LEAVING HOME. 85

He pointed me far down the street, to a small
_yellow house, with a book-skop-and printing office at
the other side of it. The sight of my future home
_ hastened me forward, in spite of the cold, the dust,
and the weariness which penetrated every part of me.
Arriving at the gate, I knocked at a side door, and
was soon ushered into a large kitchen, where sat two
apprentices, I was glad it was dark, so that I could
escape their staring scrutiny. ‘But a tallow candle
blazed in our faces from the mantelpiece, fully reveal-

ing me to my companions. :
“Are you the new hand?” .at length asked the
eldest.
“T have come to work in Mr. Simpson’s office.”
A loud bell then rang.
. “Supper! supper!” shouted the two apprentices,
starting up.
_ My new master now entered.
“Robert, is this you? I am glad to see that you
are as good as your word. We are full of work, and

want all the little help a new hand can give us.”