nd this transient mortal state Dexter proved in his humble
way. I doubt if spiritualists would have accepted his service as a
medium. He was neither profane nor imbecile; but he sat at the foot of a
ladder the pure ones could not fail to see, and by which they would not
disdain to descend. If they chose to come his way, the white robes would
take no taint.

Success attended Dexter with a modest grace, and Swift shared in the
good fortune. I do not say the profits of either shop were forty
millions a year. "Keep the best of everything," said Silas to Andrew;
"don't be too hard on 'em; they'll come after they've found your way."
And Swift proved the wisdom of such counsel, and tried to get the better
of his grim countenance while waiting on the customers Dexter directed
to his side: gradually succeeding,--proving down there in Salt Lane the
truth of that ancient saying, "Art is the perfection of Nature."

So these two men lived like brothers; and if it was a pleasant thing to
listen to Dexter's jokes and laughter, scarcely less profitable was it
to hear Swift praise the flag- and banner-maker when he was out of
sight.

Dexter's popularity had a varied character. Sea-captains and
ship-builders, circus-men, aeronauts, politicians, engineers,
target-companies, firemen, the military, deputies of all sorts, looked
over his goods, consulted his taste, left their orders. His interest in
the several occupations represented by the men who frequented his shop,
his ingenuity in devising designs, his skill and expedition in supplying
orders, his cheerful speech, and love of talk, and fun, gave the shopman
troops of "friends." He could read the common mass of men at a glance,
and he was justifiable in the devices he made use of in order to bring
his customers into the buying mood: for what he said was true,--they
could satisfy themselves in his store, if anywhere.

Dexter understood himself, and Jessie understood him: such folk make no
pretences; they are ineffably real.

"Principles, not Men," was the banner-maker's motto. You might have seen
the flag on which it was painted with a mighty flourish (and very poor
result) in his old shop in the old time. That painting was his first
great effort, that flag his first possession; he could not have parted
with it, so he _said_, and so he believed, for any sum whatever.

"Principles, not Men": he studied that sentiment in all his graver
moments, when he chanced to be alone in his shop