r4 Fred the Apprentice.

wages the same as though you had worked,’ said
his employer in a feeling tone and manner.

‘ Thanks, sir, answered Fred. ‘If my mother
were alive now, and could see what I am doing,
nothing would give her greater pleasure than to
see me at work. She told me to be industrious;
so, to obey her last wishes, I will stay here and
work on,’

Mr. Kartmann patted the orphan boy on the
back, as a sign of his being greatly pleased, and
said, ‘I will place you among the apprentices,
Fred, and I will increase your wages.’

Nevertheless the zeal of the orphan was not
limited to labour in the workroom only. Mr.
Kartmann announced that he was going to form
an evening class, which was to meet in his
premises, and which was to be composed of his
apprentices who had no time to attend the
public schools. This news filled Fred with joy.

It was the first opportunity that had presented
itself to him of getting some education. Many
a time he had heard his late mother lament
the state of ignorance from which her children
seemed to have no chance of escaping, and he
readily understood, from what he had noticed, the
great usefulness of education; so, when the 15th