I thought that Herman was going to leave you."

"So he was, but he has changed his mind."

"Oh!" ejaculated Bert, disappointed.

"Are you asking for yourself?" inquired the merchant.

"Yes, sir."

"I thought you were at work in the shoe shop."

"So I was, but I have lost my place."

"Ha!" exclaimed the store-keeper suspiciously. "If Squire Marlowe has
discharged you, I don't want to hire you."

"You are mistaken, Mr. Jones, about the cause of my discharge. He had
no fault to find with me."

"So _you_ say," returned Jones, in evident skepticism. "Boys don't get
discharged for nothing."

Bert felt inclined to be angry, but he controlled his temper.

"I am a pegger, and the squire has introduced a pegging machine, so he
has discharged all the peggers."

"Oh, that's different. Well, I'm sorry for you, but I have no vacancy."

"If Herman should change his mind again, will you think of me?"

"Yes, I will. I think you are a good boy, and you look strong for your
size."

Bert felt a little encouraged by this promise, though it was very
doubtful if it would ever amount to anything.

Day after day passed, and no employment offered. But one morning a
bright idea came to Bert. Blueberries were just coming into the market,
and he knew of a large pasture a little over a mile away.

"Mother," he said, "if you'll give me a large tin pail, I'll go after
some berries. I may be able to sell them at the hotel."

"If you can't, we can use them ourselves," rejoined Mrs. Barton.

"It will be better to sell them, for I hear they are bringing fifteen
cents a quart. They won't stay long at that figure, so we will put off
having them ourselves till they are cheaper."

It was with a light heart that Bert set out for the berry pasture. He
had become tired of having nothing to do. Any sort of employment seemed
desirable. Besides, they were very much in want of money, and here
seemed a chance of earning some.

Bert spent five hours in the pasture. Berries were high, because they
were scarce, and it took fully twice as long to gather a quart as it
would two weeks later. But he kept steadily at his task, and at length
the pail--which held four quarts--was full. He was tired enough and his
back ached, but still he felt happy as he left the field and trudged
toward the Lake House, which was the name of the village hotel. There
were a few summer boarders there from New York and Philadelphia, who
were glad to exchange the brick wa