open my
shop again?"

"I do--much happier. Don't you think the same?"

"I hardly know what to think. The way I live now is not very
satisfactory. I cannot find enough to keep my mind employed."

"And never will, except in some useful business, depend upon it. So
take my advice, and re-open your shop before you are compelled to do
it."

"Why do you think I will be compelled to do it?"

"Because, it is very strongly impressed upon my mind that the laws of
Divine Providence are so arranged that every man's ability to serve the
general good is brought into activity in some way or other, no matter
how selfish he may be, nor how much he may seek to withdraw himself
from the common uses of society. Misfortunes are some of the means by
which many persons are compelled to become usefully employed. Poverty
is another means."

"Then you think if I do not go into business again, I am in danger of
losing my property?"

"I should think you were; but I may be mistaken. Man can never foresee
what will be the operations of Providence. If you should ever
recommence business, however, it ought not to be from this fear. You
should act from a higher and better motive. You should reflect that it
is every man's duty to engage in some business or calling by which the
whole community will be benefited, and, for this reason, and this
alone, resolve that while you have the ability, you will be a working
bee, and not a drone in the hive. It is not only wrong, but a disgrace
for any man to be idle when there is so much to do."

Mr. Parker was surprised to hear his old customer talk in this way: but
surprise was not his only feeling--he was deeply impressed with the
truth of what he had said.

"I believe, after all, that you are right, and I am wrong. Certainly,
there is no disguising the fact that my life has become a real burden
to me, and that business would be far preferable to a state of
idleness."

This admission seemed made with some reluctance. It was the first time
he had confessed, even to himself, that he had committed an error in
giving up his shop. The effect of what Mr. Steele had said was a
resolution, after debating the pros and cons for nearly a month, to
recommence business; but before this could take place, the kind of
business must be determined. Since Mr. Parker had ceased to be a hatter
and set up for a gentleman of fortune, his ideas of his own importance
had considerably increased. To come back into his old pos