“That’s first-rate philosophy!” said Williams, secretly congratulating himself, however, on having made what he considered a brisk start in life.

One day Salmon passed a store where some spades were exposed for sale.  He stopped to look at them.  There was a strange smile on his face.

“Perhaps, after all, digging is my vocation!  Well, it is an honorable one.  I only wish to know what God would have me to do.  If to dig, then I will undertake it cheerfully.”

However, there was one great objection to his lifting a spade.  It would first have been necessary to apply to his uncle for the once-rejected half-dollar.  He was determined never to do that.

He walked home, very thoughtful.  He could not see how it was possible that any good fortune should ever happen to him in Washington.  The sights of the city had become exceedingly distasteful to him, associated as they were with his hopes deferred and his heart-sickness.  He reached his door.  Mrs. Markham met him with beaming countenance.

“There is a gentleman waiting for you!  I reckon it’s another pupil!”

His face brightened for an instant.  But it was clouded again quickly, as be reflected,—­

“One more pupil!  Very likely!  That makes two!  At this rate, I shall have four in the course of a year!”

He was inclined to be sarcastic with himself.  But he checked the ungrateful thoughts at once.

“What Providence sends me, that let me cheerfully and thankfully accept!”

He entered the parlor.  A gentlemanly person, with an air of culture, advanced to meet him.

“This is Mr. ——?”

“That is my name, Sir.”

“Mrs. Markham said you would be in in a minute; so I have waited.”

“You are very kind to do so, Sir.  Sit down.”

“I have seen your advertisement in the ‘Intelligencer.’  You still think of establishing a school?”

“That is my intention.”

“May I ask if you have been successful in obtaining pupils?”

“Not very.  I have one engaged.  I would like a dozen more, to begin with.”

The gentleman took his hat.  “Of course he will go, now he knows what my prospects are!” But Salmon was mistaken.  The visitor seemed to have taken his hat merely for the sake of having something in his hands, to occupy them.

“Then perhaps you will be pleased to listen to my proposition?

“Certainly, Sir.”

“My name is Plumley.  I have established a successful classical school, as you may be aware.  It is in G-Street.”

“I have heard of you, Sir.”  And Salmon might have added, “I have envied you!”

“Well, Mrs. Phimley has recently opened a young ladies’ school, which has succeeded beyond all our expectations.”

“I congratulate you sincerely!”

“But it is found that the two schools are more than we can attend to.  I propose to give up one.  Now, if you choose to take the boys’ school off my hands, I will make over my entire interest in it to you.  Perhaps you may know the character the school sustains.  We have, as pupils, sons of the Honorable Henry Clay, William Wirt, Southard, and other eminent men.  The income amounts to something like eight hundred a year.  You can go in next Monday, if you like.”