1. "Is Mr. Harris in'?" inquired a plainly, but neatly dressed boy, twelve or thirteen years of age, of a clerk, as he stood by the counter of a large bookstore.
The clerk regarded the boy with a haughty look, and answered: "Mr. Harris is in; but he is engaged."
2. The boy looked at the clerk hesitatingly, and then said: "If he is not particularly engaged, I would like to see him."
"If you have any business to transact, I can attend to it," replied the clerk. "Mr. Harris can not be troubled with boys like you."
3. "What is this, Mr. Morley?" said a pleasant-looking man, stepping up to the clerk; "what does the boy want?"
"He insisted on seeing you, though I told him you were engaged," returned the clerk, a little abashed by the manner of his employer.
4. "And what do you wish to see me about, my lad?" inquired Mr. Harris, kindly.
The boy raised his eyes, and, meeting the scornful glance of the clerk, said timidly: "I wish you to look at the bill of some books which I bought here, about three months since. There is a mistake in it, which I wish to correct."
5. "Ah, my boy, I see," replied Mr. Harris; "you have overpaid us, I suppose!"
"No, sir," answered the boy. "On the contrary, I purchased some books which are not charged in the bill, and I have called to pay for them."