s
hand, "not a bit of it. I was glad to hear you say what you did. I've
thought of it a thousand times since, and I have said to myself, 'That
chap will make something, if he lives, see if he don't.'"

"Well, he _hasn't_ made anything yet."

The captain laughed. "I don't quite agree with you," he said. "But,
let that be as it may, you are young yet, and the great pyramid and
St. Peter's church were not built in a minute. Sam, what are you now?"

"A poor, green factory boy."

"Who is trying to do his duty, and sometimes asks God to help him; who
is wide awake and ambitious; who has got a pretty good head and not a
very bad heart; who will push his way in the world and be somebody?"

"I don't know about all that."

"Nor I, but I know some things about you--more than you dream of, I
guess."

Samuel colored again, and tried to stammer out something, but
succeeded only tolerably well.

"You want something to do, don't you?" the old man asked.

"Yes, sir," said the peddler's boy, "that is what I came to Boston
for."

"Well, let me think a moment," said the good old gentleman. He did
think a moment, and then he put on his hat, and got the gold-headed
cane which he cut on the island of Malta, where Paul was cast away,
and off he posted with his young friend. He knew what he was about. He
had not been thinking for nothing. After walking some ten or fifteen
minutes, he went into a store on Commercial wharf, and asked one of
the partners of the house, whom he seemed to know very well, if they
did not want a clerk. The answer was that they did not need another
clerk, but that they were very much in want of a good porter.

"Well, here's the chap," said the captain, pointing to Samuel. "Sam,
what do you say to that?"

Samuel was inclined to try the business, and in less than half an
hour, the terms were arranged, and the young lad was at work.

CHAP. XIV.

THE FLOUR STORE.

The men with whom Samuel had found a place, were large flour dealers.
Their new porter pleased them. He, too, was pleased with his business.
Nothing could be more pleasant for me now, than to relate to you
scores of little incidents connected with Samuel's history, while he
was in that store. But if I do that, I fear I shall spin out my thread
so long that you will get weary. I will tell you a few things,
though.

It was Samuel's daily duty to sweep out the store. This task he
performed early in the morning, before either of the partn