When the year was up, Mr. Jennings detained him after supper.

“Do you remember what anniversary this is, Carl?” he asked, pleasantly.

“Yes, sir; it is the anniversary of my going into the factory.”

“Exactly.  How are you satisfied with the year and its work?”

“I have been contented and happy, Mr. Jennings; and I feel that I owe my happiness and content to you.”

Mr. Jennings looked pleased.

“I am glad you say so,” he said, “but it is only fair to add that your own industry and intelligence have much to do with the satisfactory results of the year.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“The superintendent tells me that outside of your own work you have a general knowledge of the business which would make you a valuable assistant to himself in case he needed one.”

Carl’s face glowed with pleasure.

“I believe in being thorough,” he said, “and I am interested in every department of the business.”

“Before you went into the factory you had not done any work.”

“No, sir; I had attended school.”

“It was not a bad preparation for business, but in some cases it gives a boy disinclination for manual labor.”

“Yes; I wouldn’t care to work with my hands all my life.”

“I don’t blame you for that.  You have qualified yourself for something better.  How much do I pay you?”

“I began on two dollars a week and my board.  At the end of six months you kindly advanced me to four dollars.”

“I dare say you have found it none too much for your wants.”

Carl smiled.

“I have saved forty dollars out of it,” he answered.

Mr. Jennings looked pleased.

“You have done admirably,” he said, warmly.  “Forty dollars is not a large sum, but in laying it by you have formed a habit that will be of great service to you in after years.  I propose to raise you to ten dollars a week.”

“But, sir, shall I earn so much?  You are very kind, but I am afraid you will be a loser by your liberality.”

Mr. Jennings smiled.

“You are partly right,” he said.  “Your services at present are hardly worth the sum I have agreed to pay, that is, in the factory, but I shall probably impose upon you other duties of an important nature soon.”

“If you do, sir, I will endeavor to meet your expectations.”

“How would you like to take a journey Carl?”

“Very much, sir.”

“I think of sending you—­to Chicago.”

Carl, who had thought perhaps of a fifty-mile trip, looked amazed, but his delight was equal to his surprise.  He had always wished to see the West, though Chicago can hardly be called a Western city now, since between it and the Pacific there is a broad belt of land two thousand miles in extent.

“Do you think I am competent?” he asked, modestly.

“I cannot say positively, but I think so,” answered Mr. Jennings.