“And I am to stand on top like a gymnast on a sphere or be rolled under,” thought Jack.  “And I’ll have cloth of gold breeches and a balancing pole tipped with jewels; but—­but—­”

“A good listener, and that is a lot!” thought the father, happily.

Jack had interrupted neither with questions nor vagaries.  He was gravely attentive, marveling over this story of a man’s labor and triumph.

“And the way to learn the business is not from talks by me,” said his father, finally.  “You cannot begin at the top.”

“No! no!” said Jack, aghast.  “The top would be quite too insecure, too dizzy to start with.”

“Right!” the father exclaimed, decidedly.  “You must learn each department of itself, and then how it works in with the others.  It will be drudgery, but it is best—­right at the bottom!”

“Yes, father, where there is no danger of a fall.”

“You will be put on an apprentice salary of ten dollars a week.”

“And I’ll try to earn it.”

“Of course, you understand that the ten is a charge against the store.  That’s business.  But as for a private allowance, you are John Wingfield’s son and—­”

“I think I have enough of my own for the present,” Jack put in.

“As you wish.  But if you need more, say the word.  And you shall name the department where you are to begin.  Did you get any idea of which you’d choose from looking the store over to-day?”

“That’s very considerate of you!” Jack answered.  He was relieved and pleased and made his choice quickly, though he mentioned it half timidly as if he feared that it might be ridiculous, so uncertain was he about the rules of apprenticeship.

“You see I have been used to the open air and I’d like a little time in which to acclimatize myself in New York.  Now, all those big wagons that bring the goods in and the little wagons that take them out—­there is an out-of-door aspect to the delivery service.  Is that an important branch to learn?”

“Very—­getting the goods to the customer—­very!”

“Then I’ll start with that and sort of a roving commission to look over the other departments.”

“Good!  We will consider it settled.  And, Jack, every man’s labor that you can save and retain efficiency—­that is the trick!  Organization and ideas, that’s what makes the employer and so makes success.  Why, Jack, if you could cut down the working costs in the delivery department or improve the service at the present cost, why—­” John Wingfield, Sr. rubbed the palms of his hands together delightedly.

Everything was going finely—­so far.  He added that proviso of so far instinctively.

“Besides, Jack,” he went on, changing to another subject that was equally vital to his ego, “this name of Wingfield is something to work for.  I was the son of a poor New England clergyman, but there is family back of it; good blood, good blood!  I was not the first John Wingfield and you shall not be the last!”