"I had better begin as I am going to hold out, aunt. Good-night."
John took the lamp and entered his bedchamber with a happier and more home-like feeling than he had had for months. He felt so interested in his aunt's troubles that he almost forgot that he had any of his own.
In the morning, as the village clock struck six, John stood in front of the store. A minute later, Mr. Hall, who boarded at a little distance, came up. He greeted John coldly, and they entered.
"Now I hope you will make me useful," said John.
"You may sweep out," said Hall.
"Where shall I find the broom?"
Hall told him and John commenced. It was new work to him, but he did it well, and then went to work to arrange things a little more neatly. Occasionally he asked information of Mr. Hall, which was ungraciously given. Still John learned rapidly, and in a fortnight had learned as much as many boys in three months.
One day, when Hall was gone to dinner, John chanced to open the stove, in which there had been no fire for the summer months. It was full of papers and letters of various kinds, which had been crowded into it, as a convenient receptacle. It was so full that, on the door being opened, a considerable portion fell on the floor. John began to pick them up, and, in doing so, naturally looked at some of the papers.
All at once he started with excitement as a particular paper caught his attention. He read it eagerly, and his eyes lighted up with pleasure.