"Perhaps; but we couldn't pay you so much while you were learning."
"How much would you start me at—if I worked real hard?"
Mr. Nelson hesitated.
"We'll give you two dollars a week to begin," he said. "When you can do as much as the rest we'll raise you to three or four."
Richard's hopes fell. Even four dollars a week would barely keep him, much less allow of money being sent home.
"I'm afraid I can't accept it," he said. "I must support myself and
I can't do it on two dollars a week."
"It's all we can allow," replied Mr. Nelson, and he turned away to his work.
In a moment Richard was on the street again. The setback chilled his ardor, but only for an instant, and then he hurried on to the next place.
It was a confectionery store, and entering, he purchased five cents' worth of chewing gum, such as he knew his little sister would like.
"I understand you want a boy," he said to the proprietor, who happened to be the one to wait on him.