PAYING THE RENT. 167

Mr. Cramer handed the receipt to Tom, and
said :

“TI hope you are improving in dyeing.”

“T think I am, sir. Don’t you think so, too,
Howard.”

The boy, thus unexpectedly called upon,
reddened with false shame, but his better
nature prevailed, and he replied in a low tone:

“T think your experiments are very suc-
cessful.”

“ Well, go on, and one of these days you
may make a better workman than Honest
Mixon: you will hardly make a better man.”

“ Thank you, thank you, sir,” said Tom, with
earnest warmth.

“We are going to have fireworks here on
the Fourth of July. The operatives and their
children will all be here on the lawn to see
them ; your father, I hope, will come with you
and little Bessie, your tidy, smart sister. You
may go now, boy.”

Tom felt glad to be thus released. He
did not forget his “manners” on leaving the
room, though his bow was not remarkably
graceful.