appear before you in more respectable apparel, but my chest of clothes
comes by water from New York, and I have not received it yet."

"Clothes don't make the man," responded the elder Bradford, who had
discovered a remarkably bright and intelligent youth in Benjamin.
"Brains take the precedence of clothes in New York and Philadelphia."

Benjamin found himself among good friends, so he cheerfully accepted
their counsel. The senior Bradford accompanied him to Keimer's.

"Neighbor," said Bradford, "I have brought to you a young man from
Boston, a printer by trade; he is after work. Perhaps you can employ
him."

"That depends on his qualifications," answered Mr. Keimer. "I want
some one who is acquainted with the business."

"You will find him all right, I think; he appears to know what he is
about."

"How long have you worked at the business?" inquired Keimer, turning
to Benjamin.

"Over three years."

"Do you understand all parts of it so that you can go on with it?"

"Yes, I think I do; you can ascertain by trying me."

"Take this composing-stick and try your hand; let me see what you can