for a wholesale house in New York."

"I suppose he is a young man."

"Yes; he is twenty-five, but he began at nineteen in a small way. He
sometimes got quite discouraged at first. That is why I feel interested
in any who are passing through the same experience."

These pleasant words cheered Frank. Only at the nearest house he had
been called a tramp, but here he found that he was regarded with
consideration.

"It is rather uphill work," said Frank.

"And you seem very young."

"I am sixteen."

"Are you entirely dependent on what you earn?" asked the lady,
sympathizingly.

"Not entirely," answered the young merchant, "but I hope to make a
living in this or some other way. Can I sell you any?" he asked,
hopefully.

"I believe we have some on hand. Still tea will always keep, and I would
like to help you along."

The kind-hearted lady took three pounds--two at sixty cents and one at
seventy. This gave Frank a profit thirty-eight cents and put him in good
spirits.

He worked his way back to the avenue on the other side of the street,
and coming to a grocery store, entered.

It occurred to him that he would try to sell some at wholesale.

Frank was so young that the dealer did not suppose him to be an agent,
and asked what he would like to buy.

"I came to sell, not to buy," said Frank.

"What are you dealing in?" asked the grocer.

"I have several samples of tea," said our hero. "If you will give me an
order, I will have it sent to you to-morrow."

The grocer found, upon examination, that his stock was getting low, and
gave Frank an order, but he was obliged to sell below the regular price,
and only cleared three cents a pound. Still, on a sale of twenty-five
pounds, this gave him seventy-five cents, which was very encouraging.

Adding up his profits, thus far, Frank found that his commission
amounted to a dollar and a quarter, which exceeded his anticipations.

He continued his calls, but sold only one pound besides, at fifty cents,
netting him ten cents more.

CHAPTER XXIII

FRANK MEETS MR. MANNING AND MARK

The next morning Frank resumed his tea agency. As on the day previous,
he went to Brooklyn; but, though I should be glad to say that he was
more successful than on the first day, truth compels me to state that
the day was a comparative failure.

It might be that he was unfortunate in the persons whom he visited, but
at all events, at the close of his labors he found that his co