"Well, I had an object in it--a selfish object."
Harry looked puzzled.
"It struck me that I needed a boy about your size, and character, for
a general assistant, to sell tickets, take money, and help me on the
stage. How do you like the idea?"
"I like it," answered Harry; "but there is one objection."
"What is that?"
"I don't come from Madagascar," responded Harry, slyly.
Professor Hemenway laughed.
"You've been as near there as I have," he said. "Did you really think
I came from Madagascar?"
"You look more as if you came from Maine, sir."
"You've hit it! There's where I did come from. I was raised
twenty-five miles from Portland on a farm. But it would never do to
put that on the bills. People are ready to pay more for imported than
for native curiosities. However, to come to business. I had a young
man traveling with me who wasn't suited to the business. He was a
dry-goods clerk when I took him, and is better adapted to that
business than to mine. He left me last week, and I have been in a
quandary about his successor. How much do you consider your time
worth?"
"Just at present it isn't worth much. If you will pay my traveling
expenses, that will satisfy me."
"I will do better than that I will give you five dollars a week
besides, if business is good.
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