Helping Himself; Or, Grant Thornton's Ambition. Alger Horatio Jr.

you could remain there permanently.”

      “So do I, mother; but I hope at any rate to get a comfortable boarding place. Tom Calder wants to room with me.”

      “I hope you won’t think of it,” said Mrs. Thornton, alarmed.

      “Not for a moment. I wish Tom well, but I shouldn’t like to be too intimate with him. And now, mother, I think I ought to write to Uncle Godfrey, and tell him what I have decided upon.”

      “That will be proper, Grant.” Grant wrote the following letter, and mailed it at once:

      “DEAR UNCLE GODFREY:

      I am afraid you won’t like what I have to tell you, but I think it is my duty to the family to give up the college course you so kindly offered me, in view of father’s small salary and narrow means. I have been offered a place in the office of a stock broker in New York, and have accepted it. I enter upon my duties next Monday morning. I hope to come near paying my own way, and before very long to help father. I know you will be disappointed, Uncle Godfrey, and I hope you won’t think I don’t appreciate your kind offer, but I think it would be selfish in me to accept it. Please do forgive me, and believe me to be

      Your affectionate nephew, GRANT THORNTON.”

      In twenty-four hours an answer came to this letter. It ran thus: