aid Paul, neither very briskly nor cheerfully.

"Well," said Mr. Smith, after a pause, "I guess I'll put you into the
calico department. Williams, you may take him under your wing. And now
Peter,--all the same, Paul,--I've got a word or two to say to you, as I
always do to every boy who comes into my store. Don't forget what you're
here for? It's to sell goods. Take care to sell something to every man,
woman, and child, that comes in your way. That's the way to do business.
Follow it up, and you'll be a rich man some day."

"But suppose they don't want anything?" said Paul.

"Make 'em want something," returned Smith, "Don't let 'em off without
buying. That's my motto. However, you'll learn."

Smith bustled off, and began in his nervous way to exercise a general
supervision over all that was going on in the store. He seemed to be all
eyes. While apparently entirely occupied in waiting upon a customer, he
took notice of all the customers in the store, and could tell what they
bought, and how much they paid.

Paul listened attentively to the clerk under whom he was placed for
instruction.

"What's the price of this calico?" inquired a common-looking woman.

"A shilling a yard, ma'am," (this was not in war times.)

"It looks rather coarse."

"Coarse, ma'am! What can you be thinking of? It is a superfine piece of
goods. We sell more of it than of any other figure. The mayor's wife was
in here yesterday, and bought two dress patterns off of it."

"Did she?" asked the woman, who appeared favorably impressed by this
circumstance.

"Yes, and she promised to send her friends here after some of it. You'd
better take it while you can get it."

"Will it wash?"

"To be sure it will."

"Then I guess you may cut me off ten yards."

This was quickly done, and the woman departed with her purchase.

Five minutes later, another woman entered with a bundle of the same
figured calico.

Seeing her coming, Williams hastily slipped the remnant of the piece out
of sight.

"I got this calico here," said the newcomer, "one day last week. You
warranted it to wash, but I find it won't. Here's a piece I've tried."

She showed a pattern, which had a faded look.

"You've come to the wrong store," said Williams, coolly. "You must have
got the calico somewhere else."

"No, I'm sure I got it here. I remember particularly buying it of you."

"You've got a better memory than I have, then. We haven't got a piece of
calico like tha