on his devoted friendship, and looked forward with pleasure to their
more intimate companionship.

After selecting their room and making arrangements to take possession of
it, the boys went down town. Rodney stepped into the reading room at the
Astor House and wrote the following letter to Dr. Sampson:


DR. PLINY SAMPSON:

DEAR SIR--Will you be kind enough to send my trunk by express to No. 312
Bleecker Street? I have taken a room there, and that will be my home for
the present. I have obtained a position in a wholesale house on Reade
Street, and hope I may give satisfaction. Will you remember me with best
wishes to all the boys? I don't expect to have so easy or pleasant a
time as I had at school, but I hope to get on, and some time--perhaps in
the summer--to make you a short visit.

Yours truly, RODNEY ROPES.



CHAPTER IX.

THE FIRST DAY AT WORK.


A little before half past nine Rodney paused in front of a large five
story building on Reade Street occupied by Otis Goodnow.