"
"Then I am glad I thought of giving her the commission. How's
business with you to-day, eh?"
"Pretty good, sir."
"How many neckties did you sell?"
"Nineteen, sir."
"And how much do you get for that?"
"Nine shillings and a half--a dollar and eighteen cents."
"That's pretty good for a boy like you. When I was of your age I
was working on a farm for my board and clothes."
"Were you, sir?" asked Paul, interested.
"Yes, I was bound out till I was twenty-one. At the end of that
time I was to receive a hundred dollars and a freedom suit to
begin the world with. That wasn't a very large capital, eh?"
"No, sir."
"But the death of my employer put an end to my apprenticeship at
the age of eighteen. I hadn't a penny of money and was thrown
upon my own resources. However, I had a pair of good strong
arms, and a good stock of courage. I knew considerable about
farming, but I didn't like it. I thought I should like trade
better. So I went to the village merchant, who kept a small
dry-goods store, and arranged with him to supply me with a small
stock of goods, which I undertook to sell on commission for him.
His business was limited, and having confidence in my honesty, he
was quite willing to intrust me with what I wanted.
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