"Well, I hope you'll like store work better than I do."

The next two or three days were spent in removing the post office to
one corner of Eben-ezer Graham's store. The removal was
superintended by Herbert, who was not interfered with to any extent
by his employer, nor required to do much work in the store. Our hero
was agreeably surprised, and began to think he should get along
better than he anticipated.

At the end of the first week the storekeeper, while they were
closing the shutters, said: "I expect, Herbert, you'd just as lieves
take your pay in groceries and goods from the store?"

"No, sir," answered Herbert, "I prefer to be paid in money, and to
pay for such goods as we buy."

"I don't see what odds it makes to you," said Ebenezer. "It comes to
the same thing, doesn't it?"

"Then if it comes to the same thing," retorted Herbert, "why do you
want to pay me in goods?"

"Ahem! It saves trouble. I'll just charge everything you buy, and
give you the balance Saturday night."

"I should prefer the money, Mr. Graham," said Herbert, firmly.

So the storekeeper, considerably against his will, drew three
dollars in bills from the drawer and handed them to his young clerk.