thus earn a small, but, with strict economy, adequate income, until
a fever terminated his earthly career at middle age. Mr. Graham was
a rival applicant for the office, but Mr. Carr's services in the war
were thought to give him superior claims, and he secured it. During
the month that had elapsed since his death, Mrs. Carr had carried on
the post office under a temporary appointment. She was a woman of
good business capacity, and already familiar with the duties of the
office, having assisted her husband, especially during his sickness,
when nearly the whole work devolved upon her. Most of the village
people were in favor of having her retained, but the local influence
of Squire Walsingham and his nephew was so great that a petition in
favor of the latter secured numerous signatures, and was already on
file at the department in Washington, and backed by the congressman
of the district, who was a political friend of the squire. Mrs. Carr
was not aware that the movement for her displacement had gone so
far.

It was already nine o'clock when Herbert's conversation with his
mother ended, and he resolved to defer his call upon Squire
Walsingham till the next morning.

About nine o'clock in the forenoon our young hero rang the bell of
the village magnate, and with but little delay was ushered into his
presence.

Squire Walsingham was a tall, portly man of fifty, sleek and
evidently on excellent terms with himself. Indeed, he was but five
years older than his nephew, Ebenezer Graham, and looked the younger
of the two, despite the relationship. If he had been a United States
Senator he could not have been more dignified in his deportment, or