? ? ? ? "I am sorry to hear it," said Mr. Wharton.
? ? ? ? "Why, sir," said Thomas, gaining confidence, "all they pay me is twelve dollars a week. How can they expect a fellow to live on that?"
? ? ? ? "I began my career about your age," said Mr. Wharton, "or perhaps a little younger, and had to live on but six dollars a week."
? ? ? ? "Didn't you come near starving?" he asked.
? ? ? ? "On the contrary, I saved a little every week."
? ? ? ? "I can't," said Thomas, a little discomfited. "Why, it takes half that to dress decently."
? ? ? ? Mr. Wharton glanced quietly at the rather loud and flashy dress worn by his visitor, but only said:
? ? ? ? "A small salary, of course, makes economy necessary."
? ? ? ? "But when a fellow knows he earns a good deal more than he gets, he doesn't feel like starving himself just that his employers may grow rich."
? ? ? ? "Of course, if he can better himself they cannot object.
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