The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-10-16

at first. He was attending school still =,
and working hard and steadily outside
of school hours; for the Winchesters
were poor, although they had once
known better days. That poverty is
the hardest of all to bear, Charley
we'll knew; and it was his hope and his
soon as he could.
He was anxious to be in school, for
he realized that his education would fit
him to fill higher position than he
could find without it, But after talk
with his principal, with the minister
and the leader Of night school, he
found that he could advance as rapidly
by attending the evening classes, with
the addition of two studies in which
the principal could still allow him to con-
tinue, as though he we're to remain in
the high school. Aud he had learned
from the other boys that the sub.clerk
was TO have two hours day free for
school work; for Mr.. Adams knew very
we'll what was the value of an educa-
ton.
About ten O'clock, on Charley's first
morning, Mr.. Adams, Sr., came down
| the store to the counter, where his
young sub clerk was doing up little
bag of nails for johnny Smith.
Charley smiled pleasantly at the little
fellow, and he evidently was as court
eous to such customers as to their dig
nified elders.
ooh, by the way, Winchester" said
Mr.. Adams, 81 wish you'd tackle the
old back storeroom, the ell to the large
storeroom we use now. The old one
has been waiting some time for good
cleaning ou'. You can begin when
YOU see chance, some time" That
was leaving Charley quite a margin
and Arthur or Tom, his predecessors,
would surely have put it off until a
more convenient seasOn-till to-mor.
row, at any rate.
But Charley soon found out from the
clerks that he was not needed in the
store, and would not be, probably, for
the rest of the morning, and he went
at once on his fateful expedition. He
discovered the same chaos which had
conquered The explorers before him
but he set resolutely to work. He
could not help wondering at, anC
rather criticising, the carelessness OF
his employer, though he tried to excuse
him as far as he could.
81 suppose he has 50 much to at
tend to, he said to himself-there was
no one else, unless you counted tht
rats, who now aud then scampered on
from their hiding-places to see wht
their invader was, to whom he could
talk. But if were the proprietor, &c
see that my clerks or errand boys OF
somebody, kept things in order, if
didn't do it myself
Nevertheless, Charley determined
that order must be restored, even a
this late day; and how he did work
All the rest of the morning he rolled
and piled the barrels and boxes, unit
he had the center of the deck CT feared
for action" as he put it. Then, wha
do you think he tried next? Sometbin!
that most boys don't especially enjoy
AND how Mr.. Adams's eyes danced
when he looked in about noon, to SCI
young Winchester down on his knees
scrubbing with all his might!
Charley Strengthened himself with al
dignified an air as was possible unde
such circumstances (his sleeves wer
rolled up, and he was wearing as al
apron large busting cloth which hap
pened to be the only clean thing An
derson, one of the clerks, could fin
; for him). He flushed little, but trie'
to make his greeting very quietly court
eous and Indifferent.
"It is rather damp here for you,
fear, Mr.. Adams. You will find tina
place rather soapy. I'm just letting tn
soap sink in on that spot as the onl
way to take it out. Toward the lief
!, you will find it dri r, think"
!, There was little defiant ring in tn
,, boyish voice, but Mr.. Adams coul