“Yes, I do.” “Thank you, sir,” said Robert, with tears in his eyes. “I’m much obliged, and—and——” “That will do—take him on, Smith; but stay a minute. Are you acquainted with the city?” “Pretty well, sir.” “Can you read writing?” “Oh, yes!” “And write yourself?” “Yes, I can write.” “See if you can read that.” Gould handed the note he had just directed, and Robert read the address. “J. Ward, Girard House.” “That will do. Now, your first duty will be to carry that note.” “I am ready, sir.” “Of course he’s ready,” cried the newsboy, rejoicing over his friend’s success; “but hadn’t you better do things a little ship-shape? About the wages, now. This young gentleman has got a mother——” “Grandmother,” whispered Robert. “Just so. A grandmother and sister to support; and money is money to him.” Gould laughed. “How much did we give the last fellow?” he said, addressing Smith in careless good humor. “Three dollars a week.” “Give this one four. I’ll be responsible to the governor. With an old grandmother, and all that sort of thing, it won’t be too much.” “Oh, sir! I am so glad—so very, very glad!” cried Robert, crushing his hat between both hands in a paroxysm of grateful feelings. “I wish you could see her; she would know how to thank you, I don’t.” “He’s young and green—don’t mind him,” cut in the newsboy, drawing the sleeve of his jacket across his eyes. “Consarn the dust, how it blinds a fellow! By-and-by he’ll take things like a man.” “I only wish I was a man; oh, sir! how I would work for you.” Gould got up from his seat and laid his white hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Boy! boy! I would be a child again, could that give me back the feeling which fills those eyes with tears. Oh, Smith! how much we men lose in hardening ourselves. It is only the pure and good who can be really grateful. Heavens! how I envy this boy!” “Me, sir?” said Robert; “envy me. But then it is something to earn so much money; and more yet, to know that your father died for his country, fighting in the front ranks. I’m all they have to depend on, sir. You haven’t any idea how rich this four dollars a week will make us. But I’ll earn it! I’ll earn it—see if I don’t!” “Of course you will!” exclaimed the newsboy, who was getting rather tired of the scene. “But here comes another gentleman—hadn’t we better make ourselves scarce till to-morrow?” As the lad spoke, a strange gentleman came into the counting-room, and shook hands with Gould. “Well, I’ve been on the war-track, with some success, too,” he said eagerly. “Saw her going into that house——” “What house, Ward? What house?” “Why——” here Ward broke off, and took young Gould aside, to whom he spoke in a low, eager voice for some minutes. The young man listened with a little impatience; and more than once his face flushed angrily. At last he came away from the window, where they had been conversing, with a sparkle of indignation in his fine eyes.