feel in haste.
Obtain your education first, and the money will come by-and-by. As long
as you repay the amount, principal and interest, you will have done all
that you are in honor bound to do. Squire Conant, as I understand from
you, is a rich man, so that he will experience no hardship in waiting."

Paul was now solicitous about a place. The sexton had little influence,
so that he must depend mainly upon his own inquiries.

He went into the reading-room of the Astor House every day to look over
the advertised wants in the daily papers. Every day he noted down
some addresses, and presented himself as an applicant for a position.
Generally, however, he found that some one else had been before him.

One day his attention was drawn to the following advertisement.

"WANTED. A smart, active, wide-awake boy, of sixteen or seventeen, in a
retail dry-goods store. Apply immediately at--Broadway."

Paul walked up to the address mentioned. Over the door he read, "Smith &
Thompson." This, then, was the firm that had advertised.

The store ran back some distance. There appeared to be six or eight
clerks in attendance upon quite a respectable number of customers.

"Is Mr. Smith in?" inquired Paul, of the nearest clerk.

"You'll find him at the lower end of the store. How many yards, ma'am?"

This last was of course addressed to a customer.

Paul made his way, as directed, to the lower end of the store.

A short, wiry, nervous man was writing at a desk.

"Is Mr. Smith in?" asked Paul.

"My name; what can I do for you?" said the short man, crisply.

"I saw an advertisement in the Tribune for a boy."

"And you have applied for the situation?" said Mr. Smith.

"Yes, sir."

"How old are you?" with a rapid glance at our hero.

"Sixteen--nearly seventeen."

"I suppose that means that you will be seventeen in eleven months and a
half."

"No, sir," said Paul, "I shall be seventeen in three months."

"All right. Most boys call themselves a year older. What's your name?"

"Paul Prescott."

"P. P. Any relation to Fanny Fern?"

"No, sir," said Paul, rather astonished.

"Didn't know but you might be. P. P. and F. F. Where do you live?"

Paul mentioned the street and number.

"That's well, you are near by," said Mr. Smith. "Now, are you afraid of
work?"

"No sir," said Paul, smiling, "not much."

"Well, that's important; how much wages do you expect?"

"I suppose," said Paul, hesitating, "I couldn't expect ve