“Well, I’m glad, Jim, that we think alike.  Tomorrow we’ll bid our friends good-by and take the afternoon train to New York.”

“That suits me.  It would hardly be right to slip off without saying anything to the fellows.  We’ll call on them all.”

“Yes; that is right.  I promised Sam Harper to let him know about it.”

“I suppose you did, and you won’t forget to tell Nellie.”

Jim laughed at his own sly remark, and the handsome Tom blushed at this reference to the pretty sister of his playmate.

The hour grew late, but they sat a long time talking of what they would do when they made their home in the great metropolis.  Bridget, the old servant, warned them once or twice that it was past bedtime; but seeing her words were unnoticed, she withdrew and left them together.

Ah, when are the dreams of life so radiant as in early youth?  What pictures are so glowing, so beautiful, so vivid, so real, as those which come to the boy when he stands with his feet on the threshold, and looks far out over the limitless fields which spread before his view?  The air “lets finer sunlight through,” and the skies are more golden than they can ever be again.  It is the hour when to him nothing in the whole wide world is impossible.  It is a sweet, soul-stirring vision which, alas, too often is darkened or swept away by storm and mists and darkness and death.

The programme of the two boys was carried out, with some modification, the next day.  They found, when they came to go around among their friends to bid them good-by, that it took longer than they had counted on.  They separated; and when night arrived, Tom was urged so cordially to stay and take supper with Sam Harper that he did not refuse.

Then he had to remain a while in the evening, which proved to be a most pleasant one to the visitor.  The parents of his playmate were sensible people, who, finding the caller had made up his mind to go, did not attempt to dissuade him.  On the contrary, they reminded him that under heaven he had every reason to hope for success.

“The instruction received from your good mother,” said Mr. Harper, “I am sure can never be forgotten by you.  You have a fair education for your age; and I say to you as I did to Jimmy Travers, when he stopped here a while ago, be honest, truthful, obliging always, and your reward is certain.  You will meet with disappointments and all sorts of trials, but keep up your courage.  Never let go; hang fast; take whatever comes in your way and do it with all your might, and success is sure, sooner or later.”

“I have made up my mind to that,” replied Tom modestly.  “Jimmy and I don’t imagine that half the merchants in New York will be waiting at the ferry for us, and will scramble over each other to see who shall have our services.”

The gentleman smiled at the picture, and his wife added,—­

“There are so many dangers and pitfalls that I tremble at the thought of two boys like Tom and Jim going into such a great city, where they do not know a living person.”