could hardly command his voice sufficiently to express his
thanks, and his wife burst into tears, as she exclaimed,
"If my poor husband had confided his troubles to you before, he would
not have been reduced to this feeble state."
"He will recover," said the old gentleman. "I feel sure, that in one
month, he will look like a different man. Rest yourself, now, William,
and to-morrow I will see you again."
And, followed by the blessings and thanks of the young couple, Uncle
Joshua departed.
"Past ten o'clock," he said to himself, as he paused near a lamp-post
and looked at his watch. "I must go to my own room."
As he said this he was startled by a deep sigh from some one near,
and on looking round, saw a lad, of fourteen or fifteen years of age,
leaning against the post, and looking earnestly at him.
Uncle Joshua recognised the son of a poor widow, whom he had
occasionally befriended, and said, kindly,
"Well, John, are you on your way home from the store? This is rather a
late hour for a boy like you."
"Yes, sir, it is late. I cannot bear to return home to my poor mother,
for I have bad news for her to-night. Mr. Mackenzie does not wish to
employ me any more. My year is up to-day."
"Why, John, how is this? Not long ago your employer told me that he was
perfectly satisfied with you; indeed, he said that he never before had
so trusty and useful a boy."
"He has always appeared satisfied with me, sir, and I have endeavoured
to serve him faithfully. But he told me to-day that he had engaged
another boy."
Uncle Joshua mused for a moment, and then asked,
"What was he to give you for the first year, John?"
"Nothing, sir. He told my mother that my services would be worth nothing
the first year, but the second he would pay me fifty dollars, and so
increase my salary as I grew older. My poor mother has worked very hard
to support me this year, and I had hoped that I would be able to help
her soon. But it is all over now, and I suppose I must take a boy's
place again, and work another year for nothing."
"And then be turned off again. Another set of pickpockets," muttered his
indignant auditor.
"Pickpockets!" exclaimed the lad. "Did any one take your watch just now,
sir? I saw a man look at it as you took it out. Perhaps we can overtake
him. I think he turned into the next street."
"No, no, my boy. My watch is safe enough. I am not thinking of street
pickpockets, but of another class whom you will
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