Year: 1866




station. The hustle and noise attracted
him and when snugly seated in the car,
| thoughts of the future began to come in,
pictures Of the city life where he was to
form n part, plans for tile active busine IS
which was 10 yield him so large a return
that he could put the Old homestead on
II different basis, and hire some ono to
help his father on the farm, and Il tidy
girl 10 take Mary's place, while she went
to school. Building such castles i'll the
air, time rapidly passed, and he could
scarcely believe half Il day had gone,
when he was in the city, his trunk de-
posted in the small room of the small
boarding house his mother had selected
for hlm.


lie soon presented himsclfa the ware
house-a position in which he was to fill
All was activity and confusion-boxcs
being pulled up and let down, great bales
brought IN from trucks barrels rolled
over and over. NOBODY seemed to take
any notice of him, and at last he spoke to
a porter Can | see Mr.. Tompkins :!


What can such youngstcr as you
want of our boss p said the man. 'llow-
somcvcr, you can catch him in that ere
room at the head of the stairs


Frank went up with slow steps, and
knocked timdly at the door. Come in
lie entered and stood waiting to be spoken
to.


what do you want, young fellow ?
said a middle-aged gentleman, who sat
tipped back in large llce-chair, feet
on desk, and reading a price current.


i am the boy from Planfeld you en-
gagged for clerk, SIR


Whew-cw J. wlisilcd Mr.. Tompkin-
rather too young, think, to be trusted
with our work. | thought you were
older. Can you read and write and keep
books ?


4 believe so, sir; and | am eighteen
| too


"Wcll, I'll try you, though wish you
were bigger. ! am afraid if send you
with money to the bank they will steal it
from you


Frank doubled up and held out a
strong, utawny fist, that seemed powerful
enough to knock down u dozen city-bred
garrotcrs. Mr.. Tompkins smiled, as il
pleased with and understanding the ges-
turc, and ringing the bell, he said to the
person who answered the summons:


Here, Smith, is the young man told
you was coming from the country to be
in the Office. like these country boys
better than the city ones. Give him some
letters TO copy, and bring him into regu-
lar work as soon as you can. hope he
will not prove such scamp as that Sim
mons


I'll watch him too close for that, Mr..
Tompkins. lie locks as if he would be
honest


lie led the way to another Office, and
Frank commenced upon his new duties.
lie WAS faithful, persevering and obliging,
and soon won the kind regard Of all about
him. lie enjoyed his work, and would
have been very happy, only his evenings
were so lonely. Accustomed to the home
circle, to the sympathy Of his sister, the
play ful lrolics with little Nell, the studies
.judIciously given him by the minister,
who took living interest in him, he
found the long hours from the closing of
the office till bedtime, very tedious. lie
had brought letter to the pastor Of the
church his mother wished him to attend,
but he had not found bin at home when
he called with it and the popular preach
er had found himself too busy to seek out
this stray lamb from another fold. Frank
had secured a seat at church, and wished
to remain to Sunday School but, as he
stopped Two Sabbaths, and no one asked
him TO join a class, lie thought he was
not wanted 50 he lost this chance of i'm
provement and of forming acquaintance
lie got tickets for the Lowell lectures,
and enjoyed them, and determined to at
tend all he could books too from the
library. Still there was yedrning for
something more. His young heart needed
social intercourse. 1t was an unnatural
life he led. lie had formed speaking
acquaintance with several lads of lis own
age employed in the neghboring counting
rooms, but not one had ever said Come
and spend this evening with me; my
mother and sisters will be glad to see you. ,
Even Mr.. Smith, the head clerk, always
very kind, had never asked him home,
though he had nice little wife, who
often popped in to see him in his Office !;
but she just nodded at Frank, pleasantly,
enough, but that was all.


One evening, sauntering about the
gay streets, watching the happy groups,
who were none of them lonely, while he
was oppressed with homcsickncss, and
longing to see something like a home
once more, he met Tom Grey casual
acquaintance.


Halo, Frank Where are you bound -


only straying round to make it seem
little like home


Come with me, then. I'll give you a
touch ofit-the incest place too


'Where ? said Frank.


%, just give yourself up to me this one
night, and l will make you as happy as
clam


4 don't want such happiness, said
Frank laughing; it is too dead for me-


Wcll, bird, then, as you are coun-
try boy so give yourself up to me-


Frank did not attempt to resist, but
went on through one street and another,