We may imagine how such a notice was calculated to discourage the youth; nevertheless he kept to his resolution, and, after a Sabbath spent in a right manner, proceeded on the Monday to get his discharge.
It was his duty to open the store, and as he was on his way to it, he noticed a man, as the morning was dark, trying to make out the inscriptions over the warehouse doors.
Asking him what he wanted, the man replied that he was a ship-captain, and was looking for a provision store in order to get supplies for his vessel, which was coming down the river with the tide. The youth willingly, forgetting his employer's unkind threat of dismissal, at once told the stranger that if he would go with him to his master's premises, he would be sure to find there the articles he was in search of.
On getting to the stores, the captain selected a large supply of provisions, for which he paid well. In short, it was an excellent commercial transaction. When he came to pay the money, the chief clerk, who had now made his appearance, made out the account, and saw that the notes given in payment were those of good banks—a point of no small importance in those days of unsound American currency. By this time, too, the stranger's ship had arrived at the wharf attached to the store, and the goods were placed on board of it, when it proceeded on its voyage.
At a later hour the youth's employer came to business, and the clerk told him that the new lad had been doing an excellent stroke of business before others were astir that morning.
"A very good price, too, he has got for the goods," said the master, as he looked at the invoice. "But," he continued, "depend upon it, he has been taken in, and got bad notes."
"No," replied the clerk; "that's all right. I attended to that myself."
Presently the youth came up to his employer's desk.
"Well," said he, good-humouredly, "what do you want?"
"Oh, sir, you told me I was to come to you to-day, and get my wages and my dismissal."