mes replied that he had no fear of being led away by
their bad example. He said that evils would meet him everywhere, and
that he was quite able to resist all temptation to do wrong. The wise
mother did not question the strength of his power to resist evil, but
she reminded him of the text, "Let him that thinketh he standeth take
heed lest he fall."

Then, when she had sufficiently impressed upon his mind that there was
a real need for the utmost care, she gave her consent. Indeed, she
could hardly refuse when James reminded her that he was waiting for
Providence to open a door, and that if Providence had not opened this
door, he should never know when Providence did open one.

James went to the factory on the following Monday morning, and was at
once set to keep the books of the establishment, and attend to the
buying and the selling of the potash. The manner in which he attended
to business caused Mr. Barton to place absolute confidence in him, and
to treat him with the utmost kindness. James was the first to enter
the factory in the morning, and the last to leave it at night. The men
who brought ashes for sale were not always honest, and they often
charged for more than they delivered. James, in measuring their loads,
soon found out that his master was being systematically robbed. He put
an end to such unprincipled conduct, and thereby still further
increased Mr. Barton's confidence in him.

At the works, the men were, as his mother had described them to be,
rough in manner and very profane in their conversation. This gave
James so much pain, that he kindly but firmly pointed out the
wickedness as well as the uselessness of swearing; and though he was
told that it was no business of his to take notice of these things, his
presence was an influence for good over them.

While living in Barton's house, he read a number of books on seafaring
life and the doings of famous pirates. They fired his imagination so
much, that he never tired of reading them, and he conceived a strong
desire to be a sailor. This desire became stronger every day, and when
Mr. Barton spoke to him about settling down to the potash business,
James told him he wanted to go to sea. The old man spoke strongly
against such a course, and told him that if he would stay in his
service, he might look forward to the time when he would have a factory
of his own.

[Illustration: He never tired of reading.]

James was not willing to give up h