ent of work. By the way, Mr. Melville, I
found a letter from mother in the Deer Creek post office. Shall I read
it to you?"

"If there is nothing private in it, Herbert."

"There is nothing private from you, Mr. Melville."

It may be explained that Deer Creek had already obtained such prominence
that the post-office department had established an office there, and
learning this, Herbert had requested his mother to address him at that
place.

He drew the letter from his pocket and read it aloud.

We quote the essential portions.

"'I am very glad to hear that you have made the long journey in safety,
and are now in health.'"

Herbert had not mentioned in his home letter the stage-coach adventure,
for he knew that it would disturb his mother to think that he had been
exposed to such a risk.

"It will do no good, you know," he said to Mr. Melville, and his friend
had agreed with him.

"'It is very satisfactory to me,' continued Herbert, reading from the
letter, 'that you are under the charge of Mr. Melville, who seems to
me an excellent, conscientious young man, from whom you can learn only
good.'"

"Your mother thinks very kindly of me," said Melville, evidently
pleased.

"She is right, too, Mr. Melville," said Herbert, with emphasis.

"'It will no doubt be improving to you, my dear Herbert, to travel under
such pleasant auspices, for a boy can learn from observation as well as
from books. I miss you very much, but since the separation is for your
advantage, I can submit to it cheerfully.

"'You ask me about my relations with Mr. Graham. I am still in the post
office, and thus far nearly the whole work devolves upon me. Except in
one respect, I am well treated. Mr. G-. is, as you know, very penurious,
and grudges every cent that he has to pay out. When he paid me last
Saturday night the small sum for which I agreed to assist him, he had
much to say about his large expenses, fuel, lights, etc., and asked me
if I wouldn't agree to work for two dollars a week, instead of three. I
confess, I was almost struck dumb by such an exhibition of meanness, and
told him that it would be quite impossible. Since then he has spent some
of the time himself in the office, and asked me various questions
about the proper way of preparing the mail, etc., and I think it is his
intention, if possible, to get along without me. I don't know, if
he absolutely insists upon it, but it would be better to accept the
reduction than to