wanted an apprentice to any trade, business, or calling.

'I never was more convinced of anything in my life,' said the

gentleman in the white waistcoat, as he knocked at the gate and

read the bill next morning: 'I never was more convinced of

anything in my life, than I am that that boy will come to be

As I purpose to show in the sequel whether the white waistcoated

gentleman was right or not, I should perhaps mar the interest of

this narrative (supposing it to possess any at all), if I