s a friend of mine."

"I did not dream of this, Ben. I am sorry if the step I have taken is
going to deprive you of employment," said Mr. Crawford, who was a
kind-hearted man, and felt a sincere interest in his young clerk.

"Never mind, Mr. Crawford, I am not cast down. There will be other
openings for me. I am young, strong, and willing to work, and I am
sure I shall find something to do."

"That's right, Ben. Cheer up, and if I hear of any good chance, rest
assured that I will let you know of it."

Tom Davenport was not long in hearing of his father's bargain. He
heard it with unfeigned pleasure, for it occurred to him at once that
Ben, for whom he had a feeling of hatred, by no means creditable to
him, would be thrown out of employment.

"Promise me, pa, that you won't employ Ben Barclay," he said.

"I have no intention of employing that boy," said his father. "Mr.
Kirk has a son of his own, about Ben's age, and will, no doubt, put
him into the store, unless you should choose to go in and learn the
business."

"What! I become a store boy!" exclaimed Tom, in disgust. "No, thank
you. I might be willing to become salesman in a large establishment
in the city, but I don't care to go into a country grocery."

"It wouldn't do you any harm," said the squire, who was not quite so
high-minded as his son. "However, I merely mentioned it as something
you could do if you chose."

"Bah! I don't choose it," said Tom decidedly.

"Well, well; you won't have to do it."

"It would put me on a level with Ben Barclay, if I stepped into his
shoes. Won't he be down in the month when he hears he has lost his
place?" and Tom chuckled at the thought.

"That is no concern of mine," said the squire. "I suppose he can hire
out to a farmer."

"Just the business for him", said Tom, "unless he should prefer to go
to New York and set up as a bootblack. I believe I'll suggest that to
him!"

"Probably he won't thank you for the suggestion."

"I guess not. He's as proud as he is poor. It's amusing to see what
airs he puts on."

Squire Davenport, however, was not so much interested in that phase of
the subject as Tom, and did not reply.

"I think I'll go down street," thought Tom. "Perhaps I may come
across Ben. I shall enjoy seeing how he takes it."

Tom had scarcely walked a hundred yards when he met, not the one of
whom he had thought, but another to whom he felt glad to speak on the
same subject. This was