He wasn't the only person in the world who seemed to have got
into a wrong environment--lots of people didn't fit right into
their circumstances in life.

"We're square pegs in round holes--that's what we are," mused
Hiram. "That's what I am. I wish I was out of it. I wish I was
back on the farm."



CHAPTER III

A DREARY DAY

Daniel Dwight's Emporium, the general store was called, and it
was in a very populous part of the town of Crawberry. Old Daniel
was a driver, he seldom had clerks enough to handle his trade
properly, and nobody could suit him. As general helper and
junior clerk, Hiram Strong had remained with the concern longer
than any other boy Daniel had hired in years.

When the early Monday morning rush was over, and there was
moment's breathing space, Hiram went to the door to re-arrange
the trays of vegetables which were his particular care. Hiram
had a knack of making a bank of the most plebeian vegetable and
salads look like the display-window of a florist.

Now the youth looked out upon a typical city street, the
dwellings on either side being four and five story tenement