Those were the boy's reflections as he lay awake long after the other inmates of the cottage had sunk into quiet slumber. "Mother says I ought to be thankful and I am; but not in the way she means, I suppose. I wish I were as good as she is. Nothing ever happens to her but she sees the hand of God in it, just as plain as I can see that bureau in the moonlight. If it's any thing she has asked for, He has answered her prayer, she says. If it's any affliction, He is administering the rod in love, for her good. Then how much comfort she does take in praying! Now last night she seemed to forget everything but that she was talking with God. I confess I was so tired I lost a part of it, my thoughts wandered so, but when she arose, how her face did shine! She seemed so full of trust, when she kissed me good-night and whispered, 'All will come out right, my son.'"
Monday morning arrived, and Harrison went to his new employment full of hope, sanguine of success, because he had made up his mind to do his very best. One of the clerks explained the duties that would be required of him. First, he would be expected to take the great key at a very early hour from the house of Mr. Grant, and carry it to the porter at the store. Then, when within the store, he was to sweep and dust, return home for his breakfast, and be back in time to take the letters from the morning mail, after which he would be called upon to go errands here and there, and if found trustworthy, to deliver and collect bills.
When he returned home at night, Mr. Cowles was almost as eager as his mother to hear his report of the day.
"I am very well satisfied with my place," said the boy, "and am exceedingly obliged to you, sir, for helping me to get it. We are doing an immense business. I can't begin to tell you the amount of grain we have received into the store to-day. The hook and chain are fastened around the draw, and up go several bushels, straight to the third or fourth story window, where a man, stands ready to pull them in, and others to mark them and pile them away."
"Then perhaps in an hour comes a tremendous great order to be filled, and down come bags again through the trap-door into the lower room, from which the men take them into the trucks backed up to the sidewalk."
At the end of two months Mrs. Danforth began to notice that her son, instead of being cheerful and happy, came home with languid steps, complained of being weary, and was not at all inclined to talk of his business. The night he brought home his first month's wages, he laid the money down with a petulant air, very unlike himself, and when his mother glanced inquiringly in his face, exclaimed to her great astonishment, "I wish that were the last cent I ever were to receive from the firm of Grant & Company."
"Why, Harrison! what has happened?" she inquired in surprise.
"Because I believe they'll fail," said the boy, recovering himself. "I don't think they do business on the right principle."
The good woman begged him to explain. This he was unwilling to do; and then she told him if he did his own duty faithfully, he was not responsible for the actions of his employers.
Two, three months passed; and Harrison grew more and more silent—almost moody. Not even good neighbor Cowles could induce him to say a word about his business. He worked early and late, often not coming home for his supper until eight or nine o'clock, so that his mother had but little opportunity to question him. On the Sabbath, however, she noticed a marked change in his conduct. He often sat with his eyes fixed vacantly on some object; and when suddenly addressed, would start as if awaking out of his sleep. Once when she pressed him as to the subject of his thoughts he answered, vaguely, "I'm trying to make out the character of the head clerk." He had long ago given up identifying himself with the business, and saying "our firm," "our business," "our clerks." On another occasion she overheard him say to himself, "I'll keep my eyes opened, and make it out yet."