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Chapter 9 What The Envelope Contained

 The card which had been handed to the cooper contained the name of Thomas Merriam, No. ---- Pearl Street.

 
Punctually at twelve, he presented himself at the countingroom, and received a cordial welcome from the merchant.
 
"I am glad to see you," he said, affably. "You rendered me an important service last evening, even if the loss of money alone was to be apprehended. I will come to business at once, as I am particularly engaged this morning, and ask you if there is any way in which I can serve you?"
 
"If you could procure me a situation, sir, you would do me a great service."
 
"I think you told me you were a cooper?"
 
"Yes, sir."
 
"Does this yield you a good support?"
 
"In good times it pays me two dollars a day, and on that I can support my family comfortably. Lately it has been depressed, and paid me but a dollar and a half."
 
"When do you anticipate its revival?"
 
"That is uncertain. I may have to wait some months."
 
"And, in the meantime, you are willing to undertake some other employment?"
 
"I am not only willing, but shall feel very fortunate to obtain work of any kind. I have no objection to any honest employment."
 
Mr. Merriam reflected a moment.
 
"Just at present," he said, "I have nothing better to offer you than the position of porter. If that will suit you, you can enter upon its duties to-morrow."
 
"I shall be very glad to undertake it, sir. Anything is better than idleness."
 
"As to the compensation, that shall be the same that you have been accustomed to earn by your trade--two dollars a day."
 
"I only received that in the best times," said Timothy, conscientiously.
 
"Your services as porter will be worth that amount, and I will cheerfully pay it. I will expect you to-morrow morning at eight, if you can be here at that time."
 
"I will be here promptly."
 
"You are married, I suppose?" said the merchant, inquiringly.
 
"Yes, sir; I am blessed with a good wife."
 
"I am glad of that. Stay a moment."
 
Mr. Merriam went to his desk, and presently came back with a sealed envelope.
 
"Give that to your wife," he said.
 
"Thank you, sir."
 
Here the interview terminated, and the cooper went home quite elated by his success. His present engagement would enable him to bridge over the dull time, until his trade revived, and save him from incurring debts, of which he had a just horror.
 
"You are just in time, Timothy," said Mrs. Harding, cheerfully, as he entered. "We've got an apple pudding to-day."
 
"I see you haven't forgotten what I like, Martha."
 
"There's no knowing how long you'll be able to afford puddings," said Rachel, dolefully. "To my mind it's extravagant to have meat and pudding both, when a month hence you may be in the poorhouse."
 
"Then," said Jack, "I wouldn't eat any if I were you, Aunt Rachel."
 
"Oh, if you grudge me the little I eat," said his aunt, in serene sorrow, "I will go without."
 
"Tut, Rachel! nobody grudges you anything here," said her brother; "and as to the poorhouse, I've got some good news to tell you that will put that thought out of your head."
 
"What is it?" asked Mrs. Harding, looking up brightly.
 
"I have found employment."
 
"Not at your trade?"
 
"No; but at something else which will pay equally well till trade revives."
 
Here he told the chance by which he was enabled to serve Mr. Merriam the evening previous, and then he gave an account of his visit to the merchant's countingroom, and the engagement which............
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