"Certainly you are old enough," said his father, "we can't afford to keep you at school all your life."
Mrs. Mathers looked at her son sympathetically, she knew he loved his school immensely.
"You will only have to be at the office from nine till five, and, if you are diligent, you shall be able to study a few hours every day," she said.
"Yes," said the boy reluctantly.
In less than a week after this, Frank had left school and was settled in Mr. Baker's employment.
The winter was beginning to make itself felt, and the days were growing shorter and shorter. Ah! how Frank liked these winter evenings. He took his books, and, drawing his chair near a small table close to the fire, he kept plodding on, evening after evening, educating himself constantly.
At the age of nineteen, he obtained a situation as clerk in a bank. He possessed a good knowledge of English and French. He was also acquainted with German, Latin and Mathematics.
He had learnt unaided two systems of shorthand: one English and one French.
Neither was he ignorant of other useful sciences, of which he had striven to acquire at least a few elements.