"
"I am going to be a bookkeeper," said Leonard.
"My uncle is going to teach me. I would
rather be a bookkeeper than a factory hand."
"Then you are right in preparing yourself
for such a post."
Here the two boys separated, as they were
to dine in different places.
Leonard was pleased with his new position.
He really had very little to do. Twice a day
he went to the post office, once or twice to the
bank, and there was an occasional errand besides.
To Carl the idleness would have been
insupportable, but Leonard was naturally
indolent. He sat down in a chair by the window,
and watched the people go by.
The first afternoon he was in luck, for there
was a dog fight in the street outside. He seized
his hat, went out, and watched the canine warfare
with the deepest interest.
"I think I will buy you a system of bookkeeping,"
said his uncle, "and you can study it in the office."
"Put it off till next week, Uncle Julius. I
want to get rested from the factory work."
"It seems to me, Leonard, you were born lazy,"
said his uncle, sharply.
"I don't care to work with my hands."
"Do you care to work at all?"
"I should like to be a bookkeeper."
"Do you know that my work is harder and
more exhausting than that of a workman in
the factory?"
"You don't want to exchange with him, do you?"
asked Leonard.
"No."
"That's where I agree with you."
Mr. Jennings took several weekly papers.
Leonard was looking over the columns of one
of them one day, when he saw the advertisement
of a gift enterprise of a most attractive
character.
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