id not like the looks
of Mr. Whippleton, and I was afraid he had imbibed the worldly wisdom
of his mother. But this feeling was not to weigh against the immense
advantages I might derive from meeting the Collingsbys. The more I
thought of the matter, the more I was inclined to apply for the place.
I believed that I was fully competent to keep a set of books by double
entry, and certainly I was fit for an entry clerk.

"What kind of a place is it that you wished your nephew to fill, Mrs.
Whippleton?" I asked, after Mr. Charles had gone.

"Well, I don't know much about it, but Charles called it an entry
clerk. I suppose he has to do his work out in the entry because the
counting-room isn't big enough, or because he ain't smart enough to
come into the presence of such mighty men as that Mr. Collingsby."

"How much do they pay him?"

"I don't know exactly; but not more'n four or five dollars a week--just
enough for him to starve on. You see, I heard that my nephew's son
wanted a place, and couldn't get one in St. Louis. I thought, this
would be a good chance for him. I wanted to make 'em a visit, for they
owed me some money I lent 'em. I told Charles he must take Rufus, and I
put him off till I was able to go to St. Louis. The spring business was
comin' on, and he couldn't wait; so I hurried off. I got the money my
nephew owed me; but they wouldn't let the boy come to Chicago, though I
told 'em I went down purpose arter him. Charles fretted a good deal
because I made him wait; but Charles minds his mother, if he is sassy
sometimes. He knows I've got some money that I can't take with me when
I leave this world for a better one."

I thought it was rather impudent for her to talk about a better world,
when she was doing all she could to make this a mean one; and I doubted
whether, unless she mended her ways, the other would be a better one to
her.

"I have two merried daughters that need what little I've got more than
Charles does; and he owes me now for what I let him have to set up in
business. He owes all he has in this world to me," continued the old
lady, complacently.

"He wants an entry clerk immediately?" I suggested.

"Yes; Charles has had to do all the work himself, for, you see, he
keeps the books of the firm. Well, he does all the business, for that
matter. He's all there is of the firm, except the money the Collingsbys
put in. Howsomever, I suppose it's just as well that Rufus didn't come,
for ef he had,