Shadrach smiled and turned to his sons.
“Send him away at once. I don’t want that kind of young man in my place.” Then turning to the young man, upon whom the light of revelation had quickly dawned, he said, sternly:
“Young man, whenever you address a person who is older than you, do it respectfully. Honour your father and your mother. Now go away as fast as you can. I don’t like you.”
“But, father,” interposed Gottlieb, “we must have someone to do his work.”
“Dear me,” said Shadrach, “is that so? Then, for the present, you will do it. And that young man over there—what does he do?”
“He is also a salesman.”
“Let him go. Abel will take his place.”
“But, father, who is to manage the store? Who will see that the work is properly done?”
“I will,” said the father. “Now, let us have no more talking. Get to work.”
Crestfallen, miserable, and crushed in spirit, Abel and Gottlieb began their humble work while their father entered upon the task of familiarising himself with the details of the business. And even before the day’s work was done he came to his sons with a frown of intense disgust.