to be waited upon so much. She says you make her more trouble than all
the rest of us together."

Oscar could not deny these charges, and so he said nothing, but
appeared to be reading his newspaper very intently. Mr. Preston came
in soon after, and the family sat down to tea.

"Oscar," said Mr. Preston, "next week is vacation, is it not?"

"Yes, sir," replied Oscar.

"Well, I shall want you in the store a part of the time," continued his
father. "Frank is going home to spend Thanksgiving, and as it will be
a busy week with us, we must have somebody to take his place."

"Why can't Henry do the errands while Frank is away?" inquired Oscar.

"Because Henry will have as much other work as he can attend to,"
replied Mr. Preston.

"I don't see why you let Frank go off at such a time," said Oscar,
pettishly.

"It is not necessary that you should see," replied his father. "I can
manage my business without any advice from you, and I don't want you to
call me to account for what I do. I have given Frank a vacation, and I
shall expect assistance from you--that is all it is necessary for you
to know about it."

Frank was the errand-boy in Mr. Preston's shop. Henry, upon whom Oscar