"All right, sir. Suppose they can't have them done by the ready to start?"

 

"They can send them to me by express."

 

Harry had never been in a printing office; but he had a great curiosity to see one ever since he had read the "Life of Benjamin Franklin." If there was anyone in whose steps he thought he should like to follow, it was Franklin, and Franklin was a printer.

 

He had no difficulty in finding the office. It was in the second story of a building, just at the junction of two roads near the center of the town, the post office being just underneath. He ascended a staircase, and saw on the door, at the head of the stairs:

 

 

"CENTREVILLE GAZETTE"

 

 

He opened the door and entered. He saw a large room, containing a press at the end, while two young men, with paper caps on their heads, were standing in their shirt sleeves at upright cases setting type. On one side there was a very small office partitioned off. Within, a man was seen seated at a desk, with a pile of exchange papers on the floor, writing busily. This was Mr. Jotham Anderson publisher and editor of the Gazette.

 

"I want to get some printing done," said Harry, looking toward the journeymen.

 

"Go to Mr. Anderson," said one, pointing to the office.

 

Harry went in. The editor looked up as he entered.

 

"What can I do for you?" he asked.

 

"I want to get some printing done."

 

"For yourself?"

 

"No; for Professor Henderson."

 

"I've done jobs for him before. What does he want?"

 

Our hero explained.

 

"Very well, we will do it."

 

"Can you have it done before two o'clock?"

 

"Impossible. I am just bringing out my paper."

 

"When can you have the job finished?"

 

"To-morrow noon."

 

"I suppose that will do. We perform to-morrow at Berlin and they can be sent over to the hotel there."

 

"You say 'we,'" answered Harry, amused. "I take tickets, and assist him generally."

 

"How do you like the business?"

 

"Very well; but I should like your business better."

 

"What makes you think so?"

 

"I have been reading the 'Life of Benjamin Franklin.' He was a printer."

 

"That's true; but I'm sorry to say Franklins are scarce in our printing offices. I never met one yet."

 

"I shouldn't expect to turn out a Franklins; but I think one couldn't help being improved by the business."

 

"True again, though, of course, it depends on the wish to improve. How long have you been working for Professor Henderson?"

 

"Not long. Only two or three weeks."

 

"What did you do before?"

 

"I was pegger in a shoe shop."

 

"Didn't you like it?"

 

"Well enough, for I needed to earn money and it paid me; but I don't think I should like to be a shoemaker all my life. It doesn't give any chance to learn."

 

"Then you like learning?"