eset him in most of the
places where he might be able to find a temporary home. From that time,
for the next few months, all things were ordered there with reference to
Morely. It was a poor place enough, for Muir's wages were not large;
but it was neat and comfortable. His mother was his housekeeper,--a
querulous old body, with feeble health, one who little needed any
additional burden of household care. But when she knew that in a poor
home, far away, a mother of little children was waiting, hoping and
praying for the well-doing of this man whom her son had set his heart on
helping, she did what she could to help him too. That is, she fretted a
little at "her Sam" for thus thoughtlessly adding to her cares, and
murmured a little when, giving up his own room to Morely, he betook
himself to the garret; but all the same she was putting herself about,
and doing her best to make the stranger feel at home with them. None
knew better than she how much help was needed; for thirty of the
threescore years she had lived had been made anxious, and many of them
wretched, by the same enslaving power that had its grasp on Morely. Her
husband had lived a drunkard's life; and that he had not died a
drunkard's death was owing to the fact that excess had left him helpless
and bedridden for years, a burden on his wife and son. To save another
woman from the misery of such a life as hers had been, was a good work
to help in; and she gave herself to it, in her weak, complaining way, as
entirely and as successfully as did her son.

As for Sam, many things united to make this labour of love not a light
one to him. He looked upon himself as a rising man, as indeed he was,
in a small way. He had entered the employment of the great firm of
Steel and Ironside as errand-boy, and had gradually risen to occupy a
situation of trust. Topham, the head clerk, kept the key of the safes
where the books and papers of the firm were stored; but to him was
entrusted the key of the great establishment itself; and there was no
reason--at least, he saw none--why he might not one day stand in
Topham's place. Nay, he might even be a partner: why not? The present
chief of the firm had, long ago, been errand-boy in such an
establishment; and it really did not seem to him to be presumptuous to
suppose that, some time hence, he might be a merchant too, as well as
Mr Steel.

By dint of constant and earnest attendance at evening schools, and no
less cons