ce without giving him due
remuneration, but the change in Ishmael's relations to his employer had
come on so naturally and gradually, that at no one time had thought of
raising the young man's salary to the same elevation of his position and
services occurred to Judge Merlin.

It was ever by measuring himself with others that Ishmael proved his
own relative proportion of intellect, knowledge, and power. He had been
diligently studying law for more than two years. He had been attending
the sessions of the courts of law both in the country and in the city.
And he had been the confidential assistant of Judge Merlin for many
months.

In his attendance upon the sessions of the circuit courts in Washington,
and in listening to the pleadings of the lawyers and the charges of the
judges, and watching the results of the trials--he had made this
discovery--namely, that he had attained as fair a knowledge of law as
was possessed by many of the practicing lawyers of these courts, and he
resolved to consult his employer, Judge Merlin, upon the expediency of
his making application for admission to practice at the Washington bar.

CHAPTER LV.

A STEP HIGHER.

He will not wait for chances,
For luck he does not look;
In faith his spirit glances
At Providence, God's book;
And there discerning truly
That right is might at length,
He dares go forward duly
In quietness and strength,
Unflinching and unfearing,
The flatterer of none,
And in good courage wearing,
The honors he has won.

--_M.F. Tupper_.

Ishmael took an early opportunity of speaking to the judge of his
projects. It was one day when they had got through the morning's work
and were seated in the library together, enjoying a desultory chat
before it was time to go to court, that Ishmael said:

"Judge Merlin, I am about to make application to be admitted to practice
at the Washington bar."

The judge looked up in surprise.

"Why, Ishmael, you have not graduated at any law school! You have not
even had one term of instruction at any such school."

"I know that I have not enjoyed such advantages, sir; but I have read
law very diligently for the last three years, and with what memory and
understanding I possess, I have profited by my reading."

"But that is not like a regular course of study at a law school."

"Perhaps not, sir; but in addition to my reading, I have had a
considerable experience while acting as your c