HOW TO MAKE ENDS MEET
"THERE'S an awful lot of letters this time, Mr. Bristow," said Arthur one morning as the chief accountant entered the office where he was busy sorting them.
"Ah, there is a heavy post!" remarked that gentleman. "You must be careful, Murray, that none of them go astray, for there was a fine bother over that a few months ago. That is why we get the letter-bag brought here. The messenger used to do it, but he got so careless at last, and made so many blunders, that Mr. Brading said that the letters must be placed in more responsible hands. Be careful, and take your time over the sorting."
"There'll be a grumble then if the bags are five minutes late downstairs."
"Let them grumble. I'll tell Mr. Brading, if there is any complaint, that the post was unusually heavy."
And Mr. Bristow seated himself at his desk, and Arthur went on with his letter-sorting.
Before he had finished, a messenger came in and apologized for not having emptied the waste-paper basket that morning before the arrival of the gentlemen. He took it to the door and shot its contents into a sack, and Arthur soon followed him downstairs with the letter-bags.
The lad had been a month in his situation now, the trial month agreed upon when he first went, and that afternoon, Mr. Brading called him into his private room and asked if he thought he would like to continue in his employment, now that he knew what the work was like.
"Yes, sir; if I give satisfaction I shall be very glad to stay," said Arthur eagerly.
"Well, I think you fully bear out the character Dr. Robinson gave me of you," said Mr. Brading.