ham
at any price, more especially as it seemed likely that the storekeeper
was likely to deprive his mother of her office and income.

"I should not like to work for Mr. Graham, sir," he said.

"It appears to me that you are very particular, young man," said Squire
Walsingham.

"I would be willing to work for you, sir, but not for him."

"Ahem!" said the squire, somewhat mollified, "I will think of your
case."

Herbert left the house, feeling that his mother's removal was only a
matter of time.

CHAPTER II. HERBERT'S CHANCE.

Herbert left the house of Squire Walsingham in a sober frame of mind. He
saw clearly that his mother would not long remain in office, and without
her official income they would find it hard to get along. To be sure,
she received a pension of eight dollars a month, in consideration of
her husband's services in the war, but eight dollars would not go far
towards supporting their family, small as it was. There were other means
of earning a living, to be sure, but Wayneboro was an agricultural town
mainly, and unless he hired out on a farm there seemed no way open to
him, while the little sewing his mother might be able to procure would
probably pay her less than a dollar a week.

The blow fell sooner than he expected. In the course of the next week
Mrs. Carr was notified that Ebenezer Graham had been appointed her
successor, and she was directed to turn over the papers and property of
the office to him.

She received the official notification by the afternoon mail, and in the
evening she was favored by a call from her successor.

Ebenezer Graham was a small man, with insignificant, mean-looking
features, including a pair of weazel-like eyes and a turn-up nose. It
did not require a skillful physiognomist to read his character in his
face. Meanness was stamped upon it in unmistakable characters.

"Good-evening, Mr. Graham," said the widow, gravely.

"Good-evening, ma'am," said the storekeeper. "I've called to see you,
Mrs. Carr, about the post office, I presume you have heard--"

"I have heard that you are to be my successor."

"Just so. As long as your husband was alive, I didn't want to step into
his shoes."

"But you are willing to step into mine," said Mrs. Carr, smiling
faintly.

"Just so--that is, the gov'ment appear to think a man ought to be in
charge of so responsible a position."

"I shall be glad if you manage the office better than I have done."

"You see, m