This was the opinion held of Jacob Jones by his employer from that day.  The reason why he had inquired as to how much money he had saved was this.  He had a nephew, a poor young man, who, like Jacob, was a clerk, and showed a good deal of ability for business.  His salary was rather more than what Jacob received, and, like Jacob, he spent it all; but not on himself.  He supported, mainly, his mother and a younger brother and sister.  A good chance for a small, but safe beginning, was seen by the uncle, which would require only about a thousand dollars as an investment.  In his opinion it would be just the thing for Jacob and the nephew.  Supposing that Jacob had four or five hundred dollars laid by, it was his intention, if he approved of the thing, to furnish his nephew with a like sum, in order to join him and to enter into business.  But the acknowledgment of Jacob that he had not saved a dollar, and that he kept no private account, settled the matter in the merchant’s mind, as far as he was concerned.

About a month afterward, Jacob met his employer’s nephew, who said,

“I am going into business.”

“You are?”

“Yes.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Open a commission store.”

“Ah!  Can you get any good consignments?”

“I am to have the agency for a new mill, which has just commenced operations, besides consignments of goods from several small concerns at the East.”

“You will have to make advances.”

“To no great extent.  My uncle has secured the agency of the new mill here without any advance being required, and eight hundred or a thousand dollars will be as much as I shall need to secure as many goods as I can sell from the other establishments of which I speak.”

“But where will the eight hundred or a thousand dollars come from?”

“My uncle has placed a thousand dollars at my disposal.  Indeed, the whole thing is the result of his recommendation.”

“Your uncle!  You are a lucky dog.  I wish I had a rich uncle.  But there is no such good fortune for me.”

This was the conclusion of Jacob Jones, who made himself quite unhappy for some weeks, brooding over the matter.  He never once dreamed of the real cause of his not having had an equal share in his young friend’s good fortune.  He had not the most distant idea that his employer felt nearly as much regard for him as for his nephew, and would have promoted his interests as quickly, if he had felt justified in doing so.

“It’s my luck, I suppose,” was the final conclusion of his mind; “and it’s no use to cry about it.  Anyhow, it isn’t every man with a rich uncle, and a thousand dollars advanced, who succeeds in business, nor every man who starts without capital that is unsuccessful.  I understand as much about business as the old man’s nephew, any day; and can get consignments as well as he can.”

Three or four months after this, Jacob notified the merchant that he was going to start for himself, and asked his interest as far as he could give it, without interfering with his own business.  His employer did not speak very encouragingly about the matter, which offended Jacob.