“You see, therefore, my dear son, that a new era of prosperity has opened for us.  I am now relieved from the care and anxiety which for years have oppressed me, and feel sure of a comfortable support.  Instead of accepting the half of your salary, I desire you, if possible, to save it, depositing in some reliable savings institution.  If you do this every year till you are twenty-one, you will have a little capital to start you in business, and will be able to lead a more prosperous career than your father.  Knowing you as well as I do, I do not feel it necessary to caution you against unnecessary expenditures.  I will only remind you that extravagance is comparative, and that what would be only reasonable expenditure for one richer than yourself would be imprudent in you.”

Harry read this letter with great joy.  He was warmly attached to the little home circle, and the thought that they were comparatively provided for gave him fresh courage.  He decided to adopt his father’s suggestion, and the very next week deposited three dollars in the savings bank.

“That is to begin an account,” he thought.  “If I can only keep that up, I shall feel quite rich at the end of a year.”

Several weeks rolled by, and Thanksgiving approached.

Harry was toiling at his case one day, when Oscar Vincent entered the office.

“Hard at work, I see, Harry,” he said.

“Yes,” said Harry; “I can’t afford to be idle.”

“I want you to be idle for three days,” said Oscar.

Harry looked up in surprise.

“How is that?” he asked.

“You know we have a vacation from Wednesday to Monday at the Academy.”

“Over Thanksgiving?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I am going home to spend that time, and I want you to go with me.”

“What, to Boston?” asked Harry, startled, for to him, inexperienced as he was, that seemed a very long journey.

“Yes.  Father and mother gave me permission to invite you.  Shall I show you the letter?”

“I’ll take it for granted, Oscar, but I am afraid I can’t go.”

“Nonsense!  What’s to prevent?”

“In the first place, Mr. Anderson can’t spare me.”

“Ask him.”

“What’s that?” asked the editor, hearing his name mentioned.

“I have invited Harry to spend the Thanksgiving vacation with me in Boston, and he is afraid you can’t spare him?”

“Does your father sanction your invitation?”

“Yes, he wrote me this morning—­that is, I got the letter this morning—­telling me to ask Harry to come.”

Now the country editor had a great respect for the city editor, who was indeed known by reputation throughout New England as a man of influence and ability, and he felt disposed to accede to any request of his.

So he said pleasantly, “Of course, Harry, we shall miss you, but if Mr. Ferguson is disposed to do a little additional work, we will get along till Monday.  What do you say, Mr. Ferguson?”