finished the job.

"I have done this, sir," he said, taking it to Mr. Sanders. "What shall
I do next?"

"We will just examine it, and then you may take it into Mr. Compton's
room. After that you can go and get your dinner, and be back again in an
hour."

The document was examined, and, to the surprise of George and Mr.
Sanders, not one mistake was found. "Come, this is beginning well," said
the manager; "we shall soon make a clerk of you, I see."

When George went into Mr. Compton's room, and presented the papers, he
was again rewarded with an encouraging commendation. "This is very well
written--very well written indeed, and shows great painstaking," he
said.

George felt he could have shaken hands with both principal and manager
for those few words. "How cheap a kind word is," he thought, "to those
who give it; but it is more precious than gold to the receiver. I like
these two men; and, if I can manage it, they shall like me too."

George had not as yet exchanged a word with any of the clerks; but as he
was leaving the office to go to dinner, one of them was going out at the
same time, on the same errand.

"Well, Mr. Weston, you find it precious dull, don't you, cooped up in
your den?"