"And you find it hard work, eh?"
"Yes, sir."
"Tell me about it. Here sit down next to me, and tell me how you are situated."
Mr. Manning had a sympathetic tone, which invited confidence. So Ben followed his directions, and confided to him all his perplexities.
"We got along well enough," he concluded, "as long as I kept my place at the factory. Five dollars a week went a good way with us. Besides, my aunt made about two dollars a week sewing.
"Is she making that now?"
"No, sir. Even that kind of business is getting dull. Last week she made a dollar and a quarter."
"That isn't much."
"No, sir. But every little helps."
"You are right there. We must not despise small earnings—such as you made in the deacon's employ."