like to help you along."
The kind-hearted lady took three pounds--two at sixty cents and one at
seventy. This gave Frank a profit thirty-eight cents and put him in good
spirits.

He worked his way back to the avenue on the other side of the street,
and coming to a grocery store, entered.

It occurred to him that he would try to sell some at wholesale.

Frank was so young that the dealer did not suppose him to be an agent,
and asked what he would like to buy.

"I came to sell, not to buy," said Frank.

"What are you dealing in?" asked the grocer.

"I have several samples of tea," said our hero. "If you will give me an
order, I will have it sent to you to-morrow."

The grocer found, upon examination, that his stock was getting low, and
gave Frank an order, but he was obliged to sell below the regular price,
and only cleared three cents a pound. Still, on a sale of twenty-five
pounds, this gave him seventy-five cents, which was very encouraging.

Adding up his profits, thus far, Frank found that his commission
amounted to a dollar and a quarter, which exceeded his anticipations.

He continued his calls, but sold only one pound besides, at fifty cents,
netting him ten cents more.




CHAPTER XXIII

FRANK MEETS MR. MANNING AND MARK


The next morning Frank resumed his tea agency. As on the day previous,
he went to Brooklyn; but, though I should be glad to say that he was
more successful than on the first day, truth compels me to state that
the day was a comparative failure.

It might be that he was unfortunate in the persons whom he visited, but
at all events, at the close of his labors he found that his commissions
amounted to less than fifty cents. He contented himself, therefore, with
a ten-cent lunch, and crossed Fulton Ferry between three and four
o'clock.

"This will never do," thought Frank, seriously. "I shall have to be
economical to make my earnings cover my incidental expenses, while my
board and lodging must be defrayed out of the money I have with me."

Frank was disappointed. It is easy to think of earning one's living, but
not quite so easy to accomplish it. A boy, besides being ignorant of the
world, is inexperienced, and so disqualified for many avenues of
employment which are open to men. It is generally foolish for a boy to
leave a good home and start out for himself, unless the chances are
unusually favorable for him. If he does it, however, he should not allow
himself to be easily discouraged.

If Frank had given up the business in which he was engaged simply
because he had met with one unsuccessful day, I should not have been
willing to make him the hero of my story.

"This will never do," thought Frank. "I must make a greater effort
to-morrow."

The next day his commission amounted to a dollar, and the fourth day to
a dollar and twelve cents.

"You are doing well," said his employer. "You are doing better than the
majority of our agents."

In one way this compliment was satisfactory. In another way it was not
encouraging, for it limited his prospects. Frank began to think that he
would never be able to make his entire expenses as a tea agent.

I don't propose to speak in detail of Frank's daily experiences, but
only to make mention of any incidents that play an important part in
his history.

He was returning from Jersey City on the tenth day of his agency, when
in the gentleman's cabin he saw, directly opposite, two persons whom he
had reason to remember.

They were Mark Manning and his father.

Little reason as he had to like either, they reminded him of home, and
he felt pleased to meet them.

He instantly crossed the cabin, and offered his hand to his stepfather,
who had not yet seen him.

"When did you arrive, Mr. Manning?" he asked.

"Why, it is Frank!" exclaimed Mr. Manning, with an appearance of
cordiality. "Mark, do you see Frank?"

"Yes, I see him," replied Mark, coldly.

"Haven't you anything to say to him?" asked his father, who was much
more of a gentleman than his son.

"How are you?" said Mark, indifferently.

"Thank you for your kind inquiry," said Frank, more amused than vexed,
for he cared very little for his stepbrother's friendship. "I am in very
good health."

"And how are you getting along?" asked his stepfather, with an
appearance of interest. "Are you in any business?"

"Yes," answered Frank.

"What are you doing?' asked Mark, inspired a little by curiosity.

"I am agent for a wholesale tea house in New York," Frank answered,
briefly.

"You don't say so!" exclaimed Mark, rather impressed. "What is the name
of the firm?"

"The Great Pekin Tea Company."

"Does it pay well?" asked his stepbrother.

"I have met with very fair success," replied Frank.

"I congratulate you, Frank," said Mr. Manning. "Your energy and
enterprise are creditable--extremely creditable. I always predicted that
you would succeed--didn't I, Mark?'

"I don't remember hearing you say so," said Mark.

Mr. Manning shrugged his shoulders.

"Nevertheless," he said, "I have often made the remark."

"Where do you live?" asked Mark.

"I board in Clinton Place."

"A very respectable street," said Mr. Manning.

Frank now thought it was his turn to become questioner.

"How long do you remain in the city, Mr. Manning?" he asked.

"Not long--only a day or two," said his stepfather.

"We sail for Europe on Saturday," interposed Mark, "on the Cunard
steamer."

"Indeed! I wish you a pleasant voyage."

"I am sorry you won't go with us, Frank," said his stepfather,
cautiously. "You remember I gave you the chance to do so, and you
desired to devote yourself immediately to business."

"Yes, sir. I would rather remain in New York."

"It might possibly be arranged now, if you desire to go," said Mr.
Manning, hesitatingly.

"No, thank you, sir."

"Well, perhaps you are right," said his stepfather, considerably
relieved.

"What parts of Europe do you expect to visit?" asked Frank.

"We shall visit England, France, the Rhine, Switzerland, and perhaps
Italy."

"I hope you will enjoy it."

"Thank you; I think we shall."

Frank checked a sigh. It was certainly tantalizing. If he could travel
with congenial friends, he felt that he would very much enjoy such a
trip; but with Mark in the party there would be little pleasure for him.

"We are staying at the St. Nicholas Hotel," said Mr. Manning. "I would
invite you to come and dine with us, but I have an engagement first, and
don't know when we shall dine."

"Thank you, all the same," said Frank.

They had reached the New York side, and were walking toward Broadway. It
was necessary for Frank to go to the tea store, and he took leave of his
stepfather and Mark, again wishing them a pleasant voyage.

"I hate that boy!" said Mark, as they walked away.

"You should not indulge in any such disagreeable feelings, Mark," said
his father.

"Don't you hate him?"

"Certainly not."

"One would think by your soft manner that you loved him," said Mark, who
was not noted for the respect with which he treated his father.

"Really, Mark, I am shocked by your strange words."

"What made you invite him to go to Europe with us?"

"I knew he would not go."

"He might have accepted, and then we should have been in a pretty
pickle."

"Mark," said his father, rather irritated, "will you be kind enough to
leave me to manage my own affairs? I believe I have succeeded pretty
well so far."

"Yes, you have," Mark admitted. "All the same, we'd better keep clear of
Frank till we get safely off on the steamer."




CHAPTER XXIV

A DISCOURAGING DAY


The next day was indeed a trying one and one of many experiences for
Frank.

The first lady did not buy any tea, to be sure, but seemed sorry that
she was already supplied, and questioned Frank as to what success he was
meeting with.

When twelve o'clock came, Frank had not sold a single pound. Even if he
earned nothing however, he had an appetite and must buy lunch.

He entered a small oyster saloon, and went up to the proprietor.

"Can I sell you some tea?" he asked.

"No, I guess not. I get my tea in Harlem."

"Take a couple of pounds," said Frank, "and I will take part of the pay
in lunch."

"That is business," said the other. "Let me look at your tea."

Frank showed him his samples.

"Who employs you?'

"The Great Pekin Tea Company."

"They have a good name. Yes, I will try a couple of pounds at fifty
cents."

This, of course, came to a dollar, and Frank's profit on the sale
amounted to twenty cents. This was precisely the cost of the lunch which
he ordered, so that he felt well satisfied with the arrangement.

He left the saloon in better spirits, and resumed his travels from house
to house.

I am sorry to say, however, that though he certainly exerted himself to
the utmost in the interests of the Great Pekin Tea Company and his own,
he did not sell another pound of tea that day.

About three o'clock he got on board a Third Avenue horse car, bound
downtown and sat quietly down in a corner.

"Harlem doesn't seem to be a very promising field for an agent," he said
to himself. "Perhaps it isn't fair to judge it by the first day. Still,
I don't think I shall have courage to come here to-morrow. I would
rather go to Jersey City or Brooklyn."

Frank got off the cars at the Bible House and walked to his boarding
house, where a disagreeable surprise was in store for him.

The night brought perplexity to Frank, but not discouragement. He was
naturally hopeful, and, in a large city like New York, he felt that
there are always chances of obtaining employment, provided he could
maintain his position, as he would have been able to do if he had not
lost the thirty-five dollars which his fellow boarder had stolen. Now,
however, circumstances were materially changed.

One thing was tolerably clear to Frank, and this was, that he must give
up his agency. He had tried it, and been unsuccessful. That is, he had
failed to earn money enough to support himself, and this was necessary.

As to what he should take up next, Frank was quite in the dark. As a boy
in a counting room he would be paid not more than four dollars a week,
if he could gain such a situation, which was by no means certain.

The more he thought about the matter the more perplexed he felt, and it
was in an uncomfortable frame of mind that he came down to breakfast the
next morning.




CHAPTER XXV

PERPLEXITY


He went out as usual after breakfast, and then walked leisurely
downtown. He proposed to go to the shop of the Great Pekin Tea Company
and resign his agency. He was on the watch during his walk for any
opportunities to repair his unlucky loss:

At one place he saw a notice:

"BOY WANTED."

Though he felt sure the compensation would not be sufficient to allow of
his accepting it, he thought it would do no harm to make inquiry, and
accordingly entered.

It was an extensive retail store, where a large number of clerks were
employed.

"Is a boy wanted here?" asked Frank of the nearest salesman.

"Yes. You may inquire at the desk."

He pointed to a desk some distance back, and Frank went up to it.

"You advertise for a boy," he said to a tall, stout man, who chanced to
be the proprietor. "Is the place filled."

"No," was the answer; "but I don't think it would suit you."

"Do you think I would not be competent, sir?"

"No, that is not the difficulty. It would not be worth your acceptance."

"May I inquire what are the duties, sir?"

"We want a boy to open the door to customers, and this would not be
worth your accepting."

"No, sir. Thank you for explaining it to me."

The gentleman was favorably impressed by Frank's polite and gentlemanly
manners.

"I wish I had a place for you," he said. "Have you ever had any
experience in our line of business?"

"No, sir; I have very little experience of any kind. I have acted for a
short time as agent for a tea company."

"You may leave your name if you like, and I will communicate with you if
I have a vacancy which you can fill."

Frank thanked the polite proprietor and walked out of the store.

Though this is a story written for boys, it may be read by some business
men, who will allow me to suggest that a refusal kindly and
considerately expressed loses half its bitterness, and often inspires
hope, instead of discouragement.

Frank proceeded to the office of the tea company and formally resigned
his agency. He was told that he could resume it whenever he pleased.

Leaving the store, he walked down Broadway in the direction of Wall
Street.

He passed an elderly man, with stooping shoulders and a gait which
showed that he was accustomed to live in the country.

He was looking about him in rather an undecided way. His glance happened
to rest on Frank, and, after a little hesitation, he addressed him.

"Boy," he said, "do you live around here?"

"I live in the city; sir."

"Then I guess you can tell me what I want to know."

"I will if I can, sir," said Frank, politely.

"Whereabouts is Wall Street?"

"Close by, sir. I am going that way, and will be happy to show you."

Frank had no idea his compliance with the stranger's request was likely
to have an important effect up his fortunes.




CHAPTER XXVI

FRANK HEARS SOMETHING TO HIS ADVANTAGE


"My name," said the stranger, "is Peters--Jonathan Peters, of
Craneville, Onondaga County. I am a farmer, and don't know much about
New York. I've got a few hundred dollars that I want to put into
government bonds."

"All right," said Frank, "there won't be any difficulty about it."

"I've heerd there are a good many swindlers in New York," continued Mr.
Peters. "The squire--Squire Jackson, of our village--perhaps you may
have heard of him?"

"I don't think I have, Mr. Peters."

"Well, the squire told me I'd better take good keer of my money, as
there were plenty of rascals here who would try to cheat me out of it."

"That is true, Mr. Peters. Only yesterday I was robbed of thirty-five
dollars by a man who boarded in the same house."

"You don't say so?"

"He opened my trunk and took out my pocketbook while I was absent on
business."

"I wouldn't dare to live in York!" said the farmer, whose apprehensions
were increased by Frank's story.

By this time they had reached the office of Jones & Robinson, with whom,
it will be remembered, Frank had once before had dealings.

"If you will come in here, Mr. Peters," said our hero, "you will be sure
of honorable treatment. I will introduce you if you like."

"I should be obleeged if you would," said the farmer. "Out in Craneville
I am to home, but I ain't used to York business men, and don't know how
to talk to them."

It pleased Frank to find that, in spite of his inexperience, he was able
to be of service to one more unaccustomed than himself to city scenes
and city ways.

He walked up to the counter, followed by the farmer, and said:

"This gentleman wishes to buy some government bonds. I told him that he
could transact his business here."

"Thank you! Mr. Benton, you may attend to this gentleman."

Frank was about to leave the office, when Mr. Robinson called him back.

"You have been in the office before, have you not?" he asked.

"Yes, sir."

"Are you not the boy who assisted in the capture of the man who robbed
Mr. Henry Percival, of Madison Avenue?"

"Yes, sir."

"I thought so. I have been trying to find you for the last week."

Naturally Frank looked surprised.

"Mr. Henry Percival was at that time in Europe," said Mr. Robinson. "On
his return, a week since, he called on us, and expressed a desire to
have you call upon him. We had mislaid or lost your address, and were
unable to give him the information he desired."

Frank's heart beat high with hope as the broker spoke.

"Perhaps," he thought, "Mr. Percival may offer me a situation of some
kind, and I certainly am greatly in need of one."

"Did Mr. Percival recover all his bonds?" he asked.

"Nearly all," answered Mr. Robinson. "He considered himself exceedingly
fortunate, and he certainly was so."

"Do you know how much he was robbed of?" asked Frank.

"Rather over five thousand dollars. Of this sum all has been recovered
except three bonds of a hundred dollars each. Mr. Percival is a rich
man, and he won't miss that small amount."

"I wish I were rich enough not to miss three hundred dollars," thought
our hero. "If I had my rights, I could say the same."

Just now, in his extremity, Frank thought regretfully of the fortune he
had lost. Had he been so situated as to be earning enough to defray all
his expenses, he would scarcely have given a thought of it.

"You had better go up to see Mr. Percival this evening," said the
banker, "if you have no other engagement."

"Even if I had an engagement, I would put it off," said Frank. "Will you
give me Mr. Percival's number?"

"No. 265," said Mr. Robinson.

Frank noted it down and left the office. By this time Mr. Peters had
completed his business, and was ready to go out, also.

"I'm much obliged to you," he said to Frank. "I was afraid I'd get into
a place where they'd cheat me. I guess Mr. Jones and Robinson are pretty
good folks."

"I think you can depend upon them," said Frank.

"If ever you come to Craneville, I should like to have you stay a few
days with me on my farm," said Mr. Peters, hospitably. "We are plain
folks, but will treat you about right."

"Thank you, Mr. Peters. If I ever come to Craneville, I shall certainly
call upon you."

Frank had something to look forward to in his approaching interview with
Mr. Percival. He had been able to do this gentleman a service, and it
was not unlikely that the capitalist would wish to make him some
acknowledgment. Frank did not exaggerate his own merits in the matter.
He felt that it was largely owing to a lucky chance that he had been the
means of capturing the bond robber. However, it is to precisely such
lucky chances that men are often indebted for the advancement of their
fortunes.

While he was in a state of suspense, and uncertain what Mr. Percival
might be disposed to do for him, he decided not to exert himself to
obtain any employment. If he should be disappointed in his hopes, it
would be time enough to look about him the following day.

What should he do in the meantime?

He determined to treat himself to an excursion. From the end of the
Battery he had often looked across to Staten Island, lying six miles
away, and thought it would prove a pleasant excursion. Now, having
plenty of time on his hands, he decided to go on board one of the boats
that start hourly from the piers adjoining the Battery. The expense was
but trifling and, low as Frank's purse was, he ventured to spend the
amount for pleasure. He felt that he needed a little recreation after
the weeks of patient labor he had spent in the service of the Great
Pekin Tea Company.




CHAPTER XXVII

AN INCIDENT IN A STREET CAR


When Frank returned to the city, he walked slowly up through the Battery
to the foot of Broadway. He passed the famous house, No. 1, which, a
hundred years ago, was successively the headquarters of Washington and
the British generals, who occupied New York with their forces, and soon
reached the Astor House, then the most notable structure in the lower
part of the city.

With his small means, Frank felt that it was extravagant to ride uptown,
when he might have walked, but he felt some confidence in the success of
his visit to Mr. Percival, and entered a Fourth Avenue horse car. It so
chanced that he seated himself beside a pleasant-looking young married
lady, who had with her a young boy about seven years old.

Soon after the car started the conductor came around to collect the
fares.

Frank paid his, and the conductor held out his hand to the lady.

She put her hand into her pocket to draw out her purse, but her
countenance changed as her hand failed to find it.

Probably no situation is more trying than to discover that you have lost
or mislaid your purse, when you have an urgent use for it. The lady was
evidently in that predicament. Once more she searched for her purse, but
her search was unavailing.

"I am afraid I have lost my purse," she said, apologetically, to the
conductor.

This official was an ill-mannered person, and answered, rudely:

"In that case, ma'am, you will have to get off."

"I will give you my card," said the lady, "and will send double the fare
to the office."

"That won't do," said the man, rudely. "I am responsible for your fare,
if you stay on the car, and I can't afford to lose the money."