now I am thrown on my own exertions," said Carl,
soberly.

"Dear me! That is bad! If I were better acquainted, I might ask more
particularly how this happens. Are you an orphan?"

"No, sir; my father is living."

"And your mother is dead?"

"Yes, sir."

"Is your father a poor man?"

"No, sir; he is moderately rich."

"Yet you have to fight your own way?"

"Yes, sir. I have a stepmother."

"I see. Are you sure you are not unreasonably prejudiced against your