“Have you had advice from an experienced physician, William?” inquired Uncle Joshua.  The young man blushed, as he replied, that he was unwilling to send for a physician, knowing that he had no means to repay his services.

“I will send my own doctor to see you,” returned his friend.  “He can help you if any one can, and as for his fee I will attend to it, and if you regain your health I shall be amply repaid.—­No, do not thank me,” he continued, as Mr. Churchill endeavoured to express his gratitude.  “Your father has done me many a favour, and it would be strange if I could not extend a hand to help his son when in trouble.  And now tell me, William, is not your salary very small, considering the responsible situation which you have so long held in the firm of Stevenson & Co.?”

“It is,” was the reply; “but I see no prospect of obtaining more.  I believe I have always given perfect satisfaction to my employer, although it is difficult to ascertain the estimation in which he holds me, for he is a man who never praises.  He has never found fault with me, and therefore I suppose him satisfied, and indeed I have some proof of this in his willingness to wait two or three months in the hope that I may recover from my present illness before making a permanent engagement with a new clerk.  Notwithstanding this, he has never raised my salary, and when I ventured to say to him about a year ago, that as his business had nearly doubled since I had been with him, I felt that it would be but just that I should derive some benefit from the change, he coolly replied that my present salary was all that he had ever paid a clerk, and he considered it a sufficient equivalent for my services.  He knows very well that it is difficult to obtain a good situation, there are so many who stand ready to fill any vacancy, and therefore he feels quite safe in refusing to give me, more.”

“And yet,” replied Uncle Joshua, “he is fully aware that the advantage resulting from your long experience and thorough acquaintance with his business, increases his income several hundred dollars every year, and this money he quietly puts into his own pocket, without considering or caring that a fair proportion of it should in common honesty go into yours.  What a queer world we live in!  The poor thief who robs you of your watch or pocket-book, is punished without delay; but these wealthy defrauders maintain their respectability and pass for honest men, even while withholding what they know to be the just due of another.

“But cheer up, William, I have a fine plan for you, if you can but regain your health.  I am looking for a suitable person to take charge of a large sheep farm, which I propose establishing on the land which I own in Virginia.  You acquired some knowledge of farming in your early days.  How would you like to undertake this business?  The climate is delightful, the employment easy and pleasant; and it shall be my care that your salary is amply sufficient for the support of your family.”