working on a farm for my board and clothes."

"Were you, sir?" asked Paul, interested.

"Yes, I was bound out till I was twenty-one. At the end of that time I
was to receive a hundred dollars and a freedom suit to begin the world
with. That wasn't a very large capital, eh?"

"No, sir."

"But the death of my employer put an end to my apprenticeship at the
age of eighteen. I hadn't a penny of money and was thrown upon my own
resources. However, I had a pair of good strong arms, and a good stock
of courage. I knew considerable about farming, but I didn't like it. I
thought I should like trade better. So I went to the village merchant,
who kept a small dry-goods store, and arranged with him to supply me
with a small stock of goods, which I undertook to sell on commission for
him. His business was limited, and having confidence in my honesty, he
was quite willing to intrust me with what I wanted. So I set out with my
pack on my back and made a tour of the neighboring villages."

Paul listened with eager interest. He had his own way to make, and it
was very encouraging to find that Mr. Preston, who was evidently rich
and prosperous, was no better off at eighteen than he was now.

"You will want to know how I succeeded. Well, at first only moderately;
but I think I had some tact in adapting myself to the different classes
of persons with whom I came in contact; at any rate, I was always
polite, and that helped me. So my sales increased, and I did a good
thing for my employer as well as myself. He would have been glad to