not for me, then?"

"They gave them to me at the post office," stammered Sam.

"Did you give the number of my box?"

"Yes, sir."

"What number did you call for?"

"I don't remember," answered Sam, abashed.

"Then you don't remember the number of my box?"

"I don't remember now," Sam admitted.

"Did you call for No. 776?"

"Yes," said Sam, promptly.

"That's not the number," said the merchant, quietly. "You must return
these letters instantly, and call for my mail. I will give you the
number of my box on a card, and then you can't make any mistake. You
have made a blunder, which must not be repeated."

"Yes, sir," said Sam, glad to get off with no sharper admonition.

He returned to the post office, and this time he did his errand
correctly.

At three o'clock Sam was permitted to leave the office and look out
for a boarding-place. He had managed to scrape acquaintance during the
day with Henry Martin, an errand boy in the next store, and went to
consult him.

"Where do you board?" he asked.

"Near St. John's Park," answered Henry.

"Is it a good place?"

"It will do."

"I want to find a place to board. Is there room where you are?"

"Yes; you can come into my room, if you like."

"What'll I have to pay?"

"I pay a dollar and seventy-five cents a week for my room, and get my
meals out; but the old lady will let the two of us have it for two
fifty."

"That'll make seventy-five cents for me," said Sam.

"How do you make that out?"

"You pay just the same as you do now, and I'll make it up to two
fifty."

"Look here, young fellow, you're smart, but that won't go down," said
the other boy.

"Why not?" asked Sam, innocently. "You won't have to pay any more,
will you?"

"I would have to pay more than you, and I don't mean to do it. If we
pay two fifty, that will be just one twenty-five apiece. That's better
than you can do alone."

"Well, I'll try it," said Sam. "When are you goin' round?"

"As soon as I get through work--at five o'clock."

"I'll wait for you."

Sam might have gone back and finished out his afternoon's work, but it
did not occur to him as desirable, and he therefore remained with his
new friend, till the latter was ready to go with him.

"How much wages do you get?" asked Sam, as they were walking along.

"Five dollars a week."

"So do I."

"Haven't you just gone into your place?"

"Yes."

"I've been in mine two years. I ought to get more than you."

"Why d