aved two shillings a week out of his
salary, not to mention an occasional donation of a shilling on high days
and holidays from his master.

Uncle John was never idle. When he had nothing to do for his master,
which was rarely the case, he used to take a pen and any loose piece of
paper or parchment, and copy, or imitate, the lawyer's engrossing
hand--known as court-hand--till he became a good penman in this cramped
style of writing. Having accomplished this object, Uncle John determined
to "better himself," by getting a situation as copying clerk instead of
office boy. He succeeded in his attempts, and was installed in another
attorney's office as engrossing clerk at twelve shillings a week--a
salary which appeared to him, at the time, enormous. But riches did not
turn his head. The only increase which he made in his previous
expenditure, was in wearing a rather cleaner shirt, and discarding
corduroys for some more genteel material. Uncle John was too wise and
too self-denying to be seduced _inside_ the cook's-shop yet.

He was now saving at least six shillings a week, which is L15 a year!
For four years no change took place in his condition. He still lived in
his solitary garret; worked hard all day, and borrowed law books from
the articled clerks in the office, which he read at home at night. At
home! poor fellow--what a name for his miserable little room up in the
tiles of a house in a narrow court out of Fleet-street! But Uncle John
was a brave fellow, and worked on without stopping to sentimentalize.

A promotion now took place in the office, and Uncle John was made chief
common-law clerk at one pound a week. He had rendered himself quite
competent for the duties by his midnight studies. He was never absent
from his post, never forgot any thing, and was never ill; for he had the
strength of a horse. It is suspected that about this time, Uncle John
paid one or two visits to the cook's-shop; but it must not be supposed
that the visits were _more_ than one or two. As a rule, Uncle John dined
on a piece of the cheapest meat he could purchase, boiled by himself in
his garret.

He was wise enough, however, to be very neat in his dress, and thereby
gained the credit of being a very respectable young man in the eyes of
his employer; for it is a very remarkable fact that clerks are always
expected to dress like gentlemen when their salaries are not even large
enough to buy them food.

Another four years passed away, w