"He presumes upon it," interrupted Rose, good-naturedly. "Well, let him. That's his chief claim to consideration, and it is natural for him to make the most of it."
"At any rate, I hope that can't be said of me," returned Ben, his brow clearing. "If I had nothing but money to be proud of, I should be very poorly off."
"You wouldn't object to it, though."
"No, I hope, for mother's sake, some day to be rich."
"Most of our rich men were once poor boys," said Rose quietly. "I have a book of biographies at home, and I find that not only rich men, but men distinguished in other ways, generally commenced in poverty."
"I wish you'd lend me that book," said Ben. "Sometimes I get despondent and that will give me courage."
"You shall have it whenever you call at the house. But you mustn't think too much of getting money."
"I don't mean to; but I should like to make my mother comfortable. I don't see much chance of it while I remain a 'grocer's boy,' as Tom Davenport calls me."
"Better be a grocer's boy than spend your time in idleness, as Tom does."
"Tom thinks it beneath him to work."