"I don't see what you can find to do in Pentonville, Ben," she said.
"I can live a while without work while I am looking around, mother," Ben answered. "We have got all that money I brought from New York yet."
"It won't last long," said his mother despondently.
"It will last till I can earn some more," answered Ben hopefully.
Ben was about to leave the house when a man in a farmer's frock, driving a yoke of oxen, stopped his team in the road, and turned in at the widow's gate.
It was Silas Greyson, the owner of a farm just out of the village.
"Did you want to see mother?" asked Ben.
"No, I wanted to see you, Benjamin," answered Greyson. "I hear you've left the store."
"The store has changed hands, and the new storekeeper don't want me."
"Do you want a job?"